.png&type=webp)
University of New Hampshire Athletics
Brian Espanet pulls down a pass in the end zone to close out the first half. (Photo by Andrew Yourell)
'Cats Tripped Up by Spiders
10/30/2021 5:56:00 PM | Football
Espanet's TD Grab an Offensive Highlight in Setback
PHOTO GALLERY
DURHAM, N.H. – Junior Brian Espanet (Hopedale, Mass.) made a video highlight-worthy, one-handed grab in the end zone for his sixth touchdown catch of the season, but the University of New Hampshire football team dropped a 35-21 decision to Colonial Athletic Association foe Richmond on Saturday in a rainy Wildcat Stadium.
UNH lost its fifth consecutive game and is 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the CAA.
The Wildcats play their next two games on the road: They are at UAlbany next Saturday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. and at Rhode Island, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m.
UNH returns to Wildcat Stadium to close out the regular season with its Border Battle clash with Maine for the Brice-Cowell Musket and Senior Day on Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.
Fans can purchase tickets at UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or by calling the UNH Wildcats box office at 603-862-4000 (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm).
A Richmond miscue set up the TD pass from sophomore quarterback Bret Edwards (Lowell, Mass.) to Espanet. The Spiders were punting with 14 seconds left in the first half when the snap went over the head of the punter and UNH took control on the Richmond 24-yard line.
On UNH's first play Edwards lofted the ball into the end zone and Espanet went up and grabbed it for the score with three seconds left in the half.
Redshirt freshman running back Isaac Seide (Everett, Mass.) and freshman quarterback Brody McAndrew (Langhorne, Pa.) scored the other two UNH touchdowns. It was the first career score for each.
Seide scored on a 3-yard run in the second quarter. His 53-yard run the previous play set up the TD.
McAndrew entered the game several times to run a package of plays. He kept the ball and ran for a 7-yard TD with 10:17 left in the third quarter. A conversion kick by redshirt freshman Sean Lehane (Milford, Mass.) gave UNH its first lead of the game at 21-17.
Richmond upped its record to 3-5 overall and is 1-2 in the CAA.
Sophomore linebacker Bryce Shaw (Raynham, Mass.) made his first interception as a Wildcat and sophomore safety Joe Eichman (Merrimack, N.H.) and long snapper Tim Bouchard (Barrington, N.H.) each had his first career fumble recovery.
Freshman defensive end Josiah Silver (Hampton, Va.) led the Wildcats in tackles with nine and 2.5 were tackles for loss. Redshirt freshman safety Noah Stansbury (Orange, N.J.) had six tackles.
Edwards completed 12 of his 26 passes for 136 yards and the score to Espanet.
Richmond quarterback Joe Mancuso completed 19 of his 26 passes for three touchdowns and also scored on a 1-yard run.
The Spiders had 82 yards rushing and 373 yards of total offense. The Wildcats had 102 yards rushing and 243 yards of total offense.
COMING UP
- The Wildcats play their next two games on the road and then return to Wildcat Stadium to play Maine on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. to close out the season.
- The teams will compete in their annual Border Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket.
- 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.
- The Wildcats have two road games remaining: They are at Albany on Nov. 6 and at Rhode Island on Nov. 13.
1st QUARTER
- The Wildcats recovered a fumble on the opening kick at the Richmond 13-yard line, but were unable to convert the turnover into points.
- Mancuso scored on a 3-yard run with 3:14 left in the period for a 7-0 Richmond lead.
2ND QUARTER
- Jake Larson's 32-yard field goal made it 10-0 with 9:40 to go in the quarter.
- Seide broke a 53-yard run to the Richmond 3-yard line to set up UNH's first TD.
- He scored the 3-yard run on the next play.
- A Mancuso to Leroy Henley 30-yard TD pass pushed the Richmond lead to 17-7 with 5:19 left in the half.
- Edwards passed to Espanet for the 24-yard score with three seconds left in the half.
3RD QUARTER
- UNH took a 21-17 lead on McAndrew's 7-yard run with 10:17 left in the period.
- A Richmond fumble of a UNH punt kept the scoring drive alive.
- Long snapper Tim Bouchard (Barrington, N.H.) recovered the fumble.
4th QUARTER
- Larson's 29-yard field goal with 12:08 to play cut the UNH lead to 21-20.
- Mancuso connected with Aaron Dykes for a pair of touchdown passes – covering 58 and 28 yards - in the fourth quarter.
GAME NOTES
- Espanet had three catches for 55 yards and the score.
- Carlos Washington Jr. (Fort Washington, Mad.) had three catches for 51 yards.
- Aidan Cadogan (Waltham, Mass.) averaged 41 yards on his six punts.
- Sophomore running back Dylan Laube (Westhampton, N.Y.) missed the game with an ankle injury.
- Sophomore linebacker Oleh Manzyk (Feasterville, Pa.) came back from a leg injury and played for the first time this season.
- He had three tackles.
- Redshirt freshman linebacker Ryan Toscano (Bedford, N.H.) had five tackles.
- Linebackers Tyler Dressler (15) and Tristan Wheeler (11) led the Richmond defense in tackles.
- Lehane missed a pair of field goal attempts: from 24 yards in the first period and 45 yards in the third.
- The Spiders had five quarterback sacks, two by defensive tackle Aidan Murray.
- The Wildcats did not have a quarterback sack.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
QB
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
S
/ Football
LB
/ FootballUNH Athletics Introduces Sean Goldrich '15 as New Football Head Coach
Friday, January 02
UNH Football vs Maine Highlights 11-22-25
Sunday, November 23
UNH Football vs William & Mary Highlights 10-25 -25
Saturday, October 25
UNH Football William & Mary Preview
Thursday, October 23