Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Coast Guard Academy football team picked up a 27-17 victory over the University of New England to begin its season on Saturday afternoon at UNE Blue Storm Stadium.
 
The Nor'easter offense outgained the Bears by 90 yards at 324-234, but a blocked punt and interception returns for touchdowns proved to be the difference.
 
The opening drive for UNE stalled at its own 40, but Joe Curit picked off Bears quarterback Ryan Jones on the visitor's first possession of the game to setup the Nor'easters at the Coast Guard 48 yard line. Brian Peters capped a nine-play drive with a 6-yard pass to Cobey Johnson in the corner of the end zone to give UNE an early 7-0 lead.
 
Coast Guard answered with a long 15-play drive, finishing with a touchdown run by Jon Wagner from 14-yards out to tie the score. Michael Goldsworth blocked the Nor'easters punt attempt on their next drive and Mark Wicke took the loose ball in for a 55-yard touchdown. Curit blocked the ensuing extra point as the score stood at 13-7 early in the second quarter.
 
Justin Moffatt rushed in for an 11-yard score later in the half to extend the Coast Guard advantage to 20-7. UNE was able to drive down to the Bears five on its next possession, but a sack on third-and-goal led to a 30-yard field goal by Kevin Heintz to trim the deficit to 20-10 at halftime.
 
Late in the third quarter a tipped pass led to a 15-yard interception return by Eugene Bizer to extend the lead to 27-10. Devon Charles ran in from a yard out on the first UNE attempt of the fourth quarter for the final score game.
 
Peters finished 32-for-45 for 278 yards, but was sacked seven times. Brett Miller had seven catches for 88 yards and Johnson add 11 grabs for 74 yards. Charles rushed for 36 on the ground.
 
For the Bears, Jones had 63 through the air and 33 on the ground. Wagner led the offense with 68 rushing yards as Coast Guard finished with 171 total on the day. Bizer had 10 tackles to pace the defense. Philip Orland made five stops with 2.5 sacks. Colby LaDuque added two sacks.
 
Keegan Stanton-Meas finished with 10 tackles and DJ James added seven. Will Peters and Alex Morganti each registered a sack.
 
The Nor'easters visit Alvernia on next Saturday (Sept. 14) for a 1 p.m. kickoff.