No. 9/7 Football Falls to FBS' San Jose State, 43-13

Thursday, September 3

San Jose, Calif.

10:00 PM

University of New Hampshire

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San Jose State University

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1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UNH

San Jose State

Photo by: Samuel Stringer

9/4/2015 2:02:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: Mike Murphy

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Dalton Crossan (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) compiled 163 all-purpose yards, including a 26-yard touchdown run, but the No. 9/7 University of New Hampshire football team was defeated 43-13 by FBS representative San Jose State University in Thursday night's season opener for both teams at Spartan Stadium.

San Jose scored a touchdown on three of its first four possessions and held UNH to a pair of three-and-outs in the first quarter to build a 20-0 lead, and the home team took a 26-7 lead into halftime with a 464-50 advantage in total yards, 22-2 disparity in first downs and 22:19 for time of possession.

Crossan was UNH's top rusher with nine carries for 47 yards. He also had four catches for 14 yards and 102 yards in kickoff returns. Trevon Bryant (St. Augustine, Fla.) finished with seven carries for 30 yards, including his first career TD on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter. Jordan Powell (Forked River, N.J.) was the top Wildcat in receiving yards with 33 on three catches.

Sean Goldrich (West Haven, Conn.) completed 10 of 22 passes for 60 yards.

Daniel Rowe (Orange, N.J.) led the team with a career-high 13 tackles. Casey DeAndrade (East Bridgewater, Mass.) recorded personal bests in both total tackles (11) and solo tackles (10). Dougie Moss (Huntsville, Ala.) also had career highs in both total (10) and solo (six) tackles.

Tyler Ervin led the ground game with 20 carries for 127 yards and three TDs. Thomas Tucker had 19 rushes for 74 yards and two touchdowns as well as two receptions for 63 yards. Tyler Winston (7 catches, 76 yards) led a balanced receiving corps that included Tim Crawley (6-67) and Billy Freeman (4-69).

Starting quarterback Joe Gray finished 16 of 20 for 253 yards and one TD. Kenny Potter was 13-for-14 for 167 yards.

The Spartans marched 75 yards on 10 plays on the opening drive and took a 7-0 lead when Ervin scored on a two-yard run at 10:34. Freeman completed consecutive passes of 36 yards to Tucker and 34 yards to Billy Freeman to extend the advantage to 13-0 at 4:08. Ervin broke free for a 30-yard TD run to give San Jose a 20-0 lead with nine seconds remaining in the first quarter.

Crossan returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to give UNH 1^st-and-10 at the SJSU 35. Goldrich's nine-yard scamper closed the opening frame and the 'Cats, who had 20 yards of offense in the first quarter, scored on the opening play of the second quarter when Crossan bounced a run up the middle to the left side and won the race to the pylon for a 26-yard TD run. Christian Breda (Needham, Mass.) converted the PAT kick to pull New Hampshire within 20-7 at 14:51.

San Jose began the next possession at its 8 but the Spartans overcame the poor field position and Rowe's forced fumble – recovered by Chris Gonzalez – inside UNH territory to build a 26-7 lead. Tucker ran down the right sideline and extended the ball to the pylon for a 13-yard rushing TD at 9:30 to cap an 11-play, 92-yard drive that took 5:16 off the clock.

UNH made a defensive stand with just under five minutes left in the opening half when captain Jullian Turner (East Pittsburgh, Pa.) stopped Tucker for a two yard loss on 3^rd-and-1, and then he sacked Potter for a five-yard loss to force a turnover of possession on downs at 4:32.

The Wildcats gained three yards on three plays, which forced them to punt the ball back to the Spartans. With 3:20 on the clock, San Jose methodically advanced the ball to the UNH 10 but Austin Lopez missed a 27-yard field goal with five seconds on the clock to keep the score 26-7 heading into halftime.

The Spartans extended the lead to 33-7 at 6:44 of the third quarter when Ervin's one-yard touchdown run capped a drive of 14 plays, 90 yards and 6 minutes, 40 seconds. Bryce Crawford's 38-yard field goal gave the home team a 36-7 lead at 3:04.

San Jose made it 43-7 at 11:15 of the fourth quarter on Tucker's one-yard TD rush that ended a 10-lay, 71-yard drive of 5:00.

UNH trimmed the deficit to 43-13 at 6:44 on a 13-play, 84-yard TD drive that consumed 4:26 off the clock. The Wildcats began the drive on their 16 yard line and moved the ball 12 yards in four plays before a 12-yard end around by Neil O'Connor (Leominster, Mass.) set up 1^st-and-10 at the UNH 45. Goldrich's 14-yard scamper moved the ball into San Jose territory at the SJSU 41. Facing 3^rd-and-8, Goldrich connected with Powell for a nine-yard gain to advance the sticks. Bryant's 13-yard run up the middle advanced the ball to the SJSU 17 and Goldrich found Powell for a 13-yard pass to give the 'Cats 1^st-and-goal at the 4. Bryant rushed up the middle on the next play for a four-yard TD.

New Hampshire returns to action Sept. 12 (6 p.m.) at Colgate University. The Wildcats' home opener is Saturday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. against Central Connecticut State University on Family Weekend at Cowell Stadium. UNH 2015 football tickets are on sale now by calling 603-862-4000 or visiting www.unhwildcats.com.