The #18 University of New Hampshire Wildcats took back the Brice-Cowell Musket on Saturday afternoon, holding off the Maine Black Bears 42-41 in overtime in the regular season finale for both teams in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) football game played at Alfond Stadium in Orono.
Maine was able to rally from three 14 point deficits in the game, as visiting UNH had leads of 14-0, 21-7, and 28-14. After a 75 yard touchdown run by Zavier Scott cut the deficit to seven, an 11 yard scamper by quarterback Joe Fagnano got the Black Bears even at 28-28 early in the fourth quarter. It took the Wildcats just 3:11 to regain the lead on a six yard scoring pass from Max Brosmer to Adam Deese. It got tied up once again when they hosts scored on their next drive that chewed up 75 yards in 8:01. Elijah Barnwell scored on a two yard run that would send it into overtime. In the extra session it took UNH five plays from the Maine 25 to take the lead, as Kyle Lepkowski caught a four yard TD from Brosmer. The Black Bears with their possession faced a 4th down and 16 from the 31 yard line, but pulled off some trickery to find the endzone. Fagnano passed to Barnwell around the 25, who then pitched a lateral to Montigo Moss. Moss then turned at about the 27 and threw it back across his body to Rohan Jones along the opposite sideline. Jones streaked from the 19 yard line towards the goal line and stretched the ball out to hit the pylon for six points. Maine decided to go for the win, but the two-point conversion pass by Fagnano to Freddie Brock was tipped and intercepted by Wildcats linebacker Bryce Shaw to end it.
Fagnano was 16-32 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He also had 12 rushes for 71 yards and a score. Barnwell had by far his best game of the season rushing for 143 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns. Scott had nine carries as well for 108 yards and the long touchdown, as Maine ran the ball for 336 yards. Scott also had five catches on the day, while Brock and Moss had three each. Brian Lee, Jr. had 11 total tackles to lead the defense as the Black Bears finish off a disappointing season at 2-9 and 2-6 in the CAA. Brosmer had 247 yards passing with three touchdowns and Dylan Laube had 190 yards rushing in the win for UNH, who avenged a loss to Maine in the rivalry game in 2021 down in Durham. The Wildcats (8-3, 7-1 CAA) won a share of the regular season conference title with William & Mary and will be heading to the FCS playoffs.
