Defense, Edwards Lead No. 23 'Cats to Win, 3-0 Start

Saturday, September 18

Easton, Pa.

12:30 PM

University of New Hampshire

3-0

Lafayette

0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

New Hampshire

Lafayette

Sophomore Dylan Laube scored on a 50-yard run against Lafayette on Saturday.

9/18/2021 4:57:00 PM | Football

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

Espanet Grabs 2 TD Catches in 19-13 Victory at Lafayette

PHOTO GALLERY

DURHAM, N.H. – The defense turned in another strong performance and sophomore quarterback Bret Edwards (Lowell, Mass.) connected with junior Brian Espanet (Hopedale, Mass.) for a pair of passing touchdowns to lead the No. 23 University of New Hampshire football team to a 19-13 win over Lafayette in Fisher Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

UNH improved to 3-0 for the season. Lafayette fell to 0-3.

The Wildcats take on Pittsburgh next Saturday at noon at Heinz Field in their FBS game. Pittsburgh, after starting the season with wins over UMass (51-7) and at Tennessee (41-34) lost at home to Western Michigan, 44-41, on Saturday.

UNH returns to Wildcat Stadium to face James Madison for Homecoming on Oct. 2. Season and single game tickets for all home games are available at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling the Box Office at 603-862-4000.

The Wildcat defense allowed only a pair of field goals. UNH forced a pair of turnovers and held Lafayette to just 41 yards rushing and 233 total yards. Lafayette scored its touchdown on a 93-yard kickoff return to open the game.

Redshirt freshman safety Noah Stansbury (Orange, N.J.) had his second interception in as many games and grad student defensive tackle Duval Paul (Lynn, Mass.) had a fumble recovery.

Junior defensive end Gunner Gibson (Hailey, Idaho) and redshirt freshman Ryan Toscano (Bedford, N.H.) led the Wildcats with five tackles each. Gibson also had a sack and a half and forced a fumble.

Edwards and Espanet also teamed up for a pair of touchdowns in UNH's opener at Stony Brook. Edwards now has seven touchdown passes this year and four of those have been to Espanet.

Edwards completed 22 of his 37 passes for 249 yards and the two scores. Espanet had six catches for 57 yards.

Sophomore Dylan Laube (Westhampton, N.Y.) had the other UNH touchdown on a 50-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Laube had 10 carries for 79 yards and caught six passes for 64 yards. Junior Carlos Washington, Jr. (Fort Washington, Md.) had 21 carries for 75 yards.

The Wildcats had 133 yards rushing and 382 yards of total offense.

COMING UP

The Wildcats play Pittsburgh at Heinz Field next Saturday.
UNH faces James Madison in its Homecoming game on Oct. 2 at 3:30 in Wildcat Stadium.
Season tickets and individual game tickets are available at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at 603-862-4000.
Wildcat football league and home games may be viewed on FloSports, which may be accessed through www.unhwildcats.com.
UNH resumes its in-state series against Dartmouth in Wildcat Stadium on Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. for Family Weekend.
Richmond is in Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. for Halloweekend.
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 play Sept. 18 at Lafayette, Sept. 25 at Pittsburgh in their FBS game, Oct. 23 at Elon, Nov. 6 at UAlbany and Nov. 13 at Rhode Island.

1^st QUARTER

Lafayette's Michael Hayes returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.
Micah Pettit kicked the conversion and it was 7-0.
It marked the first time UNH has trailed this season.

2^ND QUARTER

Edwards passed to Espanet for a 3-yard touchdown with 11:34 left in the period.
Jordan Conn's (Woodbridge, Conn.) conversion kick was wide and it was 7-6.
A quarterback sack by Gibson caused a fumble and set up UNH's TD drive.
Paul recovered the fumble.

3^RD QUARTER

Edwards connected with Espanet again, for a 14-yard score, and UNH had its first lead at 12-7 with 10:43 to play in the period.
A Laube rush for the conversion came up short.

4^th QUARTER

Laube broke a 50-yard TD run down the right side on the second play of the period.
Sean Lehane (Milford, Mass.) kicked the extra point to make it 19-10.
Stansbury picked off a Davis pass to end the next Lafayette possession.
Pettit kicked a 41-yard field goal to cut UNH's lead to 19-13 with 1:47 left.
Washington covered an onsides kick and the Wildcats ran out the clock.

CAT NIPS

Grad student safety Evan Horn (Lebanon, Pa.) and freshman Josiah Silver (Hampton, Va.) each had four tackles.
Silver also had two sacks.
Redshirt freshman Aidan Cadogan (Waltham, Mass.) averaged 42.7 yards on his three punts.
UNH had 21 first downs to Lafayette's 12.
The UNH defense had four quarterback sacks.
Ah-Shaun Davis made his first career start at quarterback for Lafayette.
He completed 16 of his 23 passes.
UNH had an edge of 35:26 to 24:34 in time of possession.
The Wildcats ran off 75 plays to Lafayette's 48.