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Defense dominates UNH spring game

DURHAM, N.H. – Senior quarterback Trevor Knight (Amherst) completed a 56-yard pass to redshirt freshman Benyeal Hill, Jr. on the first play of the day and ran for a 5-yard touchdown on the third to lead the University of New Hampshire offense in the annual Blue-White game on Saturday in Wildcat Stadium.

After the Knight score, the defense grabbed control of the game for the most part.

The only other scoring came on a pair of field goals, a 30-yarder by sophomore Jason Hughes (Atkinson) and a 29-yarder by Sean Coyne .

The defense allowed five completions in 21 attempts by four quarterbacks and also came up with an interception by redshirt freshman safety Pop Bush. Redshirt freshman linebacker Kyle Hamper led the defense with four tackles.

The game wrapped up spring football for the Wildcats.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Sophomore defensive end Riley Ammerman led the defense with three tackles for a loss, including a sack.
  • Freshman linebacker J.J. Jerome, sophomore defensive end Brian Carter  and junior defensive end Robbie Schumacher each had a sack.
  • Carter, junior safety Dean Adams, freshman defensive tackle Niko Kvietkus, junior linebacker Quinlen Dean and redshirt freshman safety Mike Crawford had three tackles each.
  • Redshirt freshman running back Carlos Washington, Jr. carried nine times for 53 yards to lead the rushers.
  • Knight carried six times for 48 yards.
  • Junior Brandon Gallagher rushed eight times for 27 yards.
  • Knight completed three his nine passes for 71 yards.
  • Five different players caught the offense’s five passes.
  • Redshirt freshman Sean Coyne kicked a 45-yard field goal to win a kicking contest between the first and second periods.
  • Receivers Neil O’Connor  and Malik Love were among those who didn’t play in the game for health reasons.

WALKER AWARD

Senior tight end John DiCaro received the Todd Walker Teammate Award in a ceremony Saturday morning and wore Walker’s No. 80 during the game.

Walker died heroically on March 18, 2011 in Boulder, Colo., when he stepped in front of a gunman during an attempted robbery to save the life of a woman he was walking home.

Walker was a wide receiver for the Wildcats at the time and the award was established in his memory to recognize a player who displays the attributes of selflessness and dedication as the ideal teammate.

MOST IMPROVED

Following the game head coach Sean McDonnell handed out awards to the most improved players during the spring to:

  • Quarterback Tommy Herion.
  • Running back Carlos Washington, Jr.
  • Tight end Jack Cavallaro.
  • Offensive lineman Patrick Flynn.
  • Wide receiver Joey Carroll.
  • Defensive tackle Elijah Lewis.
  • Defensive end Riley Ammerman.
  • Cornerback Alonzo Addae.
  • Linebacker Michael Balsamo (Atkinson)
  • Safety Pop Lacey
  • Kicker Hughes
  • Bob O’Keefe Strongman Award Rick Ellison (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif)

THE CAPTAINS

The 2018 captains were named on Thursday. They are running back Trevon Bryant, linebacker Jared Kuehl  (Plymouth) and defensive end Jae’Wuan Horton.

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