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N.C. Central 45, UNH 27

North Carolina Central seemed to do whatever it wanted to on offense against the University of New Hampshire on Saturday night.

N.C. Central rushed for 205 yards on 41 attempts, scored on five of its first six possessions and upset UNH 45-27 at Wildcat Stadium.

The Eagles, who entered the game as 14.5-point underdogs, converted on each of their first nine third-down situations, punted once and were 5-for-5 in the red zone. They finished 12 of 15 on third down.

“I’ve been trying to tell people that we have an explosive offense,” N.C. Central coach Trei Oliver said. “For us to be 12 of 15 on third-down conversions and 5 of 5 in the red zone? That’s incredible. That’s incredible.”

N.C. Central quarterback Davius Richard ran the ball 16 times for 140 yards and a touchdown, and completed 18 of 27 passes for 194 yards and two TDs.

“Darius Richard was the best player of the field,” UNH coach Rick Santos said. “We just couldn’t get a stop. We were outplayed and outcoached.”

Linebacker Bryce Shaw led the UNH defense with 10 tackles.

“It’s hard when you have a quarterback that can run the football,” N.C. Central coach Trei Oliver said. “If you want to play two-high safeties you’re usually going to have problems stopping the quarterback run game. We thought it was there throughout the week and they gave us some looks we thought we could take advantage of and the guys executed.”

UNH quarterback Max Brosmer completed 26 of 45 passes for 296 yards, but had a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown in the first quarter. Wide receiver Joey Corcoran was targeted 13 times and made seven catches for 81 yards.

UNH (2-1)trailed by 17 until running back Sean Coyne caught a 4-yard TD pass from Brosmer with 8:20 to play. The PAT was wide left, which left N.C. Central with a 38-27 lead.

N.C. Central (3-0) took a 35-21 lead after it found the end zone on its first drive of the third quarter. Wide receiver Devin Smith scored on a 10-yard pass from Davius with 7:40 remaining in the third quarter. The PAT put the Eagles up 38-21, which was the score after three quarters.

UNH running back Dylan Laube fumbled on UNH’s next possession and N.C. Central took over on the 50-yard line. After scoring touchdowns on each of its first five offensive drives. the Eagles settled for a 30-yard field goal by Adrian Olivo this time. The kick put N.C. Central up 38-21 with 1:48 left in the quarter.

Neither team had trouble finding the end zone in the first half, which ended with N.C. Central in front 28-21. The Eagles took a 14-0 lead on a 20-yard run by Richard and a 33-yard interception return by defensive back Khalil Baker.

UNH responded with a 49-yard TD pass from Brosmer to wide receiver Heron Maurisseau, but N.C. Central answered with a three-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 34-yard pass from Richard to wide receiver Joaquin Davis.

Freshman wide receiver D.J. Linkins caught a 15-yard TD pass from Brosmer seven seconds into the second quarter, but N.C. Central scored its fourth TD on J’mari Taylor’s 1-yard run with 4:50 left in the half. UNH pulled within seven when Linkins scored his second TD on a 3-yard pass from Brosmer and Nick Mazzie’s fourth’s PAT with 38 seconds remaining in the half.

N.C. Central didn’t punt in the first half, and was 5-for-5 on third-down conversions.

UNH will return to Colonial Athletic Association play next Saturday, when it faces Towson on the road.

“I think it’s a huge wakeup call for us,” Brosmer said. “I guarantee that we bounce back next week.”

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