AMHERST, Mass. (Interstat) — William Watson III threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Massachusetts hosted Stonehill and stayed unbeaten with a 36-14 victory on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The Minutemen improved to 3-0. The Skyhawks dropped to 1-3. Watson, a quarterback from Springfield, Mass., completed 15 of 25 passes for 160 yards with one touchdown and added nine carries for 2 yards and one score. Massachusetts controlled the final quarter and finished off a win that kept its perfect start intact.

Massachusetts opened the scoring at 12:09 of the first quarter when Derek Morris made a 30-yard field goal. Stonehill answered at 9:15 when Jack O’Connell connected with Alijah Turner on a 13-yard touchdown pass. Langdon Laws Jr. kicked the extra point to give the Skyhawks a brief lead. The Minutemen regained the advantage at 7:33 on T.Y. Harding’s 56-yard rush right for a touchdown. Morris added the extra point. Morris then made a 55-yard field goal with 1:38 remaining in the opening quarter, sending Massachusetts into the second quarter with a 13-7 lead.

Massachusetts carried its lead into the second half and created separation in the third quarter. At 9:31, Curtis Kimmons IV rushed left for a 1-yard touchdown. A two-point pass attempt by Watson failed. Morris later added a 33-yard field goal at 2:15, extending the Minutemen advantage. Massachusetts led 22-7 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Watson rushed middle for a 1-yard touchdown at 13:37. Massachusetts was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play. Watson then found T.Y. Harding deep middle for a 51-yard touchdown at 10:54. Morris made the extra point. Stonehill answered at 3:32 when Drew Eason completed a short middle pass to Derek Varley for a 2-yard touchdown. Langdon Laws Jr. kicked the extra point. The final margin stood at 36-14.

Watson led Massachusetts with his combined passing and rushing production. Timmy Hinspeter paced the Minutemen defense with eight tackles. Tyler Martin and Kendall Bournes each finished with five tackles. William DePaepe had four tackles and two sacks. Raheim Sexil and David Chiavegato each added four tackles. TJ Magee returned a kickoff 25 yards and made two tackles. Joseph Griffin Jr. caught three passes for 14 yards and made one tackle. Dallas Elliott caught one pass for 5 yards. Morris connected on field goals of 30, 55 and 33 yards. Harding scored on a 56-yard run and a 51-yard reception. Kimmons added a 1-yard touchdown run.

Stonehill used two quarterbacks. O’Connell completed 10 of 21 passes for 69 yards and one touchdown. Eason completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards and one touchdown. Varley caught three passes for 10 yards, made one tackle and scored a touchdown. Turner caught two passes for 18 yards, returned two kickoffs for 30 yards, returned two punts for minus-3 yards and scored a touchdown. Shawn Corchado caught three passes for 41 yards. Jaylin Baker caught two passes for 32 yards. Khalil Wilson caught one pass for 16 yards. An’Tiyan Neal caught one pass for 12 yards. Shane Eason rushed nine times for 20 yards. Aidan Garrett rushed three times for 3 yards, caught three passes for 6 yards and made one tackle.

Defensively for Stonehill, Ma’Hkai Wilson recorded seven tackles and one sack. Dean Schmitt, Christopher Gill, Deandre Goodson and Caden Henritzy each had five tackles. Gill also recorded one quarterback hurry. Mohamed Toure, Gene Townsel, Trevon Baxter, Tyler Bannon and Marquan Saddler Jr. each made three tackles. Spencer Davila had two tackles and one interception. Jayleel Stewart had one tackle and one sack. Aaziah Scott had one tackle and two quarterback hurries. Kendrick Williams, Vincent Busa, Eric Miles and Adrian Weather each made two tackles. Logan Chenette punted six times for 236 yards.

Additional Stonehill defensive contributors included Damola Owode with two tackles, Chris Hanewich with one tackle, John Flynn with one tackle, Josh Osuagwu with one tackle, George Nelson with one tackle, Brian Benson with one tackle, Derion Johnson with one tackle and Tre Rankin with one tackle. The Skyhawks also received two tackles apiece from Eric Miles, Vincent Busa, Kendrick Williams and Adrian Weather. Aaziah Scott added two quarterback hurries, and Jayleel Stewart recorded a sack. Stonehill’s special teams work included six punts for 236 yards from Logan Chenette, while Turner handled kickoff and punt return duties.

Stonehill’s season has included a 42-35 loss at New Hampshire on Sept. 12, a 21-3 win at New Haven on Sept. 5 and a 24-6 home loss to Bryant on Aug. 29. Massachusetts previously beat Sacred Heart 37-10 on Sept. 12 and won at Rutgers 37-21 on Sept. 3. The Skyhawks next play at Ohio on Sept. 26. The Minutemen next play at Sacramento State on Sept. 26. Stonehill then visits Sacred Heart on Oct. 10, hosts Duquesne on Oct. 17, visits Long Island University on Oct. 24, hosts Mercyhurst on Oct. 31, hosts Central Connecticut on Nov. 7, visits Robert Morris on Nov. 14 and hosts Wagner on Nov. 21. Massachusetts hosts Eastern Michigan on Oct. 3, hosts Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 10, visits Buffalo on Oct. 17, visits Connecticut on Oct. 23, hosts Ball State on Nov. 4, visits Toledo on Nov. 11, hosts Akron on Nov. 18 and visits Bowling Green on Nov. 28.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Massachusetts 34, Stonehill 13. Interstat’s ELO system gave Massachusetts an 85.6 percent probability to win. Stonehill had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +33.5. The over/under line was 49.5, and the teams combined for 50 points.