FOOTBALL GAME DAY (NO. 8 RANKED UNH VS. RHODE ISLAND, NOV. 7, 2009)
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WILDCATS READY FOR ANOTHER TRADITIONAL RIVALRY GAME VS. RHODE ISLAND AFTER DEFEATING NU, 48-21:I The Wildcats are 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the CAA North, good for first place after defeating Northeastern, 48-21. This week Head Coach Sean McDonnell and the squad turn their attention to Rhode Island for another traditional New England rivalry matchup. The UNH running game was clicking on all cylinders vs. NU as junior running back Chad Kackert ran for a career-high 176 yards and two touchdowns and junior running back Sean Jellison ran for 74 yards and a TD. The Wildcat offense compiled a season-high 281 rushing yards and recorded a season-best mark of 461 total yards in the contest. The UNH defense continues to get the job done with turnovers and stopping the run as the Wildcats held the Huskies to just 149 yards on the ground and linebacker Hugo Souza came up with an interception that led to a field goal. Rhode Island is having a tough season with a 1-7 record overall and is looking for its first CAA victory at 0-5. The Wildcats are in the midst of "Championship Month" and must take care of business to put themselves in the best possible position as they close in on making the NCAA FCS Playoffs. With seven wins there is no guarantee, but eight wins would most likely assure the team of its sixth straight NCAA tournament appearance and another shot at winning a national title in 2009.
SCOUTING RHODE ISLAND: The Rams are having a very tough season in 2009 and enter the game vs. the Wiildcats with a 1-7 overall record and an 0-5 mark in the CAA. The lone victory of the season for URI came in week one when the Rams battled Fordham and won by a 41-28 margin. Other than that first victory Rhode Island is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak and the squad is giving up an average of 36.7 ppg. during that stretch. The team has been led in rushing by Ayo Isijola with 63 carries for 291 yards and a touchdown and by Anthony Ferrer with 77 carries fro 283 yards and three touchdowns. Leadin g the passing attack has been Chris Paul-Etienne and he has completed 98 of 176 passes for 993 yards and six touchdowns. The two key players in receiving corps this season have been Tyquan Bynum with his team-high 28 catches for 373 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Shawn Leonard who leads the team with four touchdown catches and has made 26 receptions for 318 yards. On the defensive side of the football, Bob Damon has been very busy with a team-high 90 tackles (45-45-90), while he also has an interception, a sack and three forced fumbles. Also making a ton of tackles for the URI defense has been Matt Hansen and his (52-31-83). Leading the team in interceptions this season has been Jarrod Williams with three and the top two players in sacks have been Willie McGinnis and Victor Adesanya with four apiece. URI is coach by first-year mentor Joe Trainer.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES VS. RHODE ISLAND: The all-time series
between UNH and Rhode Island stands at 49-27-5 in favor of the
Wildcats who have won the last five meetings between the two
schools. the last time the Rams defeated the Wildcats was in 2003
(55-40). Since that time UNH has won 51-43 in 2008, 49-26 in Durham
in 2007, 63-21 in 2006, 53-9 in 2005, and 27-3 in 2004.
A LOOK AT THE CAA STANDINGS: UNH is now alone in first place in
the CAA North Division with a 4-1 conference record and 7-1 mark
overall.
NORTH DIVISION CAA OVERALL
New Hampshire 4-1 7-1
Maine 3-2
4-4
Hofstra 2-3
4-4
Massachusetts 2-3 4-4
Northeastern 1-4 1-7
Rhode Island 0-5 1-7
SOUTH DIVISION CAA OVERALL
Richmond 6-0 8-0
Villanova 4-1
7-1
William & Mary 4-1 7-1
Delaware 3-3
5-3
James Madison 1-4 3-5
Towson 1-4
2-6
SENIOR RUNNING BACK CHAD KACKERT MOVES UP TWO MORE SPOTS ON THE
ALL-TIME CAREER RUSHING LIST AND TOPS THE 2,000 YARD CAREER RUSHING
MARK FOR UNH: Senior running back Chad Kackert is finally playing
healthy after suffering a hamstring injury in the preseason and he
is quickly moving up UNH's all-time career rushing listing. He now
has 2,097 rushing yards in his career and moved past both Curt
Collins (1980-82) and Jim Quinn (1979-82) after rushing for 176
yards in the win over Northeastern. He is now ranked eighth on the
all-time list and needs just 141 rushing yards to move past Avrom
Smith (1991-94).
