Statistics

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The University of New England staged a red zone defensive stand in the final minutes on its way to a 17-10 victory over Coast Guard in its season opener on Saturday afternoon at Cadet Memorial Field. The Nor'easters begin the season with a victory for the first time in the history of the program.
 
Dom Pedi forced a fumble on the Bears' opening drive and Franco Covalucci-Abbatessa recovered on the 28-yard line to set UNE up with great field position for their second drive. Robert Inniss booted through a 21-yard field goal to put the Nor'easters in front 3-0 at the 8:56 mark of the first.
 
A 19-yard punt return by Trey Snowden and personal foul penalty on Coast Guard put UNE deep in defensive territory to begin their next drive. Two plays later Jarrett Henault connected with Shane LaPorte for a 13-yard touchdown as the Nor'easters extended their lead to 10-0.
 
Joey Armentrout found Matt Ross for a 45-yard pass on the ensuing possession to put the Bears on the Nor'easter 15-yard line. The UNE defense held strong and forced a 32-yard field goal attempt by Finnegan Hall that was missed to keep Coast Guard off the board.
 
The Nor'easters used a 12-play 80-yard drive to extend their lead to 17-0 with 11:43 to go until halftime. Henault and LaPorte hooked up once more, this time from five yards out for the touchdown. Henault finished an efficient 11-for-17 through the air for 99 yards and two scores.
 
Amr Baadani hauled in a 31-yard pass from Armentrout with 33 seconds left in the first half to give the Bears their first points of the afternoon and make it 17-7 at the break.
 
The score remained the same through the final period. UNE held the Bears to just a field goal following a long 18-play, 84-yard drive bridging the third and fourth quarters as the hosts trimmed the deficit to 17-10. The Nor'easters answered with a long drive of their own and ran 7:45 off the clock, but a missed 44-yard field goal left the door open for Coast Guard.
 
Armentrout hit Baadani for a 38-yard past to start the ensuing drive for the Bears and put them at the UNE 35-yard line with 2:46 to play. Two plays later a roughing the passer penalty brought the hosts to the Nor'easter 16. After a short pass and a rush, Keegan Stanton-Meas sacked Armentrout to setup fourth down. Armentrout tossed an incomplete pass to end the Bears' comeback attempt.
 
UNE did most of its damage on the ground with 172 rushing yards and 271 yards of total offense. Eugene Jordan led the way with 63 yards on 15 carries. Jack Mahoney added 54 yards on 14 attempts. Henault had 42 rushing yards.
 
LaPorte had five catches for 47 yards for the Nor'easters to go with two touchdowns. Stanton-Meas had eight tackles (seven solo) and three for a loss, including the late sack. Snowden had the only interception by either side on the day. Nick Lombard and Zach Beauvais had seven stops each.
 
Armentrout was 19-of-39 through the air for 275 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Baadani grabbed five catches for 113 yards. Tafari Wall added six grabs for 58 yards. On the ground Spencer McMillion led Coast Guard with 52 yards and a fumble. Conner McGuire paced the defense with seven tackles an a sack.
 
UNE will play its home opener next Saturday against Bridgewater State at 1 p.m.