Statistics

DUDLEY, Mass. – The University of New England football team racked up 498 yards of total offense en route to a 51-30 road victory over Nichols in a game that featured three Damien Jones touchdowns, including a kickoff return and a punt return.
 
Jones' 62-yard punt return during the third quarter was followed by his 84-yard kickoff return early in the fourth, making him the only player across Division III this season with a touchdown on both a punt return and kick return in the same game.

Jones is the only player in all of college football (Division III, Division II, FCS and FBS) this season with a punt return touchdown, kickoff return touchdown and rushing touchdown in the same game. 
 
The UNE offense, which cleared 50 points for the second time in 2024, totaled season-best yardage with a balanced attack that included 247 yards in the passing game and 251 by ground. Chris Lang, one of three Nor'easter quarterbacks to complete a pass, threw for 200 yards while completing 17 of his 21 passing attempts. Jarrett Henault was 2-of-2 through the air for 19 yards, and Will Ledbetter completed a pass for 28 yards.
 
The ground game, evenly distributed among a three-headed rushing attack, was led by Nathan Delgado with 72 yards and two touchdowns, both direct snaps near the goal line, on 12 carries. Jones ran for 71 yards on 11 carries while adding a rushing touchdown to his two special teams scores.
 
Jayden Prophete led the Nor'easters with seven tackles and came with two interceptions to help the UNE defense pick off a total of four Nichols passes. Evan Hazard and Spencer Sherck also came up with takeaways.
 
The Nor'easters needed just three plays from scrimmage following the opening kickoff to score its first touchdown of the game. Nichols fumbled on its first play of the game and with UNE taking over in Bison territory, Lang hit Berto Zepeda on a slant for a 29-yard score. Nichols answered with a touchdown drive, but missed the extra point.
 
UNE grabbed a 14-6 lead with Delgado's first touchdown of the day, set up by Nichols' turnover on downs deep in its own territory. The Bison again found the answer, and this time completed a two-point conversion, to tie the game at 14-14. Anthony Lacaprucia's 20-yard field goal capped off the first half to send the Nor'easters into the break with a 17-14 advantage.
 
UNE's dominant start to the second half created an insurmountable lead, beginning with the opening drive that was finished off by Jones' rushing touchdown, a preview for what was to come on special teams. With just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Jones struck with his punt return to hand the visitors a 31-14 lead.

Delgado's second touchdown, which came early in the fourth quarter, extended UNE's lead, and after a Nichols score, Jones' kickoff return hiked the score to 44-22. Jarrett Henault's 11-yard rushing touchdown, dragging defenders across the goal line, capped off the Nor'easter offense's dominant showing.
 
Saturday's win marked UNE's fourth straight over Nichols, dating back to the 2021 season.
 
The Nor'easters are in action at home for the final time in 2024 on Saturday, Nov. 2 when they host Curry at 1 p.m.