FOOTBALL GAME DAY (OCT. 31 VS. NORTHEASTERN)

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WILDCATS BOUNCE BACK WITH A WIN AT HOFSTRA AND PREPARE FOR FOR WILD CAT AND DOG FIGHT: It wasn't pretty in any way, shape or form but the UNH football team bounced back from a loss at UMass with a victory last week in the rain and wind at Hofstra, 18-10. The team now turns its attentions to the Northeastern Huskies, a team that recorded its first win of the season last week at Parson's Field vs. Towson, 27-7. The Huskies in recent years have always given the 'Cats a dog fight, especialy when it comes to NU playing downhill, football.  UNH's defense has carried the Wildcats to victories, while the offense continues to gain experience and looks for improvement on the offensive line.  UNH's huge defensive line had three more sacks and forced two fumbles against Hofstra and caused two turnovers with a fumble recovery and interception. Offensively, senior All-American tight end Scott Sicko has been productive ,despite drawing  crowd no matter where he is on the field. He leads UNH in catches with 29 for 411 yards and four touchdowns this season. QB R.J. Toman has struggled with injury (turf toe and ankle), but has led the team and shown great toughness. He's passed for 7 touchdowns this season and is averaging 197.5 yards per game this season in passing. UNH's running back tandem of Sean Jellison and Chad Kackert has produced seven rushing touchdowns and over 100 ypg. combined.

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN:  The Huskies of Huntington Avenue are coming off their only victory of the season, a 27-7 win over Towson at Parson's Field. In that game, NU's running game was clicking as John Griffin rambled for 200 yards on 29 carries for an average of 6.9 per run. He also scored on a 70 yard run in the contest. The Huskies have been are averaging just 13.9 ppg. this season and are allowing opponents to average 35.4 ppg. in 2009.  Leading the team at quarterback has been Matt Carroll who has completed 68 of 105 passes for 632 yards and five touchdowns through the air. Griffin leads the running game with 115 attempts this season for 525 yards and an average of 75.0 ypg. The Huskies have an oustanding weapon at wide receiver in Jordan Batts, who checks in with 36 catches for 351 yards and four touchdown catches for NU.  On the defensive side of the football, the Huskies look towards Phil Higgins for most of their tackles as he leads the squad wth a total of 59 tackles in 2009 (29-30-59) and the team has seen good tackle production from Darryl Jones and his 52 tackles (32-20-52). Jones leads the team in interceptions this season with three and he has also recovered two fumbles for the Huskies. Northeastern head coach Rocky Hager is in his sixth season on Huntingon Ave. and has has over 30 years of coaching experience overall.  During his time at Northeastern he has been responsible for 29 Husky players who have been recognized on Colonial Athletic Association all-conference teams.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES VS. NORTHEASTERN:  The all-time series between UNH and Northeastern stands at 40-14-1 and UNH has won the last two meeting with a 33-21 win last year at Parson's Field, but NU won the last meeting in Durham by a 31-13 magin in 2007. The first meeting between these two New England rivals took place in 1939 and UNH won that initial contest by a 15-6 margin. The recent games between the two CAA schools have been tough battles, as UNH head coach Sean McDonnell is 5-4 vs. the Huskies during his tenure and Rocky Hager owns a 2-3 mark.

A LOOK AT LAST SEASON'S NORTHEASTERN MATCHUP: BROOKLINE, MASS. – The University of New Hampshire football team came back from a 21-6 halftime deficit by scoring 27 unanswered points to defeat Northeastern University (33-21) at Parsons Field on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats took their first lead of the contest, and the lead for good, when junior tight end Scott Sicko (Stillwater, N.Y.) caught a 16 yard pass from sophomore quarterback R.J. Toman (Mission Viejo, Calif.) to make the score 26-21 with 13:47 remaining in the contest. The clincher came with 49 seconds remaining when senior running back Robert Simpson (Brockton, Mass.) ran it in from 2 yards out. The PAT by Bishop was good and UNH drove back to Durham with the 33-21victory. UNH improves to 5-1, 2-1 CAA, while NU falls to 2-5 overall, 1-2 in conference play. Northeastern took the opening drive 65 yards down the field quickly and scored on a 1 yd TD plunge by Alex Broomfield to give the Huskies the early 7-0 lead following the PAT by Mat Johnson. UNH got on the board with their first drive of the game as well when senior Tom Bishop (Newfield, N.Y.) booted a 36 yard field goal through the uprights to cut the NU lead to four points, 7-3. Broomfield struck again at 8:36 of the second quarter with a four yard run to give Northeastern the 14-3 advantage after the made PAT. Bloomfield then caught a 17 yard pass from Anthony Orio with 28 seconds remaining for his third TD of the day before the half and the Huskies led 21-3.On UNH’s final drive of the half, the Wildcats moved the ball to the NU 20 yard line with just just two seconds left before intermission and UNH cut the lead to 21-6 after the second field goal of the day by Bishop, a 37-yarder as time expired.UNH came out in the second half fired up and quickly scored at 14:28 of the third quarter on a 31 yard pass play from Toman to sophomore wide receiver Terrance Fox (Piscataway, N.J.) to make the score 21-13 after the made PAT.

