Captains from the University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire meet at midfield prior to the coin toss before their season opener at Wildcat Stadium in Durham, NH on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Photo by Chris Lessner.
DURHAM, NH- Before a record setting home opening crowd of 15,854 fans the #13 University of New Hampshire football team topped Maine 24-23 at Wildcat Stadium in Durham, NH Thursday night. The game was the season opener as well as the conference opener for both squads.
UNH (1-0, 1-0 CAA) started quickly, taking the opening kickoff and marching 68 yards on 10 plays in 3:48, capped off by a Trevor Knight 12 yard TD pass to Nick Lorden to make it 7-0 UNH.
Maine at their own 20 after the ensuing kickoff, responded. On the first offensive play from scrimmage, running back Josh Mack took a handoff and went 33 yards to the UNH 47. Mack also ran for 12 more on the next play. Freshman quarterback Chris Ferguson capped off the 12 play drive by hitting Jaleel Reed for a four yard TD on a third and goal play to tie the game 7-7.
Maine had a chance to take the lead when defensive end Charles Mitchell hit quarterback Knight, forcing a fumble. Deandre Scott recovered at his own 42. Maine got the Cats 44 but a holding penalty killed the drive and the Bears were forced to punt.
UNH regained the lead late in the first quarter on a trick play. On a double pass, Knight hit tight end Neil O’Connor behind the line of scrimmage in the flats. O’Connor then threw downfield to wide receiver Malik Love who broke away for a 60 yard TD to make it 14-7 with just 33 seconds left in the quarter. UNH linebacker Jared Kuchl talked about the play call, “I was excited. It worked against us but we were going against the twos and the threes (strings) at the time. Neil stepped up and made a great throw. There was a guy running right at him too, unblocked, so he hung in there threw the ball, Malik went up and got it and ran for a touchdown. It was unbelievable, very exciting play, got the momentum going”.
The two teams exchanged field goals in the second quarter, a 35 yarder by Maine freshman kicker Kenny Doak, and a 26 yard boot from Max Pedinoff for UNH. Doak had a kick blocked on a 31 yard attempt just before the half, and UNH lead 17-10 at the break.
Maine quarterback Chris Ferguson waits for a first quarter snap during the Black Bears season opener in Durham against UNH Thursday, August 31, 2017. Photo by Chris Lessner.
More kicking troubles in the third quarter as Doak missed another chance to bring Maine within four, as his 37 yard attempt sailed wide right. The defense for the Bears stepped up though on the next offensive possession for the Wildcats. Darrius Hart picked off a Knight pass at the UNH 45 and returned it 12 yards to the Cats 33. On the very next play, Ferguson threw his second TD pass of the night finding Reed again down the middle of the field. Reed went up and got it over his defender for the 33 yard score to tie the game at 17-17.
The game remained tied until early in the fourth quarter. UNH would then finish off a 14 play, 75 yard drive with Knight finding Rory Donovan in the back of the end zone for an 11 yard strike to put UNH back up 24-17.
Maine once again had a response. Ferguson hit Jason Simonovich for a four yard TD, his third TD toss of the contest, to cap off their own 75 yard drive with 9:07 remaining. The extra point by Doak though would sail wide left, after what looked like a high snap.
The Bears defense would stop UNH three times in the remaining nine minutes, forcing two punts and a turnover on downs. But Ferguson threw a pair of interceptions, including the second one on a desperation throw at midfield on a fourth and 14 with 35 seconds left. The ball was intercepted by UNH linebacker Quinlen Dean at the UNH 36. Dean returned the ball to the Maine 36 before sliding down to the turf to preserve the eighth straight win over Maine in the series, and assuring the Brice-Cowell musket who goes to the annual winner will stay with UNH for another year.
Ferguson finished 23-44, 239 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Mack ended up with 103 yards rushing on 27 carries. Receiving wise, Jared Osumah made six catches for 72 yards, while backup quarterback Drew Belcher made four catches for 67 yards at tight end. Reed had two scores and ended with four receptions for 46 yards. Defensively, freshman linebacker Jaron Grayer made 10 tackles and also recorded a sack in his first collegiate game. Najee Goode had nine tackles.
Knight went 18-29, 149 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for UNH. He was also sacked three times. Knight also rushed 21 times for 79 yards. Sophomore running back Evan Gray carried 18 times for 74 yards. Love lead the Cats receivers with five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Donovan had six catches for 45 yards and a score. Prince Smith, Dean, and Kuehl all had seven tackles for UNH.
Maine coach Joe Harasymiak said after the game, “Unbelievable game to be a part of. It’s gotta be one of the best rivalries I have ever been a part of college football wise, doesn’t matter what level. Just two teams killing each other, battling it out every year we have done it. This year and last year have been unbelievable games. Obviously the bottom line is we didn’t make enough plays. Gotta keep making plays, battle back, we will keep believing in it, we will be alright”.
UNH 19th year coach Sean McDonnell said, “I think that’s everything you get in a Maine-New Hampshire football game. Ups and downs, teams playing hard. Just was very proud of the way we responded two or three times in the game. We made some plays when we had to make them. It wasn’t the prettiest win we have ever had, but it’s 1-0 on a Thursday night, we got the musket still here in Durham, great way to start the season. Couldn’t be prouder of the way the kids performed, playing hard”.
Maine (0-1, 0-1 CAA), will now head home for the home opener on Saturday, September 9 when they welcome Bryant into Alfond Stadium for non-conference action. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
UME 7 3 7 6- 23
UNH 14 3 0 7- 24
First downs- Maine 19 UNH 23
Total yards- Maine 352 UNH 383
Turnovers- Maine 2 UNH 2
Time of game- 3 hrs 15 min
