Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Brandon Washington accounted for 304 total yards and four touchdowns to help Gallaudet University take down the University of New England in non-conference football action at Blue Storm Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bison (2-1) never trailed from the opening whistle but a short punt in the final minute of the third quarter gave UNE (2-1) the ball deep in enemy territory. Jarrett Henault found AJ DeFilio for 22 yards to a convert a fourth down and give the Nor'easters the ball on the one. He took it in himself on the next play to give UNE its first lead of the day at 31-27 with 14:00 to play.
 
The Nor'easters momentum wasn't long lasting as Eric Gregory returned the ensuing kickoff for Galluadet 57 yards down to the UNE 38-yard line. Will Peters knocked the ball loose from Washington and Jack Hopkinson recovered the fumble to end the threat. Penalties pushed the Nor'easters back and they were forced to punt.
 
Gallaudet made the most of its next possession as Washington found Nicholas Maccini for a 20 yard touchdown on fourth down to put the Bison back in front 34-31 with 7:57 left in the game. UNE staged a long drive and few big runs by Jack Mahoney put them on the Bison side of the field, but an incomplete pass on fourth down turned the ball over.
 
UNE looked to have the Bison stopped on the next drive and called a timeout with 3:58 remaining. On a fourth-and-five from their own 39-yard line, Gallaudet lined up to kick the ball back to the Nor'easters but punter Jonathon Waterman faked and rushed 25 yards onto the UNE side of the field for a first down. The Nor'easters were eventually able to stop the drive and got the ball back with under a minute to play. A fourth-down rush by Henault came up one yard short to end the comeback attempt.
 
The Bison controlled the first quarter, possessing the ball for 13:09. Washington hit Jaylen Johnson with a 32-yard touchdown pass to put the visitors in front 7-0 after a quarter. Waterman nailed a 45-yard field goal to begin the second quarter. Robert Inniss answered with a 33-yard kick for UNE to make it 10-3 with 8:04 left in the first half.
 
Jakob Rivers helped setup a UNE touchdown drive with a 44 yard catch down to the Bison 31-yard line. Todd Cravedi hauled in a nine yard catch for a score to tie the game 10-10 with just over a minute to play. Gregory put the Bison at midfield after a 38-yard kickoff return. Maccini hit Washington for 40-yards down to the 10 on the first play of the drive. Waterman nailed a 30-yard field goal as time expired to put the visitors ahead 13-10 at the break.
 
The teams traded blows in a high-scoring third quarter. The Nor'easters second muffed kickoff of the afternoon gave the Bison the ball in great field position to start the half. Two plays later, Washington made UNE pay with a 45-yard touchdown run.
 
Henault drove UNE down to score on its next drive with help from long catches by Shane LaPorte (21-yards), DeFilio (15-yards), and a 22-yard touchdown pass to Mikey Brennan to trim the deficit to 20-17 with 9:30 to play in the third. Washington and Johnson connected for another touchdown, this time from 28 yards to put the lead back up to double-digits at 27-17. Eugene Jordan capped a UNE drive with a 13-yard score to make it one-possession game at 27-24 late in the quarter.
 
The Bison amassed 312 yards on the ground, led by Washington with 160 and a score. Dre'Vaughn Mackall had 47 yards. Washington also threw for 84 yards on 3-of-5 passing and caught two balls for 60-yards and a score. Johnson finished with three catches for 84 yards.
 
For UNE, Henault was 15-of-28 for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Mahoney led the rushing attack with 64 yards. Rivers had three catches for 68-yards. LaPorte 61-yards on four catches and DeFilio pulled down three balls for 45 yards.
 
Defensively, Trey Snowden had 10 tackles (five solo) for UNE. Keegan Stanton-Meas had nine tackles (seven solo), a sack, and a forced fumble. Peters had six tackles and a forced fumble. Nick Lombard had the Nor'easters other sack.
 
The Bisone were led by Jacob Hartman with eight tackles (six solo) including 4.5 for loss. Rodney Buford Jr. had four solo tackles, three for a loss.
 
UNE is on a bye next weekend and returns to the field on Saturday, Oct. 1 for Homecoming Weekend at Blue Storm Stadium against Curry at 1 p.m.