New Hampshire Football Report

Maine mauls UNH

ORONO, Maine  – For the first time since 2010, the Brice-Cowell Musket resides in Orono after the University of Maine defeated the University of New Hampshire, 35-7, in Thursday night’s season-opening game for the CAA rivals at Alfond Stadium.

Chris Ferguson completed 21 of 31 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns for Maine (1-0, 1-0 CAA), which posted its first victory over UNH (0-1, 0-1 CAA) since 2010. Earnest Edwards had a 17-yard rushing touchdown and an 11-yard receiving TD, and the Black Bears’ defense recorded 12 tackles for loss, including six sacks, in holding UNH’s offense to 116 total yards of offense.

UNH senior linebacker and captain Quinlen Dean  recorded a game-high 11 tackles (six solo, five assisted), including 1.5 for loss, and sophomore safety Evan Horn made nine stops (3-6-9). Dean was also credited with a pass breakup.

Sophomore quarterback Christian Lupoli, who entered the game in the second quarter in place of an injured Trevor Knight, completed 5 of 13 passes for 98 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown to Carlos Washington, Jr. Washington, Jr. finished with 142 all-purpose yards (11 rush, 75 receiving, 56 kickoff return).​

HOW IT HAPPENED

2nd QUARTER

Following a scoreless first quarter, Maine took a 7-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter courtesy of a 6-yard touchdown pass from Ferguson to Micah Wright. That capped a 12-play, 88-yard drive.

•With the Wildcats facing a fourth-and-nine situation from their own 36-yard line, the Black Bears capitalized on an errant punt-formation snap that bounded into the end zone for a safety and a 9-0 Maine lead with 9:27 remaining in the first half.

•Maine took advantage of the ensuing free kick and marched 78 yards in seven plays to seize a 16-0 lead with 6:14 left in the half. The scoring play was a 17-yard end around from Edwards.

•Edwards scored his second TD of the quarter on an 11-yard reception from Ferguson to put the stamp on an eight-play, 99-yard drive that staked the home team to a l22-0 lead with 10 seconds left before halftime. The PAT was no good.

3rd QUARTER

Maine kept momentum on its initial drive of the second half and used trickery to build its lead to 29-0. A reverse flea-flicker resulted in tight end Drew Belcher, a former quarterback, reprising his old role by throwing a 52-yard scoring strike to Jaquan Blair with 10:43 to go in the third period.

4th QUARTER

•UNH got on the scoreboard with 12:47 left in the game when Lupoli found Washington, Jr. on a 62-yard seam route. The PAT from Jason Hughes trimmed Maine’s lead to 29-7.

•Joe Fitzpatrick capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive with a 14-yard TD run to extend Maine’s lead to 35-7 at 2:04. Ryan Sosnak blocked the Kenny Doak PAT kick; Sosnak blocked three kicks last year.

GAME NOTES

•The win snapped Maine’s eight-game losing skid in the all-time series; the Wildcats had posted victories in 15 of the previous 16 encounters.

•New Hampshire leads the all-time series with its longest-standing rival, 55-44-8.

Neil O’Connor had two catches for 21 yards to climb to No. 7 on the program’s career list for receiving yards (2,324) and into sole possession of No. 7 in career receptions (166).

 

You must be logged in to post a comment Login