Statistics

MILTON, Mass. -- Senior Dylan Ibbitson contributed a special-teams touchdown and finished with seven tackles to help lead the University of New England to a 19-13 Commonwealth Coast Conference football win over Curry College on a rainy Saturday afternoon (Oct. 21) at Walter M. Katz Field.

The Nor'easters, who overcame 251 yards on the ground from Curry's Montie Quinn, improved to a program-record 6-1 overall and remained unbeaten in CCC play at 2-0. The Colonels slipped to 2-5 overall (0-2 CCC) on their Homecoming date.

UNE won the coin toss and elected to receive - which immediately paid dividends - as the Nor'easters marched right down the field in less than four minutes. Jarrett Henault found Damien Jones in the left flat with a screen pass, and the first-year scampered down the sideline for the touchdown.

The Nor'easters extended their lead late in the first when Anthony Elkins blocked a Curry punt and Ibbitson scooped up the loose ball and ran it in from midfield to make the score 13-0.

Curry did all the scoring in the second quarter to close the gap prior to intermission. Trevor Swanbeck converted a 39-yard field goal early in the frame to make the score 13-3, then Michael Moriarty found Edison Thompson for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:15 remaining. The successful PAT closed the deficit to three (13-10) heading into halftime.

The Colonels would knot the score at 13-all with 9:34 on the clock in the third when Swanbeck split the uprights from 31 yards out.

The score remained tie until very early in the final frame. Jones punctuated a UNE 10-play drive, finding the end zone from one yard out to give the Nor'easters a 19-13 advantage. UNE elected to try a two-point conversation but was unsuccessful.

UNE's defense would hold strong the rest of the way, as Curry went three-and-out on its next possession and Spencer Sherck had a late interception to help seal the victory.

Jones and Nathan Delgado combined for 181 yards on the ground for the Nor'easters, who trailed in time of possession by more than seven minutes. 

On the defensive side of the ball, three of Ibbitson's seven tackles were for a Curry loss. Nate Reid had a team-high eight tackles for UNE, while Anthony Cristoforo contributed seven. Chris Winslow and Oscar Clark each contributed five stops (4 solo).

John Germano had a big afternoon returning kickoffs for UNE, averaging 31.3 yards per return, including breaking one for 58 yards.

Curry's defense was sparked by Adem Kica, who talled a game-high 14 tackles. Bailey Smith added 10 and Michael Sims nine.

UNE returns to action next Saturday (Oct. 28) when Western New England University comes to Biddeford for a 1:00 p.m. showdown at Blue Storm Stadium.