May 8, 2010
BOTH THE OFFENSE AND DEFENSE SHINE IN ANNUAL SPRING FOOTBALL BLUE/WHITE SCRIMMAGE
DURHAM, N.H.— Junior quarterback Kevin Decker (Armonk, N.Y.) looked sharp and passed for three touchdowns, while senior field general R.J. Toman (Mission Viejo, Calif.) looked good as well with two touchdown passes, as the offense scored 44 points in the University of New Hampshire football team's annual Spring Blue/White Scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Cowell Stadium.
The defense also shined,
recording an impressive total of 14 sacks for a loss of 65 yards,
while also recording an interception and a fumble recovery for a
pair of turnovers. Leading the team in total tackles was redshirt
freshman defensive back Chris Beranger (Winthrop, Mass.) with 12,
while junior linebacker Mark Petercuskie (Holliston, Mass.),
sopohomore linebacker Alan Buzbee (Chester, N.J.) and junior
defensive lineman John Murray (Aston, Pa.) all had eight
tackles.
In the case of Decker, he
completed 15 of 20 passes for 209 yards, while Toman connected on
19 of 34 pass attempts for 176 yards. The offense compiled 466
passing yards and 96 rushing for a grand total of 562 total
yards.
The first touchdown of the game
was a pretty 20 yard ramble by sophomore running back Dontra Peters
(Annapolis, Md.) at 4:27 of the first quarter. Peters finished the
game with seven carries for 68 yards to lead the team.
At 6:41 of the second quarter
redshirt freshman kicker Mike MacArthur (North Hampton, N.H.)
booted a 20 yard field goal to give the offense 10 points in the
first half. The defense forced the field goal after holding on
fourth down.
The defense made its first big
play with 4:05 left in the first half when redshirt freshman
defensive back Jason Roach (Dorchester, Mass came up with an
interception.
With 10 seconds left in the
second quarter, Decker completed a perfect 22 yard pass to senior
wide receiver Terrance Fox (Piscataway, N.J.) to give the offense
17 points.
At 10:16 of the third quarter,
Decker tossed a 20 yard pass to senior wide receiver Mike Greene
(Stonington, Conn.), and after the PAT, the offense had 24 points
on the afternoon.
The defense came up with its
second turnover of the day when redshirt freshman defensive lineman
Jim Vailas (Bedford, N.H.) recovered a fumble.
Toman completed a 34 yard
touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Mickey Mangieri (Pound
Ridge, N.Y.) with 9:26 to play in the game to bring the point total
to 31.
Decker completed his third TD
pass of the day with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter on a 61yard
pass play to sophomore wide receiver Joey Orlando (Bethlehem, Pa.)
to put the total offensive scoring output to 37 points.
With 5:27 left in the fourth
quarter Toman threw his second TD pass of the day, a
34-yarder to senior wide receiver Chris Chandler (Quincy, Mass.) to
give the Wildcat offense 44 points for the game.
Several receivers were impressive
for the 'Cats. Greene caught six passes for 70 yards. Orlando
checked in with three catches for 104 yards and Fox finished the
day with five catches for 55 yArds.
The captains were announced for
the 2010 season and included senior linebacker Devon Jackson
(Williamstown, N.J.), senior running back Sean Jellison (Amherst,
N.H.), senior defensive back Dino Vasso (Crum Lynne, Pa.) and
Toman.
The team will open the season on
Saturday, Sept. 4, when the Wildcats entertain Central Connecticut.
Game time is at 12 p.m. at Cowell Stadium and tickets are available
online at www.unhwildcats.com.
