The UMass Minutemen aren?t just a barometer for how far the Towson football program has come from last year ? they?re the standard.
Last year, UMass pummeled Towson, 35-0, at Johnny Unitas Stadium en route to finishing 13-2 following a loss to Appalachian State in the Football Championship Subdivision title game.
However, Towson was missing one major player from that game who will be on the field today: junior quarterback Sean Schaefer. Schaefer, who missed last year?s game because he was sick, will start for the 23rd-ranked Tigers against the third-ranked Minutemen.
But UMass senior linebacker Jason Hatchell isn?t concerned?even if UMass graduated three players from its secondary last spring and has allowed 47 points in two games.
“We already played against one wide-open spread week one against Holy Cross,” Hatchell said. “It?s exciting for the defensive backs but the linebackers love it too. The run plays aren?t too in depth, but we know it?s going to be a tough game.”
Last year the 6-foot, 240-pound Hatchell made 134 tackles en route to being named a second-team All-American. This season, he has made 16 tackles, and is among 16 players on the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan, presented to the top Football Championship Subdivision defensive player.
“He?s bright, articulate, pays attention to detail, strong as an ox and has a great demeanor on the football field,” UMass Coach Don Brown said. “He benches more than 400 pounds, squats more than 500 pounds, has good lateral agility and can pass rush and cover.”
And he can deliver impressive performances in big games, too. Hatchell made eight tackles in a 28-17 loss to Appalachian State in the Football Championship Subdivision title game last year.
Hatchell has recorded more than 100 tackles in each of the last two years, and while he preaches the concept of ?one game at a time,” he looks forward to making the game-changing play.
“I love the hitting,” Hatchell said. “When you get that one-on-one shot in the hole with the running back, he’s going to loose.”
