By MATT VAUTOUR
AMHERST — UMass hasn’t won a homecoming game since 2009 and hasn’t had two wins this early in the season since 2011. Both came when the Minutemen were still playing a Championship Subdivision schedule.
They’ll try to take a step forward as a team and a program, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when they host Tulane at McGuirk Stadium.
“A whole bunch of players from last year are going to be there hoping to see a big W,” senior receiver Jalen Williams said. “We haven’t won a homecoming game in a long time. This would be a good time. That’s something that matters to us.”
The Green Wave (2-2) lost their opener to Wake Forest and bounced back to pound Southern, an FCS foe, 66-21. After falling to Navy, 21-14, Tulane won a wild four-overtime game 41-39 over Louisiana-Lafayette last week.
Both teams scored touchdowns in the fourth overtime, but after the Wave successfully added a 2-point conversion, the Ragin’ Cajuns failed to match.
Tulane, which runs a triple-option offense, has averaged 52.5 points in its wins and 8.5 in its losses.
The Wave didn’t have a passing touchdown in their first three games, but Glen Cuiellette was 10-for-23 for 165 yards and four touchdowns (one interception) against ULL.
Cuiellette and freshman Jonathan Brantley have seen regular action at quarterback. Cuiellette has played in all four games, while Brantley appeared in three.
Cuiellette is 23-for-48 this season for 304 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Cuiellette is feast or famine running the ball. He has 35 carries for 65 yards, a total that includes 54 yards lost on sacks and negative carries.
Brantley is a more elusive runner averaging 51.7 yards per game with 155 yards on 29 carries.
Junior tailback Dontrell Hilliard has led the Wave with 71.2 yards per game and four touchdowns.
UMass junior linebacker Shane Huber liked playing an opponent running the option.
“It’s fun for an inside backer,” he said. “You get a lot of run game and you have to be really disciplined with your reads. It’s nothing we haven’t gotten before. We just have to play assignment football and we’ll be fine. Eleven guys have to do their job.”
UMass’ last two opponents — FIU and Mississippi State — ran read option, but both throw the ball much more than Tulane does. Whipple said preparing for the Panthers and Bulldogs helped UMass for Tulane.
“There are things that are similar. Maybe the sets are different, but it’s not like we’re going in blind,” Whipple said. “They’re more option, but we just have to be assignment-ready and tackle in space.”
Defensively Tulane is second in the American Athletic Conference, allowing 169.0 yards per game, a number that is a little misleading. Navy, which also runs option, only attempted 12 throws against the Wave, completing five of them for 59 yards.
On the flip side of that, Tulane has allowed 139.2 rushing yards per game (sixth in the AAC). That number is also skewed by Navy’s 346 yards rushing.
Tulane is fourth in the nation in fumbles recovered (six) and turnover margin (1.75).
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage