Statistics
David Bates Photo Gallery

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Big plays from the offense, including a 54-yard touchdown run by Damien Jones and a 60-yard touchdown grab by AJ DeFilio, helped the University of New England football team pull away from Gallaudet and earn a 27-13 victory in its home opener on Saturday afternoon.
 
UNE (1-2) entered halftime with a 10-6 lead after Jack Niland's last-second 35-yard field goal, and the two big second-half touchdowns from Jones and DeFilio provided more than enough offense to down the Bison (0-3), while the Nor'easter defense came up with a pair of key fourth-quarter interceptions. 
 
UNE's Chris Lang, who completed each of his first 15 passes, threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns, while Jones racked up 107 by ground with 12 carries. Nine receivers had at least one reception for the balanced Nor'easter offense, led by DeFilio with four catches for 91 yards.
 
Gallaudet's jack-of-all trades Brandon Washington rushed for 60 yards on 15 carries, hauled in four catches for 91 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown, all while completing three of five passing attempts for 27 yards. Dre'Vaughn Mackall powered the Bison's ground game with 89 yards on 16 carries.
 
UNE opened the scoring early in the second quarter when Lang threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Delgado, capping off a six-play, 74-yard drive (Watch). Gallaudet answered with a touchdown drive of its own on the ensuing possession, but missed the extra point to allow UNE to maintain a 7-6 lead.
 
After Niland's field goal extended UNE's advantage to four in the final seconds of the first half, Jones' 54-yard touchdown came on the opening possession of the third quarter as the sophomore found space on the left sideline and sprinted to pay-dirt to help the Nor'easters take a 17-6 lead (Watch).
 
Another Niland field goal extended that lead midway through the third quarter before the Bison made it a one-possession game with Gabe Segovia's 60-yard touchdown pass to Washington.
 
With just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Lang's 60-yard touchdown strike to DeFilio, who made a highlight-reel grab over a Gallaudet defender, put the game out of reach for the Bison.
   
Fourth-quarter interceptions by Oscar Clark and Spencer Sherck helped the Nor'easter defense hold Gallaudet scoreless in the final quarter. Sherck led UNE with seven tackles on the afternoon, and Evan Hazard followed with five tackles and a sack.
 
The Nor'easters are on the road Saturday, Sept. 28 at Rochester for a 1 p.m. kickoff and will return to Blue Storm Stadium for homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 5, hosting Dean at 1 p.m.