Turnovers and an ineffective offense conspired to plague the University of Maine football team on Saturday afternoon as the University of New Hampshire posted a 22-6 Colonial Athletic Association victory at Cowell
Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire.
Coach Jack Cosgrove’s Black Bears (3-5 CAA) lost their fourth consecutive game and slipped to 3-8, the program’s worst record since 1995.
The Wildcats (7-4 overall, 5-3 CAA), who have beaten the Black Bears five straight times and retain possession of the Brice-Cowell Musket, hold out hope for a possible Football Championship Subdivision postseason berth. UNH’s streak of 11 straight playoff appearances is tops in the nation.
New Hampshire outgained UMaine only 379-334 but capitalized on two of the Black Bears’ four turnovers (2 fumbles, 2 interceptions).
UMaine came up empty on three of its four possessions that got inside the UNH 30, two of which ended with interceptions. The Bears also converted only three of 15 third-down opportunities and were 0-for-2 on fourth down.
The Wildcats were spearheaded by the play of quarterback Sean Goldrich, who completed 29 of 47 passes for 286 yards with a TD and an interception. Jared Allison made 10 catches for 81 yards and Dalton Crossan carried 16 times for 85 yards and caught five passes for 44 yards and a score.
Quarterback Dan Collins led UMaine, which managed only 69 rushing yards, by going 18-for-34 with 242 yards and a TD. He was intercepted twice. Micah Wright caught eight balls for 83 yards.
UNH extended its 13-0 halftime lead in the third quarter after a punt hit UMaine’s Wright and the hosts recovered at the UM 40. The key play during the ensuing six-play drive was a 39-yard completion from Goldrich to Kyon Taylor.
That set up an 11-yard TD scramble by Goldrich that made it 19-0 at 8:59 of the period.
The Bears, who turned the ball over twice in the third quarter, finally scored 39 seconds into the fourth. UMaine went 51 yards on six plays, aided by a 15-yard penalty, capped by Collins’ 6-yard toss to John Hardy.
However, the Wildcats responded with a 13-play march that consumed 4:44 and culminated in Morgan Ellman’s 25-yard field goal.
Mike Kozlakowski and Patrick Ricard led UMaine with six tackles each. Cabrinni Goncalves made five and an interception. Akil Anderson’s 10 tackles paced UNH.
The Wildcats capitalized on a UMaine turnover to take a 7-0 first-quarter lead. Cyrus Boone recovered after quarterback Drew Belcher fumbled at the UM 32.
UNH needed only four plays to score as a 19-yard pass from Goldrich to Jared Allison set up a 2-yard scoring toss from Goodrich to Crossan.
The hosts made it 13-0, taking advantage of good field position after a punt and an 11-yard return by Casey Andrade. UNH struck on its second play when Crossan raced 43 yards for a touchdown.
Morgan Ellman’s PAT kick missed.