Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of New England football team was unable to complete a two-point conversion in the second overtime period as it fell to the University of Rochester, 29-27, in Homecoming Weekend action at Blue Storm Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The victory was the third-straight for the Yellow Jackets who improve to 3-1 on the season. The Nor'easters are now also 3-1 overall.
 
Rochester began with possession to start the second overtime and looked to be forced to kick a field goal after a third-down stop by the Nor'easter defense on the four-yard line. The visitors elected not to kick and Daniel Papantonis rushed down to the one for a first down. After a four-yard loss, Ryan Rose connected with Aidan Papantonis near the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Rose hit Trey Johnson with a pass to convert for two points and put Rochester ahead 29-21.
 
UNE quickly answered as Jarrett Henault found Brady Feola for a 22-yard touchdown in the far corner to trim the deficit to 29-27 [Watch]. On the ensuing two-point attempt, Henault went to the corner again, this time for AJ DeFilio, but tough coverage by Jordy Tawa forced an incomplete pass to end the game.
 
Berto Zepeda hauled in a 24-yard catch on the first play of the opening extra period. After two rushes went nowhere, Henault was able to push in from two-yards out for the score. Rochester answered with a six-yard TD catch by Johnson to send the game into double overtime.
 
The Yellow Jackets scored first with a two-yard touchdown run by Daniel Papantonis at the 9:11 mark of the first quarter. The drive started on the UNE 10-yard line after a bad snap on a punt attempt forced a huge loss for the Nor'easters.
 
Henault had long passes to Damien Jones (19-yards) and Zepeda (26-yards) to setup the Nor'easters scoring drive. He finished it off with a four-yard scamper to tie the game 7-7 with 3:36 to go in the quarter.
 
Will Varney began the ensuing drive with a 45-yard run up the middle to put the Yellow Jackets deep in UNE territory. Three plays later Jay Zheng caught a 24-yard touchdown from Rose as Rochester led 14-7 after one. UNE drove right down the field on its first possession of the second quarter, but Judah Thomas was able to make a leaping interception of a Henault pass in the back of the end zone to keep the Nor'easters off the board. The score remained 14-7 in favor of Rochester at halftime.
The Yellow Jackets nearly used half of the clock to start the third quarter with a long drive down the field. On a first down at the UNE 20-yard line, Dylan Ibbitson jumped to pick off a pass by Rose and keep the visitors off the board. [Watch]
 
UNE made the most of the turnover as Jones barreled into the endzone from three yards out to tie the game at 14-14 with 5:32 to play in the third. The Nor'easters gained all their yards in the scoring drive on the ground with huge rushes by Henault (16-yards), Nathan Delgado (43-yards [Watch]) and Jones (19-yards).
 
Each team missed a field goal in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
 
Henault was 24-of-39 for 262 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also accounted for 57 rushing yards and two scores. Delgado had 49 yards on the ground. Jones finished with 47 rushing yards and three catches for 30 yards. DeFilio added five receptions for 68 yards. Zepeda had four grabs and 61 yards.
 
Rose threw for 186 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Daniel Papantonis led the Yellow Jackets with 99 rushing yards and a score. Aidan Papantonis pulled in eight catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. Johnson had 60 yards on seven catches. Tawa paced the Rochester defense with 12 tackles (10 solo) and broke up two passes. Jack Yensel and Thomas each had an interception.
 
The UNE defense was led by Chris Winslow and Evan Hazard who each had eight tackles. Oscar Clark had four tackles and a forced fumble. Ibbitson made three stops, including two for a loss to go with his interception. Tyron Gomes also pulled down an interception. Key Wise made a sack.
 
The game was the highest-attended contest in the history of the UNE football program with a total of 2,538 fans in attendance. It marked the fourth time the Nor'easters have surpassed 2,000 fans.
 
UNE is back at home next Saturday, Sept. 30 against Castleton at 3 p.m.