University of New Hampshire Athletics
Two 'Cats Receive CAA Football Weekly Awards; Smith Is Also Gold Helmet Award Recipient
9/14/2026 2:18:00 PM | Football
RICHMOND, Va. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Senior running back Joquez Smith (Tampa, Fla.) and sophomore wide receiver Ryan Ricketti (Rocky River, Ohio) of the University of New Hampshire football team were named the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively, on Monday.
Smith was also named recipient of the New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Award.
UNH returns to action Sept. 19 (1pm) to face Harvard at Wildcat Stadium for Community Heroes Day. CLICK HERE to buy tickets online or e-mail unh.tickets@unh.edu or call (603) 862-4000.
WILDCATS WIN, YOU WIN
For one day only (Monday, Sept. 14 through 11:59 PM), 25% off tickets to the Sept. 19 football game vs. Harvard with a maximum of four tickets per account. Anyone who buys four tickets as part of this promotion will be entered to win a free Boulder Field tailgate parking pass. CLICK HERE to buy now.
CLICK HERE for a full look at the UNH Football Promotional Calendar..
Smith rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns to lift the Wildcats to a 42-35 victory against Stonehill College this past Saturday. It was his first career game scoring multiple TDs.
Smith's burst up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown gave the Wildcats a 21-14 lead at 5:55 of the second quarter. He broke through the middle of the line and raced down the left sideline for a 34-yard score to extend UNH's lead to 35-21at 2:18 of the third quarter. Smith bounced a run around the left side for a three-yard TD to put the 'Cats ahead 42-28 at 11:06 of the fourth quarter.
Smith is the first UNH Wildcat to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since Nov. 26, 2022, when Dylan Laube had three vs. Fordham.
The 13 carries, 122 yards and three TDs were all single-game highs as a Wildcat for Smith.
Ricketti returned the game's opening kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown to spark New Hampshire to victory against the Skyhawks. The last time a Wildcat scored on a kickoff return was November 2023.
Ricketti finished the game with a game-high 182 all-purpose yards on three kickoff returns for 135 yards and three catches for 47 yards.
The first-year Wildcat now has three kickoff returns for a TD in his career. He scored on a pair of 100-yard returns at Valparaíso before becoming a 'Cat this year.
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. Pick your team, book your stay.
Smith was also named recipient of the New England Football Writers Association Gold Helmet Award.
UNH returns to action Sept. 19 (1pm) to face Harvard at Wildcat Stadium for Community Heroes Day. CLICK HERE to buy tickets online or e-mail unh.tickets@unh.edu or call (603) 862-4000.
WILDCATS WIN, YOU WIN
For one day only (Monday, Sept. 14 through 11:59 PM), 25% off tickets to the Sept. 19 football game vs. Harvard with a maximum of four tickets per account. Anyone who buys four tickets as part of this promotion will be entered to win a free Boulder Field tailgate parking pass. CLICK HERE to buy now.
CLICK HERE for a full look at the UNH Football Promotional Calendar..
Smith rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns to lift the Wildcats to a 42-35 victory against Stonehill College this past Saturday. It was his first career game scoring multiple TDs.
Smith's burst up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown gave the Wildcats a 21-14 lead at 5:55 of the second quarter. He broke through the middle of the line and raced down the left sideline for a 34-yard score to extend UNH's lead to 35-21at 2:18 of the third quarter. Smith bounced a run around the left side for a three-yard TD to put the 'Cats ahead 42-28 at 11:06 of the fourth quarter.
Smith is the first UNH Wildcat to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since Nov. 26, 2022, when Dylan Laube had three vs. Fordham.
The 13 carries, 122 yards and three TDs were all single-game highs as a Wildcat for Smith.
Ricketti returned the game's opening kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown to spark New Hampshire to victory against the Skyhawks. The last time a Wildcat scored on a kickoff return was November 2023.
Ricketti finished the game with a game-high 182 all-purpose yards on three kickoff returns for 135 yards and three catches for 47 yards.
The first-year Wildcat now has three kickoff returns for a TD in his career. He scored on a pair of 100-yard returns at Valparaíso before becoming a 'Cat this year.
GoCatsTravel
Whenever or wherever you travel to cheer the Wildcats, book your hotel at GoCatsTravel.com — it is the same rate as anywhere else, and 50 percent of proceeds go back to Wildcat Athletics. Pick your team, book your stay.
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