TOM MANNING NAMED CAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AFTER KICKING A TWO LATE FIELD GOALS, INCLUDING A UNH RECORD 54 YARDER, IN WIN OVER HOFSTRA: Senior kicker Tom Manning, the CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week was true on three field goals and a PAT in New Hampshire’s 18-10 rain-soaked win on the road over Hofstra.  The now two-time CAA Football Special Teams honoree had field goals of 30, 54 and 44 yards in the win.  His 54-yarder marked a school record, trumping a 53-yard kick by Dave Teggart in 1977 -- New Hampshire coach Sean McDonnell’s junior season.  The 54-yard boot also marks the longest this season by any kicker in the league and ranks tied for the third-longest in league history.

SENIOR KICKER TOM MANNING HAS MADE 10 STRAIGHT FIELD GOALS DATING BACK TO THE DARTMOUTH GAME ON SEPT. 26: Senior kicker Tom Manning (Rome, N.Y.) has been oustanding for the Wildcats in recent weeks. Since late in the Sept. 26 game vs. Dartmouth, he has connected on 10 straight field goals, including a school record game-winning 54-yarder vs. Hofstra last week. Here's a look at what he has done since that time: For the season, he has made 11 of 14 field goals.

Dartmouth (Sept. 26)
24 yards (Good)

Towson (Oct. 3)
27 yards (Good)
24 yards (Good)

Villanova (Oct. 10)
27 yards (Good)
35 yards (Good)
22 yards (Good)

Massachusetts (Oct. 17)
35 yards (Good)

Hofstra (Oct. 24)
30 yards (Good)
54 yards (Good) (UNH School Record)
44 yards (Good)

HOME SWEET HOME FOR THE WILDCATS: The UNH football team has done very well in the friendly confines of Cowell Stadium and is now 3-0 at home this season with victories over the likes of St. Francis (24-14), Dartmouth (44-14) and Villanova (28-24). The Wildcats will also play three of their final four games at home to wrap up the regular season, including a game this week vs. Northeastern, a Nov. 7 contest at home vs. Rhode Island and the final game of the season on Nov. 21 vs. Maine. All home games will be played at 12 p.m.

UNH'S BIGGEST CROWD SO FAR THIS SEASON, HOME OR AWAY, WAS THE VILLANOVA GAME AT COWELL STADIUM: The UNH football team has played in front of several big crowds this season, but none was bigger than the Homecoming crowd in Durham on Oct. 10 vs. then No. 2 Ranked Villanova. The attendace of 14,811 as the largest of the season, home or away.  UNH won the game by a 28-24 margin.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, THE UNH FOOTBALL TEAM WILL HAVE TWO OF ITS UPCOMING GAMES BROADCAST ON LIVE TV (COMCAST SPORTSNET NEW ENGLAND): Two of UNH's next three home games will be shown live on Comcast SportsNet New England. The games being broadcasted include the Rhode Island contest on Nov. 7 and the Maine game on Nov. 21 at Cowell Stadium.

UNH LEADS THE CAA IN INTERCEPTIONS WITH 14 THIS SEASON:  The Wildcat defense presently leads all CAA defenses in interceptions made with 14. Here's a look at the top five in the CAA this season:

1. UNH                  14
2. Maine                12
3. Massachusetts    11
4. Richmond           11
5. Villanova            10

UNH LEADS THE CAA IN TURNOVER MARGIN WITH A MARK OF +13: The University of New Hampshire football team is presently leading the CAA in turnover margin with a mark of +13. Here's a look at the top five in the CAA:

1. UNH                +13
2.  Rhode Island    +8
3. Richmond          +7
4. Villanova           +8
5. William & Mary   +6

UNH LEADS THE CAA IN RED ZONE DEFENSE IN 2009: The UNH defense leads the conference in red zone defense this season with a mark of 58.8 percent. Here's a look at the best five teams in the CAA in red zone defense:

1. UNH                   58.8
2. Richmond           60.0
3. William & Mary    66.7
4. Maine                 71.0
5. Villanova            73.7
    Delaware           73.7

ALL-AMERICAN SCOTT SICKO GETTING THE JOB DONE AS A RECEIVER IN LAST THREE GAMES FOR THE 'CATS: After a relatively slow start, senior tight end Scott Sicko has been turning the heat up on opponents. In his three games vs. Villanova, UMass and Hofstra, he has made 17 catches for 308 yards and three touchdown receptions. He leads the team in receiving this season with 29 catches for 411 yards and four touchdown receptions.

A LOOK AT THE CAREER NUMBERS FOR SENIOR ALL-AMERICA TIGHT END SCOTT SICKO: Senior All-American tight end Scott Sicko continues to move up among UNH's and the nation's all-time best tight ends. Against Villanova, he recorded three catches for 135 yards and a touchdown on his way to the victory. Against UMass he had his best game of the season with 10 catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Looking back over his career so far, he has made 132 career catches for 1,709 career yards at UNH. He has also grabbed 17 touchdown receptions during his time wearing the Blue and White.

WILDCAT OFFENSE PROVING TO BE A QUICK-STARTER: The UNH offense has always prided itself on being a quick-starter and this season looks to be no different. In seven games played UNH has been explosive in the first quarter with 97 of its 211 total points scored in the opening stanza. Comparing first half to second half point totals, the 'Cats have scored 132 points in the first half and 79 points in the second half. In comparison to opponents, UNH has scored 97 points vs. 27 points by the opponents in the first quarter and outscored opponents by  a 132 to 68 margin in the first half.