Well, this is it. Kellen Pagel and the Massachusetts Minutemen will bring to a close their time at the Football Championship Subdivision level when they host the James Madison Dukes at 1:00 p.m. EDT at McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, MA (Radio: 1510 AM The Zone).
UMass holds an 8-6-1 lead over JMU in the all-time series, which dates back to 1986. In home games against the Dukes at McGuirk Stadium, the Minutmen are 6-2-1. These two schools last played each other in 2009, with UMass losing, 17-14.
Before the game, the Minutemen will honor their senior class, which consists of the following players: James Gilchrist,Tom Gilson,Jonathan Hernandez, Tyler Holmes, Emil Igwenagu, Courtney Jackson, Jesse Julmiste, Manny Nascimento, Sean O'Connor, Brian Ostaszweski, Dominique Price, Julian Talley, Travis Tripucka, Josh Samuda, Shane Viveiros, and Brandon Yelovich.
UMass (5-5) is coming off back-to-back losses, with the most recent loss coming to the No. 13 ranked Maine Black Bears. Shane Veveiros returned a punt 26 yards for a touchdown to give UMass a 21-10 lead, but the Minutemen had two fumbles returned for a touchdown and had an interception that led to Maine's game-winning drive. Hernandez passed the 1,000 yard mark with his 91 rushing yards on the ground in the loss while Talley surpassed 2,000 receiving yards for the season with his 107 yards.
JMU (6-4, 4-3 CAA) snapped a two-game losing skid with a 31-13 stomping of Rhode Island. Dae'Quan Scott rushed for rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on just 13 carries - that's 9.76 yards per carry - for the Dukes in the victory.