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BIDDEFORD, Maine – Joey Bella forced a safety in the closing seconds of the third quarter to break a tie and help the University of New England to a 44-28 season-opening victory over the Coast Guard Academy at Blue Storm Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Nor'easters scored 16 unanswered points in the second half with the safety and two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns to put away the victory.
 
With the score tied at 28-28 in the final minute of the third quarter Coast Guard set up to punt the ball away from its own six-yard line. A bad snap was picked up by punter Chase Politte and he attempted to get out of the end zone, but was thrown out of bounds by Bella to give the Nor'easters two points and a 30-28 lead.
 
UNE kept the momentum going as Jarrett Henault connected with AJ DeFilio for a 44-yard pass on the first play of the ensuing drive leading the Nor'easters down to the Coast Guard 22-yard line. Four plays later Holdan Wilson ran it in for a score to give the Nor'easters a 37-28 lead early in the fourth quarter.
 
The Bears looked to pull closer with a long drive midway through the quarter as they drove from deep in their own territory down to the Nor'easter 27-yard line. On a first down pass, Dylan Ibbitson tipped the ball and Mike Lemay was there to intercept it and end the Coast Guard threat.
 
The Nor'easters put the game out of reach on their next drive as Rob Young punched it in from two yards out with 1:36 to play, making the score 44-28. The touchdown was setup by a fourth down conversion as Henault hit Shane LaPorte for a 32-yard pass on a fourth-and-seven attempt.
 
Neither team could gain an edge in the first half as every score was answered. Joe Armentrout connected with James Patz from four yards out to open the scoring for Coast Guard on its first drive of the day. Henault hit Brady Feola for a touchdown at the 7:22 mark of the first to tie the game. He later ran it in from 10 yards out to put UNE ahead 14-7 after a quarter.
 
The Bears grabbed the lead back with touchdowns on their first two drives of the second quarter. Broock Desta hauled in a 20-yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14 at the 8:36 mark of the period. After a turnover on downs by UNE, Coast Guard pulled ahead as Armentrout stuffed it in from a yard out.
 
UNE was able to tie the game 21-21 before the half, help by 45-yards of penalties on Coast Guard on the next drive. Berto Zepeda grabbed a 17-yard touchdown with 3:51 to go to knot the score.
 
Damien Jones broke off an 11-yard touchdown run on the Nor'easters first possession of the second half to put the hosts back in front. Van Buhman answered with a two-yard rushing touchdown for the Bears to tie the game at 28-28 before the Nor'easters gained control from there.
 
Henault was effective through the air as he went 35-for-44 for 329 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He also led UNE with 44 yards and a score on the ground. DeFilio (11 rec., 93 yards) and LaPorte (13 rec., 84 yards) were his top targets on the afternoon. Chris Winslow led the UNE defense with nine tackles (seven solo). Lemay had eight tackles (six solo) to go with an interception. Jack Niland nailed all six of his point after attempts.
 
Armentrout had 217 yards through the air with two touchdowns and a pick. Harrison Hensley rushed for a game-high 151 yards on 22 carries. Logan Morris and Ryan Vigo paced the Bears' defense with nine tackles each.
 
UNE returns to the field next Saturday at Plymouth State at 12 p.m.