By Tiffany Williams –
Massachusetts football came heartbreakingly close in a 27-26 loss to Bryant on Saturday evening at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, with severe weather delays—including a tornado warning—adding to the drama. The Minutemen showed flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball, but a last-second field goal by the Bulldogs left UMass just short.
Backup quarterback Grant Jordan stepped in after starter Brandon Rose left with an injury and delivered a strong performance, completing 13-of-22 passes for 205 yards and adding 28 rushing yards with a touchdown. Wideout Jacquon Gibson hauled in seven receptions for 89 yards, including a career-long 50-yard grab, while Brandon Hood contributed his first career rushing touchdown.
The Minutemen struck first with a defensive spark: Tyler Martin returned his first career interception 23 yards for a touchdown, giving UMass a 6-0 lead. Massachusetts built on that momentum, with Hood scoring on a 13-yard rush and Jordan connecting with Jake McConnachie to set up his own five-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 20-3 by early in the second quarter. Jordan’s drive featured Gibson’s career-long reception, a key highlight in a strong offensive showing.
Bryant, however, clawed back before halftime, scoring on an 11-play, 69-yard drive to cut the deficit to 20-10. The Bulldogs continued to apply pressure in the second half, eventually taking a 24-23 lead on a 72-yard touchdown pass from Brennan Myer to Zyheem Collick. Massachusetts responded with Derek Morris’ 53-yard field goal—setting a new program record—to go back up 26-24. But Bryant’s 25-yard field goal as time expired sealed the narrow loss.
UMass’ defense showed resilience, led by Martin, Derrieon Craig, and Timmy Hinspeter, each with nine tackles. Martin’s interception return was the program’s first since September 2023, and he set a personal career high with nine tackles. The offensive line gave Jordan room to operate, while Morris’ historic field goal added a standout moment in a game full of milestones. Hood, Gibson, and Max Dowling all hit personal firsts, underscoring the youth and potential of this UMass squad.
The Minutemen will turn their attention to their first road test of the season, traveling to face Iowa on Saturday, September 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Despite the narrow defeat, UMass showed enough grit and flashes of playmaking to suggest that better days are ahead as they continue to integrate young contributors into the lineup.