If coach Mark Whipple is reason 1A behind the Massachusetts football team’s turnaround, then quarterback Blake Frohnapfel is reason 1B.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter on a third-and-nine play from Ball State’s 19-yardline, Frohnapfel stepped up in the pocket for a two-yard scramble to center the ball perfectly between the hash-marks to set up a 34-yard field goal for Logan Laurent.
Frohnapfel gingerly limped up and took his usual position as the holder for the field goal unit. Laurent’s ensuing field goal attempt missed wide left.
But that wasn’t the worst thing to happen on the field though.
Frohnapfel was carted into the locker room following the play to get an x-ray on his right leg.
“I don’t think it’s good,” Whipple said. “But I don’t know for sure until later.”
Whipple had not yet spoken to Frohnapfel prior to the press conference following the Minutemen’s 24-10 win over the Cardinals Wednesday night.
“I just told him to keep his head up after the injury regardless of what the x-rays said,” receiver Tajae Sharpe said after his quarterback came off the field.
Entering the game, Frohnapfel ranked sixth in the nation with 2,191 passing yards. He had also thrown for 23 touchdowns this season with just eight interceptions – after UMass quarterbacks combined for nine touchdowns in each of its first two seasons in the FBS.
Frohnapfel finished Wednesday’s game 28-for-44 with 424 yards and two interceptions. Despite not finishing with a touchdown pass, Frohnapfel marched the Minutemen downfield on multiple occasions, setting up scoring plays from Shadrach Abrokwah (3-yard run) and Lorenzo Woodley (1-yard run).
Although he injured his leg on the slide, Whipple also confirmed that Frohnapfel suffered a contusion in his leg earlier in the first half.
“We kept asking him if it was all right,” Whipple said. “We were going to do some things to move the pocket. So I don’t know exactly, we won’t know until his x-rays and all that.”
Austin Whipple took over at quarterback following Frohnapfel’s injury. Whipple did not attempt a pass as the Minutemen ran out the clock in the final eight minutes, 46 seconds he was in.
With Frohnapfel’s return for Tuesday night’s game at Akron being uncertain, Austin Whipple will be the starter if Frohnapfel is unable to play, according to Mark Whipple.
The coach also said depending on the injury, he won’t rule out sidlining his quarterback to preserve him for the 2015 season.
Tajae’s big day
Prior to the 2014 season, not many people were familiar with Sharpe, UMass’ leading receiver.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver was predicted to be the “go-to” guy for Frohnapfel but was on the outside looking in, in regards to the conversations about the top receivers in the Mid-American Conference.
Not only has Sharpe made it clear that he’s the best receiver in the conference, but the question now shifts to where he lies amongst the nation’s best.
Sharpe finished Wednesday’s game with 13 receptions for 239 receiving yards. His 13 receptions tied a personal and school record while his total yards marked a new career-high.
Whipple credited Sharpe’s open looks to the added attention that 6-foot-7 tight end Jean Sifrin puts on opposing defenses.
“I like one-on-one challenges. You always want to prove that you’re better than the man that’s going against you,” Sharpe said. “No matter what the defense throws at us, even if they do want to throw guys my way I know we have other guys on the offense that can step up and make plays too. However it comes we’ll be ready for anything.”
Sharpe’s 239 receiving yards also put him at 1,204 total yards for the season, ranking him fourth amongst FBS receivers.
Andrew Cyr can be reached at [email protected], and can be followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.
