Hamilton, NY — Junior quarterback Chris Brown connected on 17-of-37 passes for 209 and two touchdowns to lead º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ (13-0) to a 19-7 win over Massachusetts (10-3) in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at Andy Kerr Stadium.
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º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ has won 19 straight games, and won a NCAA Division I-AA playoff for the first time since the 1982 season.
The victory featured a great defensive effort by the Raiders, who didn’t allow a touchdown. UMass’ only points came off a blocked punt in the first quarter. The Raiders allowed 299 yards ‘ 100 rushing and 199 passing.
The Minutemen opened the scoring with 6:43 left in the first quarter, when Leroy Brooks blocked a punt, and James Ihedigbo picked up the ball and raced 25 yards to end zone. Mike Torres added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ scored twice in the second quarter to take a 13-7 lead at halftime. J.B. Gerald made the first of his two touchdown receptions on a 13-yard pass from Brown, and Lane Schwarzberg added the extra point to tie the game.
Later in the second quarter, º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ took advantage of the UMass fumble on a punt attempt. C.J. Koegel dropped the snap, and º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½â€™s Mike Chrystie tackled him at the six-yard line.
Two plays later, Jamaal Branch carried for a two-yard touchdown run to put º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ ahead 13-7. The extra point attempt was missed.
º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ got its insurance points with 12:57 left in the game, when Brown hit Gerald over the middle on a 30-yard touchdown pass. º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½â€™s two-point extra point attempt was stopped.
GAME NOTES: Branch carried 25 times for 59 yards under some very tough field conditions. His 2,085 rushing yards this season is the fifth best total in NCAA Division I-AA history ‘ Gerald finished with seven catches for 91 yards, while Luke Graham made six receptions for 82 yards.
Sean McCune had 10 tackles to lead º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½, while Ryan Miller made eight ‘ Brian Anderson, who had missed the last three games with a broken foot, had an interception, while Antrell Tyson, Josh Wurst and Mike Chrystie had fumble recoveries.