The Maine Black Bears scored the final 26 points of the game on Saturday afternoon and took advantage of four turnovers in the second half, leading to a 33-20 win over the New Hampshire Wildcats in the season finale at Wildcat Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire in Colonial Athletic Association football action. It is the first win at Durham for Maine since 2001.
UNH (3-8, 2-6 CAA) entering with seven straight losses got off to a good start in the big rivalry game. With their second possession of the first quarter, the Wildcats marched 98 yards with quarterback Tommy Herion hitting Nick Lorden for a five yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Herion was making his first career start. Maine kept the hosts from extending the lead after a 76 yard run by Carlos Washington Jr. when Adrian Otero blocked a 30 yard field goal attempt by Sean Lehane. UNH did extend that lead 1:14 into the second when Herion connected with Washington Jr. for a short four yard touchdown. The extra point was no good and it was 13-0. The Black Bears got on the board for the first time when Freddie Brock exploded through the Wildcats defense for a 29 yard scoring run just 1:47 later. That touchdown was set up by a Joe Fagnano to Andre Miller 22 yard hook up on 3rd and 19. New Hampshire continued their dominance on the ground in the first half scoring once again when Herion found Brian Espanet for a 10 yard TD, that was set up by a 48 yard run by Dylan Laube. That was the end of the scoring however for the ‘Cats. Maine tied it on a 34 yard field goal by Jonny Messina, a 16 yard TD pass from Fagnano to Shawn Bowman, and then another field goal from Messina of 37 yards on the last play of the first half to even the score 20-20 at the break.
Maine (6-5, 4-4) took their first lead and got the game winner almost halfway through the third quarter after an interception of Herion by freshman Kahzir Brown. Fagnano found a wide open streaking Miller behind the UNH defense for a 30 yard touchdown to make it 27-20 Black Bears. Brown intercepted Herion again on the next possession for the Wildcats, and Messina hit a 34 yard field goal off that turnover. Herion was picked for the third time in the quarter when Richard Carr went up and made a play at the Maine 23 yard line. Shakur Smalls made it four in a row intercepting Herion early in the fourth, that led to another kick from Messina of 33 yards that ended the scoring. UNH was held to 16 yards rushing in the second half after putting up 222 yards in the first 30 minutes. The Bears take back the Brice-Cowell Musket for the first time since 2018, winning five of their final six games of the season to finish over .500.
Fagnano finished 21-34 passing for 249 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Elijah Barnwell rushed 23 times for 111 yards, and Brock added 12 for 76 yards and a touchdown. Miller, the Old Town native, had a huge day with eight catches for 136 yards and the game winning touchdown in his final game as a Black Bear. Ray Miller led the defense with 11 total tackles. Herion was 15-30 passing in his debut for 156 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions, as UNH ends the season with an eight game losing streak. Washington Jr. had nine carries for 101 yards, and Laube had 11 for 100 yards. Washington Jr. also added a receiving touchdown. Espanet had three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Bryce Shaw and Josiah Silver had 11 tackles each for the Wildcats defense.
