UMASS OFFENSE
WR—88 Bernard Davis 6-2 192 Sr.
LT—68 Elijah Wilkinson 6-5 329 Sr.
LG—57 Raquan Thomas 6-5 392 Fr.
C—73 Fabian Hoeller 6-3 295 Sr.
RG—71 Michael Boland 6-6 318 Sr.
RT—58 Jack Driscoll 6-5 294 Fr.
TE—81 Adam Breneman 6-4 250 Jr.
WR—80 Jalen Williams 6-3 205 Sr.
FB—42 John Robinson-Woodgett 6-1 247 Sr.
QB—7 Andrew Ford 6-3 205 So.
RB—8 Marquis Young 6-0 196 So.
The Minutemen’s offense is a buffet of formations — three and four wide, triangle, unbalanced, double tight ends. Mostly out of the shotgun, they run jet sweeps, counters, screens, and switch routes. But for all the schemes and looks, the basic plan is the pitch-and-catch between lefty quarterback Andrew Ford and tight end Adam Breneman. Ford has thrown 26.3 percent of his 327 passes to Breneman, who gets open on delayed routes, crosses, curls and stop-and-go moves. Ford has 69.7-percent accuracy on throws to Breneman, but 55.2 percent to the other receivers. Breneman has no recorded drops in 86 targets. “I know where he’s going to be and he knows where I’m going to be,” Ford said. Ford and Breneman were teammates at Cedar Cliff (Pa.) High. In basketball, Ford was the guard and Breneman was a post player. “It was the same kind of thing where I tried to feed him the ball as much as I could and try to rack up the assists and let him go to work in the paint,” Ford said. Ford was at Virginia Tech and a Lackawanna JC before joining UMass this year. Breneman joined after earning a Penn State business degree in three years. “We went our different directions (after high school), and it’s just worked out we both have opportunities at UMass,” Ford said.
UMASS DEFENSE
DE—95 Sha-Ki Holines 6-3 257 Jr.
NT—90 Ali Ali-Musa 6-2 274 Jr.
DT—61 Joe Previte 6-2 269 So.
WLB—41 De’Sean Downey 6-4 225 Jr.
SLB—6 Tedrick Lowery 6-0 221 Jr.
MLB—3 Colbert Calhoun 5-11 219 Jr.
Z—34 Sam Casali 6-1 236 Jr.
CB—39 Isaiah Rodgers 5-10 155 Fr.
SS—3 Lee Moses 5-11 193 So.
FS—21 Khary Bailey-Smith 6-2 203 Sr.
CB—28 Jackson Porter 6-1 197 Jr.
Linebacker Sam Casali’s college career started with a bang when he made the tackle on the opening kickoff of the 2013 season. “I wasn’t surprised when it happened,” Casali said. “My goal when I ran down there was to make the first tackle on my first (college) play. It was a great experience to hear my name being called on the tackle in Wisconsin stadium.” A knee injury shortened that season, and he made 37 tackles in 24 games the next two seasons. This season, Casali has thrived as the zip (inside linebacker on the boundary side), amassing a team-high 96 tackles, six pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. Casali credited linebackers coach Charles Walker, who emphasizes wrap-up techniques every practice, and defensive coordinator Tom Masella, whose mix-and-match schemes involve a three-man front expanding to five, and two-deep zones and man coverages in the back tier. Strength/conditioning coordinator Joe Connolly swears by a running program that does not lighten because of heat or sleet. “If I’m late to class,” Casali mused, “I’ll run to class.”
UMASS SPECIALISTS
KO—31 Mike Caggiano 5-11 176 So.
PK/P—99 Logan Laurent 6-4 217 Jr.
LS—53 Nick Berus 6-0 220 Jr.
H—37 Andrew Libby 6-1 223 Jr.
KR—39 Isaiah Rodgers 5-10 155 Fr.
PR—4 James Allen 5-8 155 So.
It appears Logan Laurent claimed the field goal-kicking job after Mike Caggiano opened the season handling kickoffs, FGs and PATs. Laurent has converted four FGs in a row, including a 44-yarder last week. Caggiano, who has missed both FG attempts, is 31-of-32 on PATs. Opponents’ average drive starts on the 27 following Caggiano kickoffs.
