Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
ALFRED, N.Y. – Jack Mahoney had a pair of touchdowns and the University of New England survived a last-second missed field goal to defeat Alfred State College, 20-17, in non-conference football at Pioneer Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
UNE (2-1) got off to a hot start with a touchdown on each of its first two drives. Mahoney hauled in a pass from Matthew Harkins from 35-yards out at the 12:03 mark of the first to put the Nor'easters in front 7-0 early. Following a punt by the Pioneers, UNE capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive with a 31-yard pass from Connor Sirois to Mikey Brennan to lead 13-0 after a quarter.
Aaron Jenkins had rushing touchdowns of five and two yards as the Pioneers (0-3) battled back in the second quarter to pull in front 14-13 at the half. Fontaine extended the lead to 17-13 with a 22-yard field goal with 5:57 to play in the third.
Mahoney ran in for his second touchdown of the game from two yards out on the ensuing drive as the Nor'easters grabbed the lead back 20-17 with 2:11 left in the third quarter.
Jaymeson Maheux broke out a 41-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to setup the Nor'easters at the Pioneer 17-yard line. UNE was unable to extend its lead as a 36-yard field goal attempt by Joseph Leonatti four plays later was no good.
Alfred State took over on its own 20 with 6:33 to play. Jenkins hit Shy'rel Broadwater with a 14-yard pass to get the Pioneers near midfield. The two connected for 26 yards on the next play, but a holding penalty negated the gain.
A sack for an 11-yard loss by Cameron Crocker with 1:02 remaining left the Pioneers with a 4th-and-26 on the UNE 31 yard line. Jenkins tossed an incomplete pass, but Alfred State was given a second chance as a personal foul penalty by the Nor'easters gave the hosts a new set of downs. The Pioneers were unable to make any progress, leading to a missed field-goal attempt in the final seconds.
Mahoney accounted for 175 all-purpose yards (85 rushing, 39 receiving, 51 kick return) and two touchdowns. Harkins was 7-of-10 for 114 yards with a touchdown and interception through the air. Sirois had 73 yards and a score behind center. Maheux had 71 yards on the ground. Brennan pulled in three catches for 73 yards and a TD.
The Pioneers were led by Jenkins with 192 passing yards and 31 yards and two TDs on the ground. Ben Ba grabbed seven catches for 69 yards.
Nick Lombard and Kyle Messanger each had nine tackles (six solo, three assist). Joel Smith led Alfred State with nine total tackles and a sack. Silas Egenlauf also had nine tackles and an interception. Josh Borowicz had two sacks.
The Nor'easters are on a bye next week and return to UNE Blue Storm Stadium to begin Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play on Homecoming Weekend, Saturday, Oct. 2 against Nichols at 1 p.m.