'Cats Fall Short at Elon, Drop to 2-2 in CAA

Saturday, October 23

Elon, N.C.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

3-4 , 2-2

Elon

4-3 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

New Hampshire

Elon

Dylan Laube looks for running room at Elon on Saturday.

10/23/2021 5:37:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Post-Game Press Conference

Harris, Tillett Collect Turnovers in Setback

PHOTO GALLERY

ELON, N.C. – Sophomore defensive back Randall Harris (Walled Lake, Mich.) came up with his second interception in the last three games and freshman linebacker Max Tillett (Catawissa, Pa.) collected his first career turnover, but the University of New Hampshire football team lost at Elon, 24-10, on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats dropped their fourth straight game and are 3-4 overall and even at 2-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

UNH returns to Wildcat Stadium to face Richmond on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. for Halloweekend.

Fans can purchase tickets at UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or by calling the UNH Wildcats box office at 603-862-4000 (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm).

Elon improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the league.

Harris intercepted a Davis Cheek pass to end Elon's second possession of the day. Harris returned an interception for a touchdown against James Madison two games ago.

The Wildcats converted the turnover to points when sophomore quarterback Bret Edwards (Lowell, Mass.) capped a drive down the field with a 5-yard TD pass to sophomore Griffin Helm (Jacksonville, Fla.) to tie the score at 7-7. It was Helm's first career TD catch.

Tillett recovered a fumble that was caused by grad student safety Evan Horn (Lebanon, Pa.) in the second quarter.

Elon came into the game leading the CAA in turnover margin. UNH won the turnover battle with two turnovers to Elon's one.

Freshman defensive end Josiah Silver (Hampton, Va.) added to his team-high sack total with 1.5 quarterback sacks. He has 6.5 sacks for the season.

UNH took a 10-7 lead on a field goal by Sean Lehane (Milford, Mass.) on the second play of the second quarter. The field goal was Lehane's first of his career and the first by the Wildcats this season.

Elon grabbed a 14-10 lead by the half and shut out UNH in the second half.

Cheek, the leading passer in the CAA, completed 27 of his 31 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

The Phoenix had 378 yards of total offense and UNH had 214.

COMING UP

The Wildcats return to Wildcat Stadium to play Richmond on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. for Halloweekend.
, Tickets are available at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at 603-862-4000.
Wildcat home games may be viewed on NBCSports Boston.
Home and CAA games are also on FloSports, which may be accessed through www.unhwildcats.com.
UNH closes out the regular season with its rivalry game against Maine in the Border Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket at home on Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats have two road games remaining: They are at Albany on Nov. 6 and at Rhode Island on Nov. 13.

1^st QUARTER

Cheek and Bryson Daughtry teamed for a 58-yard passing play on the third play of the game for a 7-0 Elon lead.
On Elon's second possession, Harris picked off a Cheek pass.
It was the second interception of the year for Harris.
The Wildcats drove to a touchdown after the turnover.
Edwards passed to Helm for the 5-yard TD with 6:16 left in the period.
Lehane kicked the conversion for 7-7.

2^ND QUARTER

Lehane kicked his 36-yard field goal to give UNH a 10-7 lead 51 seconds into the period.
Horn forced a fumble by receiver Kortez Weeks and Tillett recovered for UNH's second turnover of the half.
Lehane missed a 31-yard field goal wide with 10:32 left in the half.
Cheek ran for a 2-yard score with 1:23 to play and Elon had the 14-10 lead.

3^RD QUARTER

Cheek connected with Chandler Brayboy for an 18-yard TD pass to put Elon up 21-10 halfway through the quarter.
Marcus Hillman intercepted a pass by Edwards late in the period.
Elon turned the turnover into points when Skyler Davis hit a 45-yard field goal with 1:42 to go for the final score.

4^th QUARTER

The Wildcats threatened a couple of times, but the teams played a scoreless fourth.

'CAT NOTES

Edwards completed 16 of his 30 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and interception.
He also had a career-long 50-yard run to help set up the Lehane field goal.
Silver and senior safety Pop Bush (Nocatee, Fla.) led the Wildcats with eight tackles each.
Horn, sophomore linebacker Bryce Shaw (Raynham, Mass.) and redshirt freshman linebacker Ryan Toscano (Bedford, N.H.) each had seven tackles.
Sophomore Dylan Laube (Westhampton, N.Y.) led UNH with 15 carries for 49 yards.
Junior Sean Coyne (Portsmouth, R.I.) had five catches for 35 yards.
Junior Brian Espanet (Hopedale, Mass.) caught a pair of passes for 36 yards.