HAWAII OFFENSE
X—12 Keelan Ewaliko 5-11 200 Jr.
SB—45 John Ursua 5-10 175 Fr.
LT—50 Dejon Allen 6-3 290 Jr.
LG—51 John Wa‘a 6-4 315 Jr.
C—78 Leo Koloamatangi 6-5 310 Sr.
RG—56 Elijah Tupai 6-4 315 Jr.
RT—74 RJ Hollis 6-4 295 Sr.
IR—10 Makoa Camanse-Stevens 6-4 205 Sr.
Z—14 Marcus Kemp 6-4 200 Sr.
QB—19 Dru Brown 6-0 200 So.
RB—6 Paul Harris 5-11 200 Sr.
The Warriors are seeking answers to slow starts and penalties. In the past six games, their opening drives resulted in five punts and a failed fourth-down play. They have been intercepted five times and lost a fumble on their first drives after the intermission. Of their 93 penalties — second worst among 128 FBS teams — 57 were committed on offense. They have accumulated 449 penalty yards on offense, including 55 yards on 11 delay-of-game infractions. Quarterback Dru Brown, who transferred from College of San Mateo in June, has developed into a leader, especially after directing last week’s go-ahead scoring drive in Fresno. He also has resolved turnover issues. Brown has one red-zone turnover this year. “When it comes down to it, we all have to trust in Dru,” said wideout Marcus Kemp, who needs 7 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the season. The offense has added assets. Diocemy Saint Juste has healed, fully rejoining the running back rotation. Keelan Ewaliko, who is the Warriors’ fastest wideout, has incorporated a backyard button-hook route to counter cushion coverages. Dakota Torres also provides more options in his expanded role as H-back. Often flexed in the backfield, Torres gets a head start on sealing the perimeter, creating holes for the back, or when in motion, wham-blocking the back-side edge rusher.
HAWAII DEFENSE
DE—5 Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea 6-3 240 Sr.
DT—75 Kory Rasmussen 6-2 295 Sr.
DT—98 Viane Moala 6-7 300 Fr.
DE—97 Meffy Koloamatangi 6-5 240 Jr.
OLB—2 Jerrol Garcia-Williams 6-2 230 Sr.
MLB—31 Jahlani Tavai 6-4 235 So.
SLB—38 Malachi Mageo 6-2 210 So.
LCB—19 Jalen Rogers 6-1 200 Sr.
S—39 Trayvon Henderson 6-0 200 Jr.
S—21 Damien Packer 5-11 210 Sr.
RCB—11 Jamal Mayo 5-11 185 Sr.
It was a good thing the new coaching staff did not make plans for their inheritance. In the offseason, defensive linemen Kennedy Tulimasealii and Jamie Tago were dismissed, cornerback Nick Nelson and defensive tackle Netane Muti transferred, and rush end Jeremy Castro medically retired. The Warriors filled by playing nine true freshmen and four second-year freshmen on defense. Linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard and safety Keala Santiago have started games. Viane Moala is an anomaly as a 6-7 interior defender who can set up low and who is a 300-pounder with agility. Kaimana Padello is an edge rusher in games and H-back in practices. Linebacker Solomon Matautia, nose tackle Samiuela Akoteu and cornerback Rojesterman Farris redshirted in 2015 but have combined for 10 starts this year. “The players here give everything they’ve got,” defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. “They do everything to play up to their capabilities.” Cornerback Jamal Mayo, who has recovered from a knee injury, is back in the starting lineup.
HAWAII SPECIALISTS
PK/P—1 Rigo Sanchez 6-1 190 Sr.
SS—62 Brodie Nakama 5-9 225 Sr.
H—11 Ikaika Woolsey 6-1 215 Sr.
LS—41 Noah Borden 6-1 215 So.
KR—6 Paul Harris 5-11 190 Sr.
PR—45 John Ursua 5-10 175 Fr.
Rigo Sanchez is the only FBS kicker to make all his FG attempts — 11-for-11 — but he does not have enough attempts to be listed on the NCAA leader board. “I’m trying to help out the team in any way with three points, extra points, whatever,” Sanchez said. Sanchez said he targets anything in the center of the goal posts’ background. “If a pole or bright shirt is in the center, I’m aiming at the pole or shirt,” Sanchez said.
