On Saturday, Nov. 16, the University of New Hampshire football team took on Stony Brook, winning 31-30.
Before the game started, UNH took a moment to recognize all seniors by playing their alma mater. They then recognized the football seniors with each of the players giving their families flowers.
The first quarter started with the ball going back and forth between the teams yet remaining scoreless. Stony Brook was the first to score with back-to-back field goals. The first field goal was from 24-yards after Stony Brook’s Duncan-Niusulu intercepted the ball at the Wildcat 30-yard line and went down at the 25. The second field goal came from a sack on quarterback, Seth Morgan, that led to a fumble that Stony Brook recovered by A.J. Roberts, who went down on the UNH 8-yard line. The first quarter ended with Stony Brook leading 3-0.
The second quarter started with Stony Brook in possession of the ball, where they scored their second field goal for 22 yards. The Wildcats quickly responded and took the lead with the first touchdown of the day with a pass to Logan Tomlinson and a field goal by Nick Mazzie. Stony Brook took the lead back with a touchdown of their own in only seven plays for 60 yards. The touchdown was made by Jayce Freeman from a 30-yard catch and was paired with a kick by Enda Kirby.
“Those (Stony Brook) guys were physically impressive. They went after it, they were wearing on us,” commented head coach, Rick Santos.
UNH ended the first half trailing by three, 13-10, with a 22-yard field goal from Mazzie after he missed one from 38-yards.
Stony Brook started the third quarter with the ball and scored a touchdown with a 14-yard pass to Cal Redman and a good kick by Kirby to bring their lead up to 10.
“The third quarter, we just really didn’t have the opportunity to push the ball down the field,” said Santos.
The third quarter came up scoreless for UNH. Stony Brook continued their lead with a field goal from 37-yards by Kirby. Stony Brook led going into the fourth quarter, 23-10.
“It’s the most important quarter,” said defensive lineman Ryan Toscano in the fourth quarter.
Stony Brook made their lead to 20 points going into the fourth quarter with a touchdown with a 13-yard pass to Cole Bunicci. After this touchdown, UNH shifted the momentum in their favor offensively and defensively.
“When we needed them (the defense) the most, they stepped up, they created turnovers, they got us the momentum right back and we capitalized on the offensive side of the ball,” said Santos.
The Wildcats scored a touchdown just minutes after Stony Brook’s final scoring drive. The touchdown was made by a 24-yard rush into the endzone by Morgan and accompanied by a kick attempt by Mazzie. The defense got the ball back to UNH shortly after with a sack on Stony Brook’s quarterback, Tyler Knoop, that led to a fumble which was recovered by Jacoby Sherard. This fumble led to another UNH touchdown from Denzell Gibson with a 2-yard rush and a kick attempt by Mazzie. The Wildcat defense clocked a forced fumble on Stony Brook’s, Malachi Marshall, which was recovered by Zedane Williams. This led to UNH’s third touchdown in a row with a 15-yard pass to Joey Corcoran and another kick attempt by Mazzie, giving the Wildcats a one-point lead. The game ended with UNH in possession of the ball and three kneel-downs to run the clock to zero.
Santos described the game the best, “it was an epic comeback.”
The Wildcat’s football team ended their regular season bringing the Musket back to Durham in the border battle against Maine with a winning score 27-9.