New Hampshire Football Report

UNH earns first victory

Photo courtesy UNH media relations

DURHAM – Senior Trevor Knight (Amherst) threw four touchdown passes in his first game at quarterback since the season opener to lead the University of New Hampshire football team to its first win of the season, 28-0, over Holy Cross on Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.

The UNH defense tossed its first shutout since notching a 14-0 win over Central Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA FCS Division I tournament last year on Nov. 25. It was the team’s first regular-season shutout in nearly eight years, since stopping Richmond, 17-0, on Oct. 9, 2010, at home in Cowell Stadium.

The Wildcats are now 1-4 overall and play their second of three straight home games against Stony Brook next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for Homecoming. Holy Cross fell to 1-5.

Knight completed 22 of his 38 passes for 237 yards and the four scores with one interception. He had not played since injuring his shoulder in the second period of UNH’s first game at Maine on Aug. 30.

“Needless to say that was much-needed,” UNH coach Sean McDonnell said. “We’ve been struggling. Went out there today and played up to our abilities for the most part in that game. It was fun to watch to see the kids enjoy playing football again. They’ve been giving an awful lot to us and playing their tails off, and a lot of things haven’t come our way.

“We went out today and executed some things the way we knew we could. Played defense the way we knew we could. Made some plays with some of our playmakers. Obviously it was good to get Trevor back. I think it put a calming feeling on the whole team.”

Senior wide receiver Neil O’Connor led the Wildcats with 10 catches for 108 yards. Senior wide receiver Kieran Presley had five catches for 87 yards.

O’Connor and Presley each caught touchdown passes from Knight. Redshirt freshman Sean Coyne and junior tight end Justin Malone-Woods had the other TD catches.

UNH collected a season-high 439 yards of offense.

The Wildcat defense limited Holy Cross to 233 yards of offense and came up with a pair of interceptions. Junior safety Rick Ellison and senior linebacker Jared Kuehl (Plymouth) had the picks.

FOOTNOTES

  • Exeter High School graduate Neil Vorster started at defensive tackle for Holy Cross. Vorster, a senior, had one tackle in the game. He had 20 tackles, including one sack, in Holy Cross’ first five games this season.
  • Former Saint Anselm head coach Pat Murphy is Holy Cross’ offensive coordinator. Scott James, the team’s defensive coordinator, was on the UNH staff last season.
  • The Wildcats had a 34:46-25:14 advantage in time of possession.
  • UNH entered the game averaging 38 yards rushing per game, but 173 yards on 32 carries. Evan Gray led the way with 82 yards on nine attempts, and Trevon Bryant had 72 yards on 12 carries.
  • Saturday’s attendance was 6,497.

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