BANGOR, Me- Brian Peters rushed for a pair of touchdowns and also threw for 223 yards and a score Saturday afternoon as the University of New England Nor’Easters beat the Husson University Eagles 31-21 on homecoming weekend at the Winkin Complex in a Commonwealth Coast Conference football matchup.
UNE (3-3, 1-2 CCC) opened the game with a 10 play drive that stalled at the Husson 13 yard line, where Kevin Heintz missed a 30 yard field goal. The Eagles took their first drive down the field converting also on a 4th down and 4 in Nor’Easters territory culminating in a 12 yard touchdown pass from David Morrison to Keyshaun Robinson to make it 7-0. On their third possession UNE would tie things up early in the second quarter. The big play was a 31 yard scramble run for a first down by Peters on a 3rd and 7 from the Husson 49. Devon Charles finished it off with a two yard score to make it 7-7. The hosts regained the lead when Morrison hit Robinson on a 4th down and goal from the 1 yard line with 36 seconds to play in the half for a seven point lead. A misconduct penalty on Husson forced the Eagles to kick off from their 20 yard line, which would lead to a 41 yard field goal from Heintz on the last play of the second quarter to cut it to 14-10 at the half.
Husson quarterback David Morrison waits for the snap during fourth quarter action in Commonwealth Coast Conference action against UNE on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the Winkin Complex in Bangor. Photo by Chris Lessner
UNE took the lead for good in the third quarter. Peters would hit wide receiver DJ James on a slant across the middle, and James outraced Eagles defenders for the 66 yard touchdown to make it 17-14 Nor’Easters with 4:53 left in the quarter. An ensuing short kickoff resulted in a Husson fair catch at their own 39. A fair catch interference call gave the ball to Husson at the UNE 46. Eagles tight end Aiden Hogan made a catch and tried to make an extra move and was stripped and fumbled and the Nor’Easters recovered at their own 34. That would lead to another short QB keeper by Peters early in the fourth quarter. The one yard score made it 24-14 with 12:16 left. UNE gave good field position to Husson again as the kickoff after the score went out of bounds. The Eagles took advantage going 65 yards in 11 plays that took 4:46 with Morrison hitting Hogan for a four yard score on a third and goal. The guests put it away on the next possession getting two big throws from Peters to Cobey Johnson on third and fourth down plays in Husson territory. Peters second short keeper of the day from a yard out for a touchdown with 2:05 to go would ice the first conference win of the season for the Nor’Easters. It is the first win ever for UNE over Husson in varsity football. The two teams played in non-conference last season in Biddeford in a game the Eagles won 47-7.
Morrison finished the day 25-39 passing for 226 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Shawn Noel Jr. rushed 32 times for 134 yards. Tyler Halls had nine catches for 78 yards, Robinson made seven for 59 and two touchdowns, and Hogan had six for 56 yards and a score. Brandon Williams had nine tackles and Frank Curran had seven to lead the defense for the 2-4, 2-1 Eagles. Charles led the rushing attack for UNE with 14 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, while Peters added seven for 56 yards and the two short touchdowns. Johnson made seven catches for 85 yards. James had the one big play with one catch that went for the 66 yard score. Nick Scarfo, Joe Curit, and Ryan Turner all had five tackles a piece.
Husson is back in action to finish off the three game homestand next Saturday when they host the top team in the CCC Endicott (5-1, 3-0) in a huge conference game at 12 noon.
UNE (3-3, 1-2) 0 10 7 14- 31
HUS (2-4, 2-1) 7 7 0 7- 21
Total yards- UNE 414 Husson 376
First downs- UNE 23 Husson 25
Third downs- UNE 9-14 (64%) Husson 7-17 (41%)
Turnovers- UNE 0 Husson 1
Time of possession- UNE 27:21 Husson 32:39