Here's a look at the UNH career rushing list:
1. Jerry Azumah (1995-98)
6,193
2. Bill Burnham (1974-77)
3,773
3. Stephan Lewis (1999-02)
3,679
4. Norm Ford (1986-89)
3,538
5. Barry Bourassa (1989-92)
3,015
6. Andre Garron (1982-85)
2,901
7. Avrom Smith (1991-94)
2,237
8. Chad Kackert
2,097
WILDCATS ONCE AGAIN OFF TO AN IMPRESSIVE START: UNH has opened the
2009 season with a 7-1 mark after defeating St. Francis, Ball
State, Dartmouth, Towson, Villanova, Hofstra and Northeastern. The
7-1 mark is the best start since UNH was 11-1 in 2005. Getting off
to a quick start has been a Coach McDonnell trademark in recent
seasons. The Wildcats got out of the gates 6-1 in 2008, 5-0 in
2006, 11-1 in 2005 and 4-1 in 2004.
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 104 of its 259 total points scored in the
opening stanza. Comparing first half to second half point totals,
the 'Cats have scored 160 points in the first half and 99 points in
the second half. In comparison to opponents, UNH has scored 104
points vs.opponents as compared to just 34 points by the opponents
in the first quarter and outscored opponents by a 160 to 75
margin in the first half.
SPREADING THE OFFENSE AROUND: In seven games played, UNH has had
11 different players run with the football and no less than 13
different players have caught the football for the Wildcats.
UNH RANKED SECOND IN THE CAA IN SCORING: The Wildcat offense is
very capable of scoring points in a hurry as it did against
Northeastern on Oct. 31. UNH is now ranked second in the CAA in
scoring offense with an average of 32.4 ppg. Richmond is the only
team above UNH with an average of 32.5 ppg.
UNH RANKED SECOND IN THE CAA IN TOTAL DEFENSE: The Wildcat defense
has been very effective at stopping opponent offenses and is ranked
second in the CAA in total defense, allowing opponents to average
only 270.4 yards per game. Only William & Mary is ahead of UNH
at 242.0 yards per game allowed.
UNH SECOND IN THE CAA IN INTERCEPTIONS MADE AND FIRST IN RETURNED
INTERCEPTIONS FOR TOUCHDOWNS: The Wildcat defense has now come up
with 15 interceptions this season, good for second best in the
conference and the D leads the CAA in interceptions returned for
touchdowns with three, two by junior corner Dino Vasso (Crum Lynne,
Pa. ).
UNH DEFENSE RANKED NO. 1 IN THE CAA IN TURNOVER MARGIN: The
University of New Hampshire football team is presently ranked No. 1
in the Colonia Athletic Association in turnover margin with a
mark of 1.62. Looking at what the defense has done this season, it
has come up with nine fumble recoveries and 15 interceptions for a
total of 24 turnovers gained, while UNH has lost just three fumbles
this season and has had eight intercepted passes for a mark
of just 11 turnovers lost. That puts the Wildcats at +13 in the
turnover margin department.
UNH LINEBACKERS DEVON JACKSON AND SEAN WARE MOVING UP INTO THE TOP
10 IN THE CAA IN TACKLES MADE: UNH starting linebacker Devon
Jackson (Wiliamstown, N.J.) and Sean Ware (Bristol, Conn.) continue
to rack up tackles and lead the Wildcats as Jackson checks in with
27-36-63 and Ware has 30-31-61. That places Jackson in the top 10
for the CAA in seventh place with an average of 9.0 tackles per
game and Ware is knocking on the door of the top 10 players in the
CAA in tackles with an average of 7.6 per game for 11th place.
