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BIDDEFORD, Maine – The University of New England football team scored twice on special teams in its 37-31 Conference of New England victory over Western New England University on Saturday at Blue Storm Stadium, securing the first 4-0 start in program history.
 
Saturday's win was also UNE's first ever against the Golden Bears (2-2, 0-1), who are currently receiving votes in the AFCA D3 Coaches Poll. The Nor'easters were previously 0-6 all-time against WNEU, including a 24-6 road loss during the 2024 season.
 
Big plays out of the special teams units helped UNE pull out the victory despite being outgained by the Golden Bears offensively, 491-347. Teighan Jeremy blocked a first-quarter punt, recovered it himself, and returned it for a touchdown to hand the Nor'easters an early 13-0 lead (Watch). Damien Jones exploded for a 95-yard kickoff return in the third quarter, providing a crucial answer to a WNEU touchdown and maintaining a two-score lead for UNE, 34-24 (Watch).
 
Jeremy's playmaking didn't stop with the scoop-and-score. The senior came up with an interception in the beginning of the second quarter, one of two UNE picks on the afternoon. Those takeaways were key against a Golden Bears offense that rushed for 247 yards.
 
Chris Lang powered the high-tempo Nor'easter offense with 213 yards and two touchdowns, along with 39 yards on the ground. Damien Jones put up 78 yards and a touchdown as the feature back. John Germano hauled in three catches for 84 yards and a score, and Alex Yeaton was on the receiving end of UNE's other passing touchdown.
 
Kelan Cornell and Matt LaMontagne comprised WNEU's two-pronged ground attack, both going for more than 90 yards. Cornell and Drew Caouette were both looked to in the passing game, and each threw for more than 100 yards with a touchdown apiece. Cornell threw both interceptions.
 
UNE's 13-0 lead, powered by a methodical opening possession and Jeremy's blocked punt, shrunk to 13-10 by halftime. The Golden Bears scored a touchdown on their opening drive of the second half, but the Nor'easters had the answer on the ensuing possession with Lang's 29-yard touchdown pass to Germano to reclaim the lead (Watch). A quick stop and another Lang touchdown strike – this time to Yeaton – delivered a 27-17 advantage (Watch).
 
A WNEU touchdown cut the lead to 27-24 with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter, but that one-possession margin was short-lived as Jones took the ensuing kickoff to the house. Anthony Lacaprucia's 20-yard field goal provided additional breathing room early in the fourth quarter, and although the desperate Golden Bears found the endzone in the final two minutes, the Nor'easters came up with the onside kick attempt and milked the clock, eventually leaving WNEU with just 27 seconds to go more than 70 yards.
 
Spencer Sherck led the defense with 21 total tackles. Jason Hammond recorded UNE's only sack – a key late-second-quarter play that forced the Golden Bears to settle for a field goal seconds before halftime. Oscar Clark's fourth-quarter interception in UNE's endzone was another spark, forcing WNEU to walk away empty-handed from a 12-play, 79-yard drive.
 
The Nor'easters' unbeaten start will be put to the test next Saturday (Oct. 4) with a trip to four-time defending CNE champion Endicott. Kickoff in Beverly, Massachusetts is set for noon.