Statistics

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The University of New England built a 24-point fourth quarter lead on its way to a 31-21 victory over Plymouth State University in non-conference football action on Saturday afternoon. The Nor'easters open the season 2-0 for the second time in as many years.
 
Jarrett Henault led the offense on 16-of-23 passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 54 yards on the ground with two scores. He spread the ball around to seven different receivers, led by Shane LaPorte with three catches for 64 yards. Jakob Rivers and Gavin Anderson each had a receiving touchdown. AJ DeFilio paced the team with four receptions for 34 yards.
 
UNE struck first on its second drive of the game. A holding penalty negated a first down by the Nor'easters deep in Panther territory and led to a 32-yard field goal by Jack Niland to make the score 3-0 at the 6:51 mark of the first quarter.
 
Rivers hauled in a 29-yard touchdown on the second play of the next quarter to extend the UNE lead to 10-0. The defense forced a punt by Plymouth State, but a muffed catch kept the ball with the Panthers at the Nor'easter 19-yard line. Braden Lynn made the most of the mistake finding Jake Donahue for a touchdown on the next play to close the gap to 10-7.
 
The teams traded punts until late in the half when Henault connected with Anderson with 30 seconds left to give UNE a 17-7 lead at the break. The touchdown drive was setup by a 25-yard catch by LaPorte and two long runs (14-yards, 28-yards) by Henault.
 
The Nor'easters began to pull away in the third. Jeff Wyskiewicz ended a Plymouth State threat with a fourth-down sack to give UNE the ball near midfield. LaPorte caught a 31-yard pass on the ensuing drive to help setup a four-yard touchdown run by Henault to extend the advantage to 24-7.
 
The Panthers next drive quickly took a turn as an 11-yard sack by Kese Higgins on third down was followed by a blocked punt by John Germano that gave UNE the ball at the visitors nine-yard line. Henault stuffed it in again to make the score 31.7.
 
Fourth-quarter touchdowns by Tyler Kayo and Tyler Gleifert closed the gap late for Plymouth State, but the result was never in doubt.
 
Lynn struggled through the air with just 71 yards on 9-of-19 passing. The Panthers amassed 191 yards on the ground. Willie Lombard had 105 yards while Manny Sanchez added 60 yards.
 
Nate Reid had seven tackles (three solo) for the UNE defense. Higgins and Chris Winslow each finished with six tackles. Dylan Ibbitson had four stops including two for a loss and a sack.
 
The Nor'easters are back on the road next weekend at Gallaudet in Washington, D.C. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.