UMass quarterback Taisun Phommachanh showed more than sheer athleticism in the Minutemen’s 41-30 victory at New Mexico State in the season opener last Saturday.

The 6-4, 215-pound transfer from Clemson put up phenomenal numbers in his UMass debut, which was also his first collegiate start. Phommachanh completed 10-of-17 passes for 192 yards and was the Minutemen’s leading ball carrier with 96 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown.

While his dual threat capabilities helped deliver UMass its most important win in years, it was Phommachanh’s command of the offense, game management and thinking a step ahead of the Aggies’ defense that most impressed UMass second-year head coach Don Brown.

“I thought he did a great job of that and I think that is his strength,” said Brown. “Obviously he is very athletic, but he is a very smart football player and we certainly are not going to run plays that he is uncomfortable with or that he is ill prepared for.

“But at the same time, we are just very comfortable with the way he goes about his business and he is all business. When you have a guy that is dedicated and focused on the task at hand, good things happen.”

Brown will need his young signal caller from Bridgeport, Conn., to take a great leap forward when the Minutemen (1-0) engage SEC power Auburn (0-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at historic Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.

While UMass and Auburn are meeting for the first time, Brown feels he has a good handle on what his defense will be up against. The Tigers are under first-year head coach Hugh Freeze, who spent the last four seasons turning Liberty into a Group of Five powerhouse. Liberty trounced UMass 42-24 last season on Oct. 8 at McGuirk Stadium.

“Coach Freeze is a good ball coach now,” said Brown. “He does a good job offensively and he is making the adjustments to a new system.

“I’m sure he will have those guys ready and we have to be ready for the challenge and ready to go 100 miles per hour. That’s going to be the approach.”