Career-High Days for Burke, Vezza and Thomason in 34-24 Win vs William & Mary

Saturday, October 25

Durham, N.H.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

5-4 , 3-2

William & Mary

4-4 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

William & Mary

New Hampshire

Photo by: Alex Miller

Career-High Days for Burke, Vezza and Thomason in 34-24 Win vs William & Mary

10/25/2025 7:01:00 PM | Football

Box Score

DURHAM, N,H. – Wide receiver Caleb Burke (Johnstown, Pa,), running back Myles Thomason (Montclair, N.J.) and quarterback Matt Vezza (Elmhurst, Ill.) all recorded career highs to lead a balanced offense in the University of New Hampshire football team's 34-24 victory against William & Mary on Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.

Vezza completed 17 of 23 passes for career highs of 280 passing yards and three touchdowns, and he also ran for a personal-best 99 yards. Burke was the top target with six catches for a career-high 153 yards and two TDs, which tied his personal best. Thomason finished with 130 yards and a touchdown to record his first career 100-yard rushing game.

UNH's top four tacklers – led by Cohen Cook (Somers Point, N.J.) with 12, including 1.5 for loss – also had career highs. He was followed by Josh Farquharson (Brampton, Ontario; nine tackles), Kelby Hampton (Philadelphia, Pa.; seven) and Malik Diaby (Tolland, Conn.; six). Farquharson also forced a fumble.

Nick Reed (Harrison, N.Y.) kicked field goals of 26 yards and 33 yards to tie the school record for field goals in a season – 18.

W&M quarterback Tyler Hughes completed 19 of 24 passes for 204 yards and rushed for 74 yards and three TDs.

UNH improves to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in CAA Football while William & Mary is now 4-4, 3-2.

UP NEXT

New Hampshire returns to action Nov. 8 (12pm) at Monmouth.
The next Wildcats' home game is the regular-season finale Buffalo Wild Wings Border Battle against the University of Maine on Nov. 22 (1pm)
CLICK HERE to buy tickets or e-mail unh.tickets@unh.edu or call (603) 862-4000.

FIRST QUARTER

The Tribe received the opening kickoff and took a 7-0 lead on a 9-play, 82-yard drive capped by Hughes' 1-yard run.
New Hampshire tied the game 75 seconds later when Vezza hit Burke in stride down the middle of the field at the WM 25 and he raced the rest of the way into the end zone for a season-long 67-yard pass. Reed's PAT kick tied the score, 7-7, at 8:52.
Thomas broke through the line of the scrimmage into the end zone for a 39-yard score, which marked UNH's longest run of the season, to give the 'Cats a 14-7 lead at 3:15.

SECOND QUARTER

Hughes evaded three tacklers for a 28-yard TD run to level the score, 14-14 at 7:00.
UNH responded with a 13-play, 67-yard drive to take a 17-14 lead on Reed's 26-yard field goal with 19 seconds on the clock.

THIRD QUARTER

On the opening drive of the second half, UNH marched 75 yards on 11 plays and extended the lead to 24-14 when Josh Fillion (Quebec City, Quebec) made a sliding catch near the right sideline for a 17-yard touchdown at 8:03.
W&M answered with a 6-yard scoring scamper by Hughes to trim the deficit to 24-21 at 2:51.
Vezza connected with Burke on a crossing route and Fillion made a key block inside the WM 5 to get Burke into the end zone for a 48-yard touchdown and 31-21 lead with 42 seconds on the clock.

FOURTH QUARTER.

The Tribe advanced to the UNH 5 on the next drive, but the Wildcats' defense pushed the visitors back five yards on the next three plays and W&M settled for Shackford's 27-yard field goal to pull within 31-24 at 12:38.
UNH made it five consecutive possessions (both teams) with a score when Reed booted a 33-yard field goal to reestablish a double-digit lead, 34-24, at 8:00.
William & Mary's next drive stalled at the UNH 21, and Shackford's 38-yard attempt fell short to keep the margin at 10 points at 5:16.
The 'Cats rushed the ball five consecutive times to advance the ball to the 50-yard line with 2:06 to play. The Tribe called their last timeout at 1:49, out of which UNH converted a 4^th-and-2 on Vezza's four-yard run to the WM 38.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Reed matched the benchmark of 18 field goals in a season set by Tom Manning in 2009 and equaled last year by Nick Mazzie.
UNH scored a season-high 34 points with highs in rushing yards (232), passing yards (280) and total yards (512).
Burke's 153 receiving yards marked a season-high by a Wildcat.
Thomason's 130 rushing yards are also the most by a 'Cat this season.
UNH did not punt in the game. Six of eight possessions ended with a score (four TDs; two FGs). The 'Cats also missed a 50-yard field goal (hit the left upright) and ended the game with possession.