Hernandez runs for 3 touchdowns as Massachusetts beats Stony Brook 44-17

Hernandez leads UMass past Stony Brook 44-17

AMHERST, Mass. — Jon Hernandez ran for three touchdowns and Massachusetts routed Stony Brook 44-17 on Saturday night.

Hernandez ran for 130 yards and scored on runs of 3, 9 and 36 yards. Chris Zardas added two rushing touchdowns for the Minutemen (3-1), who piled up 500 yards total offense.

Hernandez played in place of UMass’ leading rusher Tony Nelson, who missed the game with an injury.

Kyle Havens passed for 259 yards for Massachusetts. Armando Cuko also made 30, 42 and 35 yard field goals for the Minutemen.

The Seawolves (1-3) stayed close and trailed 21-17 with 2:31 remaining in the half after a 15-yard scoring pass from Michael Coulter to Jordan Gush. Coulter finished with 126 yards passing, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Gush in the first quarter.

But the Minutemen responded with 23 unanswered points to pull away.