‣ CFB 2025 Regular Season, Week 14 - Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Massachusetts
(6-5, 3-4 MAC) Kent State Golden Flashes at #12 UMass Minutemen (11-0, 7-0 MAC)
KENT | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20
MASS | 14 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 35
Haston throws 4 through the air as Minutemen do the once thought impossible: 12-0
"No one thought we were capable of something like this," commented UMass quarterback Ahmad Haston, tears brimming at his eyes. "We shocked the world every week. We fought like Hell, and now no one can take this from us."
The UMass Minutemen completed their undefeated regular season after beating up on their MAC foe Kent State, defeating the Golden Flashes, 35-20 behind four passing touchdowns from Haston. Haston hit some of his favorite targets, including opening the game with a seven-yard touchdown to burgeoning tight end Noah Staples. Though Kent State quarterback Tommy Ulatowski would tie things up minutes later, wide receiver Kezion Dia-Johnson would capitalize on a well-executed drive to end the quarter.
The second half would show the Minutemen pulling away after two second quarter scores from the Golden Flashes, with Haston throwing two more touchdowns and C.J. Hester slamming the door with a 47-yard scurry to the house for the Minutemen's fifth touchdown of the game.
Something to note is the celebration. Between Staples, Dia-Johnson, wide receiver Jacquon Gibson, backup tight end Magnus Von Saldern, and Hester, every player who reached the end zone celebrated by throwing up the 'X' sign, seemingly giving props to offensive coordinator James Xavier, who has remained up in the coaches booth since the video clip leak of head coach Don Brown disparaging him during the media day before the beginning of the season.
Though Xavier had not yet made comment, it was widely assumed that Xavier will be moving on from UMass at the end of the post-season to take on a new position, though Coach Brown has neither confirmed nor outwardly denied that.
"We're focused on the [MAC] Championship, whatever James [Xavier] decides to do at the end of the season is his own choice, he's a grown man." he said. "We love him here, and we've put it behind us. He just doesn't feel like explaining himself right now, and that's his right."
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Noah Staples, 7-yard pass from Ahmad Haston (Riley Moore kick) [5:44]
Jared Kelley, 22-yard pass from Tommy Ulatowski (Will Hryszko kick) [2:38] Kezion Dia-Johnson, 5-yard pass from Ahmad Haston (Riley Moore kick) [0:16]2nd Quarter
Will Hryszko, 41-yard field goal [5:17] Jaydn Girard, 80-yard pass from Tommy Ulatowski (Will Hryszko kick) [0:10]3rd Quarter
Jacquon Gibson, 14-yard pass from Ahmad Haston (Riley Moore kick) [0:47]4th Quarter
Magnus Von Saldern, 4-yard pass from Ahmad Haston (Riley Moore kick) [5:03] Will Hryszko, 19-yard field goal [2:24] C.J. Hester, 47-yard run (Riley Moore kick) [1:55]Player Stats
QB Ahmad Haston: 27-36, 291 passing yards, 4 touchdowns QB Tommy Ulatowski: 20-28, 304 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 8 carries, 20 rushing yards HB C.J. Hester: 18 carries, 101 rushing yards, touchdown, 3 receptions, 42 receiving yards HB Curtis Douglas: 15 carries, 69 rushing yards WR Kezion Dia-Johnson: 8 receptions, 69 receiving yards, touchdown WR T.Y. Harding: 5 receptions, 52 receiving yards WR Jacquon Gibson: 4 receptions, 68 receiving yards, touchdown WR Jared Kelley: 6 receptions, 54 receiving yards, touchdown TE Hunter Hopperton: 5 receptions, 73 receiving yards WR Jay Jay Etheridge: 5 receptions, 57 receiving yards OLB Derrieon Craig: 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack CB Ryan Barnes: 5 tackles DE Louce Julien: Tackle, sack OLB Jayden Studio: 10 tackles, tackle for loss, 0.5 sack DE Antoine Campbell Jr: 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks DT Keenan Landry: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack
QB Cade Klubnik, Sr » 3,649 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, 73% CMP, 190.3 RTG, 351 rushing yards, 5 touchdowns
QB Devin Brown, Rs Sr » 3,905 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, 72% CMP, 192.4 RTG, 429 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns
QB Darian Mensah, So » 3,213 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, interception, 65% CMP, 171.1 RTG, 526 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns
QB Ryan Puglisi, Rs Fr » 4,049 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 69% CMP, 178.3 RTG
QB D.J. Langway, So » 3,527 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 72% CMP, 168.7 RTG, 594 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns
Dom Dzioban, 22-yard field goal [4:45]
