Eastern Michigan scores twice in 24 seconds to pull away from UMass 38-14

Eastern Michigan scored two touchdowns 24 seconds apart in the third quarter and handed Massachusetts its first loss of the season, winning 38-14 on Saturday in Amherst. The Eagles led by seven at halftime, then turned their opening second-half drive and a defensive takeaway into a 28-7 advantage.

Noah Kim completed 21 of 30 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Eastern Michigan added 192 rushing yards and three rushing scores, with five different players reaching the end zone. The victory moved the Eagles to 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference for the first time since 2005.

Dobbs gives the offense a short field

Kim found Joshua Long for a two-yard touchdown with 10:10 left in the third quarter, finishing a 10-play, 75-yard possession that expanded Eastern Michigan's lead to 21-7.

On Massachusetts' next offensive play, Caleb Dobbs intercepted William Watson III and returned the ball 31 yards to the UMass nine-yard line. Amareon Blue scored from there at 9:46, making it 28-7. The two touchdowns were separated by only 24 seconds on the game clock.

Massachusetts later failed on a fourth-down pass, and Eastern Michigan used its ensuing possession to add another touchdown. Joey Mattord scored on a 25-yard run early in the fourth quarter, finishing a 10-play, 61-yard drive. The margin grew to 35-7 before Rudy Kessinger's 26-yard field goal completed the Eagles' scoring.

The first-half lead survives a late response

Eastern Michigan scored first on Kim's 27-yard touchdown pass to Kozy Isaac, capping an opening possession that used more than seven minutes. The Eagles' defense then forced a fumble near its own goal line. Davion Williams caused the takeaway, and Hector Gonzalez recovered it.

Braydon Bennett's two-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter pushed the lead to 14-0. Massachusetts responded before halftime when Watson threw a 34-yard touchdown to Max Dowling with 28 seconds left. That score reduced the deficit to seven and left the Minutemen within one possession at the break.

The third-quarter interception and quick touchdown prevented UMass from building on that late first-half score. The Minutemen did not score again until Curtis Kimmons IV's three-yard rushing touchdown with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Third downs and ball security sustain the Eagles

Eastern Michigan converted 11 of 14 third downs and its only fourth-down attempt. The Eagles committed no turnovers, collected 26 first downs and finished with 411 yards of offense. Massachusetts had 316 total yards and two turnovers.

Blue led Eastern Michigan's rushing attack with 66 yards on 11 carries. Mattord added 54 yards on eight attempts, while Bennett finished with 42 on 10. Long caught a team-high five passes for 37 yards, and Harold Mack led the Eagles in receiving yardage with 49.

Watson completed 20 of 27 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jabari Lewis caught six passes for 102 yards. Eastern Michigan improved to 3-3 overall and next travels to Akron on October 10. Massachusetts fell to 4-1 and 1-1 in the MAC and hosts Miami of Ohio that day.