Statistics

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of New England football team fell behind early, but scored 28 unanswered points on its way to a 31-01 victory over Gallaudet University on Saturday afternoon. The Nor'easters are now 3-0 for the first time in program history.
 
Jarrett Henault had another efficient game for UNE with 24-of-31 passing for 277 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also had a season-best 96 yards rushing and a score. AJ DeFilio couth six passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. Shane LaPorte grabbed six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
 
Brandon Washington led the Bison with 146 yards rushing. He had about half of them on the host's opening drive as he began with a 19-yard rush, followed by a 54-yard scamper to get down to the UNE two-yard line. Zion Ortiz ran it in from a yard out to give Gallaudet an 7-0 lead.
 
The Bison attempted to fool the Nor'easters with an onside kick but Spencer LaBrecque recovered the attempt in Gallaudet territory. Henault made them pay with a 28-yard rush out of the gate down to the 16-yard line. He connected with Brady Feola down to the one before a short touchdown pass to LaPorte to tie the game 7-7 midway through the first.
 
The Nor'easter defense forced turnovers on the next two Gallaudet drives. Evan Hazard picked off Washington as the hosts were driving to end the threat. UNE was unable to make anything of the ensuing drive. Anthony Elkin recovered a Washington fumble on the next drive. Damien Jones ran in from five yards out to put UNE in front 14-7 with 1:05 left in the first quarter. Henault found Berto Zepeda for a 32-yard pass to help setup the go-ahead touchdown.
 
Henault continued to tear through the Bison defense on the Nor'easters first possession of the second quarter. He followed a 26-yard rush with a 46-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 21-7. The UNE defense continued to stymie Gallaudet as Hazard grabbed his second interception of the day on Washington's next pass attempt. Two plays later Henault connected with DeFilio from 28 yards out as the Nor'easters pulled ahead 28-7 with 10:15 to play in the half.
 
Gallaudet used the ground game to get back on the board on its next drive. Ortiz began the possession with a 22-yard rush. Washington had runs of 21 and 23 yards, but the Bison were unable to find the endzone had to settle for a 43-yard field goal by Jonathon Waterman. UNE answered with a 40-yard kick by Jack Niland to make the score 31-10 as time expired in the period.
 
Neither team was able to add to the score in the second half. UNE moved the deepest into opposing territory on its first drive of the third quarter, but Andrae Green intercepted Henault to end the chance. The Nor'easters were able to stop the Bison on fourth down on the UNE 16-yard line to keep them off the board. Both offenses were stagnant over the later part of the game.
 
Winslow, Mike Lemay, and Levens Louis each had five tackles to lead UNE. Louis and Tyler Richard also had a sack apiece. Hazard added three solo tackles to go with his two interceptions. Nilan continued his stellar start to the year, going 4-for-4 on extra points and made his only field goal attempt.
 
Antonio Mendoza and Joshua Saaty paced the Bison with eight tackles each. Jacob Hartman had two sacks.
 
UNE returns to Blue Storm Stadium on Saturday for a Homecoming Weekend matchup against Rochester. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.