UMass ends 24-game road skid with win at NMSU
Aug 26, 2023, 11:41 PM ET
LAS CRUCES, N.M.– Taisun Phommachanh passed for 192 backyards and included a hurrying touchdown, Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams scored 2 fourth-quarter touchdowns and UMass beat New Mexico State 41-30 in a season opener on Saturday night, snapping a 24-game roadway losing streak.The Minutemen, who last won on the roadway in Week 9 of the 2018 season against UConn, showed flashes of brilliance on offense and closed the win with a dominant 4th quarter.Phommachanh ran 26 backyards on a fourth-and-seven play midway through the fourth to establish a 10-yard touchdown run by Lynch-Adams that gave the Minutemen a 10-point lead. On New Mexico State’s taking place ownership, Isaiah Rutherford obstructed a pass and returned it 55 yards to offer UMass a 34-17 benefit with 6:40 remaining.UMass last won a season opener on the roadway versus an FBS opponent in 1973 against Rutgers, according to ESPN Statistics & Information research.The back-to-back goals came after New Mexico State drew within 20-17 on a 42-yard deep ball from Diego Pavia to Trent Hudson, who made a leaping grab in front of a colleague for the score. New Mexico State connected on another deep path, Pavia throwing 40 yards to Jordin Parker to make it 34-24 with 4:35 remaining.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated UMass added a 21-yard touchdown run by Lynch-Adams 2 plays after a fumble by Pavia that was recovered by Billy Wooden at the NMSU 24.
New Mexico State
added a 1-yard scoring pass from Pavia to Hudson on the last play.Phommachanh, a transfer who previously dipped into Georgia Tech and Clemson, completed 10 of 17 passes
for 192 yards and included 92 yards on the ground.Pavia went 16-for-27 passing for 248 lawns with 3 goals and two interceptions.New Mexico State’s Monte Watkins, a sprinter on the MSU track team, scuttled 80 backyards for a goal that tied ball game at
7 in the 2nd quarter. Watkins finished with 95 yards hurrying on two carries.UMass has actually a revamped roster
that consists of 15 transfers after going 1-11 last season.New Mexico State was coming off a 7-6 season in 2022 that included a 24-19 triumph over Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl.The Associated Press contributed to this report.