AMHERST, Mass. — On third-and-goal from the Massachusetts 8-yard line on Saturday, University of Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn slung a sidearm pass toward the back of the endzone, where two UMass defenders were converging on wide receiver Jerjuan Newton.
The ball went between both UMass players and into the hands of a diving Newton.
The degree of difficulty was high, but the connection between Finn and Newton is familial.
Since 2019, during their true freshman seasons, Finn has been throwing passes to Newton. It started as two hard-working first-year players sneaking into the Fetterman Training Center to get extra reps, progressing into two veterans who have connected for eight touchdown passes in 2023.