Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's football team opened the 2015 season with a convincing 41-6 victory over visiting Mount Ida College Friday in front of a jam-packed Cressy Field crowd. Junior quarterback Cory Burnham (Essex, Mass.) threw for four touchdowns and ran for another two to power the Corsairs to their largest margin of victory for a season-opener in program history.
Burnham enjoyed the most prolific night of his collegiate career, connecting on 26-of-43 passes for 255 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. The junior signal-caller from Essex, Mass. tossed three first half touchdowns, while completing a one-yard scamper to stake UMass Dartmouth (1-0) to a commanding 27-0 halftime lead.
Junior Jakarrie Washington (Everett, Mass.) made an immediate impact in his Corsair debut, pulling in a game-high 12 passes for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also took his lone carry of the night for 14 yards to eclipse the century mark of total offense (101). Freshman Abbi Bamgbose (Fitchburg, Mass.) had three receptions for 47 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown. Senior Jason Ferri (Billerica, Mass.) also hauled in three catches for 42 yards, including the opening four-yard touchdown.
UMass Dartmouth featured a variety of ball carriers with eight different rushers gaining a total of 167 yards, highlighted by Burnham's 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Corsairs seized the momentum early in the contest, when sophomore Marvey Mathurin (Woburn, Mass.) blocked a 35-yard field goal attempt on the first series of the evening. Sophomore Alex Ortega (Lynn, Mass.) picked the loose ball up on the goal line and returned it near midfield.
UMass Dartmouth needed just seven plays to crack the scoring column. Burnham connected with Ferri in the back right corner of the end zone to give the hosts a lead they would never relinquish.
Mount Ida tried to spark its offense with a fake punt from its own eight-yard line that was stopped well shy of the first down yardstick by sophomore DaVon Fuller (Washington, D.C.) at the Mount Ida 13. Two plays later, Burnham found Bamgbose on a skinny post to double the Corsair advantage.
Later in the quarter, the Corsairs orchestrated their longest drive of the night, marching 78 yards on 13 plays. Burnham hit Washington on four passes over the course of the drive for a combined 45 yards, while the visitors prolonged the drive with a crucial roughing the passer penalty on a third down play that would have stalled the drive. Burnham capped the drive on a run from one yard out.
With less than three minutes remaining in the half, UMass Dartmouth converted a 3rd and 20 with a 25-yard strike to Bamgbose. Three plays later, Burnham found Washington in the flat from four yards away to cap the scoring.
Mount Ida came charging out of the halftime locker room, scoring on its second drive. The Mustangs marched 76 yards on seven plays, capped by a 23-yard rush by senior Melquawn Pinkney (Springfield, Mass.). Pinkey finished the contest with a game-high 88 yards on 20 carries.
The score would not get any closer, as the Corsairs scored consecutive touchdowns four minutes, 31 seconds apart to round out the scoring in the fourth quarter.
UMass Dartmouth was led defensively by senior Derek Tarpey (Tewksbury, Mass.) with nine tackles, including one for a loss, and two QB hurries. Sophomore Brandon Miller (Holden, Mass.) registered seven stops, including 1.5 sacks. Sophomore Jon Biggs (Stone Mountain, Ga.) caused the lone turnover, intercepting an errant pass in the third quarter.
Mount Ida running back Jared Lucas (Saint Paul, Minn.) gained 97 all-purpose yards, including a 40-yard carry on a fake punt that set up the Mustangs touchdown. Sophomore Travis O'Brien (Portsmouth, R.I.) averaged 5.7 yards per carry (14-80).
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, when the Corsairs travel to Springfield College.
