Sept. 23, 2006

Final Stats

Amherst, Mass. - No. 9 UMass scored 28 first quarter points en route to a 48-7 win over Stony Brook Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. It was Stony Brook's second consecutive loss versus a Top 10 team and dropped the Seawolves to 0-4. UMass improved to 3-1.

"We prepared all week for an excellent UMass team and we competed for four quarters," said head coach Chuck Priore. "The quality of our opponent today is a benchmark for our team and where we want to be. I know we will get there."

After forcing Stony Brook to punt on the initial series of the game, J.J. Moore returned Sean McGinty's punt 59 yards, deep into Seawolves territory. On the Minutemen's first play from scrimmage, Steve Baylark dashed in from 10 yards out and UMass was up 7-0. Moore added an 11-yard touchdown run on the Minutemen's next possession and the hosts held a 14-0 lead just 6:45 into the game. On the ensuing kick-off, J.J. Cox fumbled and after a scramble for the ball, Brandon Smith scooped it up and ran three yards for the score to put UMass up 21-0.

Late in the first quarter, Liam Coen hit Rasheed Rancher down the sideline and Rancher sprinted 89 yards for a touchdown. It was the second-longest play in UMass history. Baylark would add two more touchdowns in the second stanza to give the Minutemen a 42-0 halftime lead.

Stony Brook's defense got the Seawolves on the board in the third quarter. Chevar Rankins stripped Tony Nelson of the ball at the UMass 10-yard line and Leonard Wright III pounced on it and ran in for Stony Brook's only touchdown of the game

Stony Brook opens up conference play next Saturday at Monmouth. Kick-off is 1 p.m.