Werts accounts for 3 TDs, leads Ga. Southern over UMass

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STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) — Shai Werts threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as he helped Georgia Southern sprint past UMass 34-13 on Saturday.

Werts accounted for 237 of Georgia Southern's 488 total yards as he threw for 154 yards and ran for another 83 yards on 14 carries. Werts was 6-of-9 passing.

The Eagles (2-0) ran the ball 19 straight times to open play before Werts hit Cam Brown in the back of the end zone with a 5-yard scoring toss to go ahead 7-3 early in the second quarter.

The Minutemen (1-1) tied the score at 10-10 after Jordan Fredericks' 1-yard TD run with 2:18 left in the first half. Werts put Georgia Southern ahead for good when he ran it in from the 3 with 35 seconds left in the half.

Tyler Bass added field goals of 41 and 50 yards for the Eagles.

UMass' Marquis Young rushed for 71 yards on 14 carries, putting him over 3,000 career rushing yards. He is just the fifth Minuteman to surpass that mark.