Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of New England football team scored four rushing touchdowns in the opening quarter-and-a-half of play as it finished with a 31-14 victory over Vermont State University-Castleton on Saturday afternoon.
 
Damien Jones and Nathan Delgado each had two scores on the ground in the Nor'easter victory as they improve to 4-1 on the season.
 
UNE quickly drove the field to start the game as Jarrett Henault completed 5-of-6 passes in the opening drive, including three to Gavin Anderson for 37 yards. Jones scampered up the middle and in from eight-yards out to give the Nor'easters the early 7-0 lead. [Watch]
 
After a three-and-out by the Castleton offence, Henault scrambled down the right sideline on the opening play of the ensuing Nor'easter drive. After a 57-yard rush, Dawson Pierson knocked the ball loose and the Spartans recovered end the UNE threat. Despite gaining some momentum, Castleton once again went nowhere on offense.
 
The UNE ground game continued to pound the ball down the field on the next drive which culminated on another touchdown by Jones as the Nor'easters led 14-0 with 5:13 to play in the first quarter [Watch]. Kese Higgins forced a fumble on the kickoff which was jumped on by Parker Higgins to keep the ball with the UNE at the Castleton 23-yard line. Four plays later Delgado changed directions on a six-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21-0. [Watch]
 
Delgado rushed up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown, practically untouched on the next UNE possession to continue the Nor'easter onslaught [Watch]. He finished with 54 yards on the day. The defense forced another fumble its next time on the field as Dylan Ibbitson poked the ball loose and it was recovered by Nate Reid to give the Nor'easters another opportunity on offense. Jack Niland knocked in a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the half to extend the advantage to 31-0 at the break. UNE outgained the Spartans 299-50 in the first half.
 
Castleton added a touchdown in each of the final two quarters for its only points of the afternoon. Devin Wollner put the visitors on the board with 5:29 left in the third quarter with a 20-yard touchdown run. James Galarneau connected with Hunter Swan from 14-yards out with 8:39 to play for the other score.
 
Overall, the Nor'easters had 342 total yards to just 214 for the Spartans. Henault had 81 yards on the ground and was 14-of-19 in the air for 150 yards. Jones had 29 rushing yards. Will Ledbetter added 57 passing yards.
 
Anderson led the receivers with six catches for 66 yards. AJ DeFilio had three catches for 42 yards and Berto Zepeda added three receptions for 31 yards.
 
Kese Higgins, Aaron Hayes, and Bobby Cielakie each had five tackles to lead the UNE defense. Ibbitson added four tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, a forced fumble, pass breakup, and quarterback hurry. Anthony Elkins had a sack and three tackles.
 
Pierson had seven tackles for Castleton with a forced fumble and interception. Galarneau provided most of the Spartan offense with 40 passing yards and 59 on the ground.
 
The Nor'easters are off next week but return to Blue Storm Stadium in their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opener against Nichols on Oct. 14 at 1 p.m.