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 LEADS THE CAA IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE:
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 12 of 13 field goals, including a
school record game-winning 54-yarder vs. Hofstra on Oct. 24. Here's
a look at what he has done since that time: For the season, he has
made 13 of 17 field goals. He leads the CAA with a percentage of
76.5. and is ranked fourth among NCAA kickers with 1.62 field goals
per contest.
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)
Northeastern (Oct. 31)
43 yards (Missed)
30 yards (Good)
23 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 4-0
at home this season with victories over the likes of St. Francis
(24-14), Dartmouth (44-14), Villanova (28-24) and Northeastern
(48-21)The Wildcats will also play two of their final trhee regular
season games at home, including this week's Nov. 7 contest at home
vs. Rhode Island and the final game of the season on Nov. 21 vs.
Maine. UNH has been high-scoring at home so far this season
as well, averaging 36.0 ppg. at home this season at Cowell
Stadium.
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 home games will be shown live on
Comcast SportsNet New England. The games being broadcasted include
this Rhode Island contest on Nov. 7 and the Maine game on Nov. 21
at Cowell Stadium. UNH is 2-1 on TV this season so far.
A LOOK AT WHAT THE UNH DEFENSE HAS DONE SO FAR IN 2009,
GAME-BY-GAME: The UNH defense has done a great job of holding teams
to low yardages in 2009. Here's a look game-by-game at opponent
yardage totals. UNH is allowing just 270.4 yards per game this
season.
TEAM POINTS
OPPONENT YARDS
St. Francis 14 points
198 yards
Ball State 16
points 127 yards
Dartmouth 14 points
314 yards
Towson 7 points
201 yards
Villanova 24
points 352 yards
UMass 23 points
371 yards
Hofstra 10 points
278 yards
Northeastern 21 points
322 yards
A LOOK AT THE UNH OFFENSE GAME-BY-GAME
TEAM UNH POINTS
UNH YARDS
St. Francis 24 points
277 yards
Ball State 23
points 212 yards
Dartmouth 44 points
259 yards
Towson 57 points
285 yards
Villanova 28
points 368 yards
Massachusetts 17 points
356 yards
Hofstra 18 points
268 yards
Northeastern 48 points
461 yards
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 last four games vs. Villanova, UMass, Hofstra and
Northeastern, he has made 24 catches for 404 yards and four
touchdown receptions. He leads the team in receiving this season
with 36 catches for 507 yards and five 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 139
career catches for 1,805 career yards at UNH. He has also grabbed
18 touchdown receptions during his time wearing the Blue and
White.
LB TERRENCE KLEIN LEADS UNH WITH FOUR INTERCEPTIONS, TYING HIM FOR
10TH AMONG THE FCS NATIONAL LEADERS: Senior linebacker Terrence
Klein (Westwood, N.J.) is presently tied for seventh among the NCAA
FCS leaders so far this season with four interceptions, or .58
interceptions per contest. He had two more, each resulting in a
score in the loss at UMass.
LB TERRENCE KLEIN NAMED CAA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AND THE
ECAC CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AFTER KEY INTERCEPTION IN
UPSET OF VILLANOVA: DURHAM, N.H.—Senior linebacker Terrence
Klein (Westwood, N.J.) of the University of New Hampshire football
team was named the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Defensive
Player of the Week and the ECAC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for
his outstanding efforts in the ‘Cats upset victory over No. 2
Villanova at Cowell Stadium on Oct. 10, 28-24. Klein made
five total tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of 12 yards. The
senior also posted a sack for 11 yards and came up with a key
interception in the fourth quarter halting a Villanova drive and
allowing No. 5 New Hampshire to kick a field goal for the eventual
four-point win. In addition, Klein knocked the ball away during
Villanova’s final drive on fourth down to give UNH the
football allowing the home team to run down the clock for the
victory.
