Late FG sends Wildcats to second loss

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Midway through the fourth quarter, it appeared No. 8 New Hampshire had just taken the momentum for itself.

Trailing by a touchdown and faced with a fourth-and-7 from the William and Mary 35-yard-line, quarterback R.J. Toman threw a quick screen pass to receiver Joey Orlando, who broke a tackle and scampered all the way into the end zone to knot the game at 17.

But it wasn't to be. On the ensuing drive, the fifth-ranked Tribe took the ball 52 yards and Brian Pate booted the go-ahead 37-yard field goal with less than three minutes remaining to capture a 20-17 victory.

"We did make a couple plays when we had to make them," UNH head coach Sean McDonnell said. "A great execution on the screen late in the game, a couple turnovers. We just didn't finish some things that we needed to finish in that last drive."

That drive lasted just four plays, as Toman's final pass on fourth and 8 from the Wildcats' 38-yard-line was tipped before it could reach Orlando, falling incomplete and assuring UNH of its second loss of the season.

The Wildcats struggled to move the ball all afternoon. The CAA's top-ranked offense managed just 20 points, 19 less than their season average, and amassed just 226 yards of total offense, well below their season average of 373 yards.

Running back Chad Kackert, who averaged just over 11 yards per carry en route to a 166-yard performance last week against Rhode Island, gained only five rushing yards in the second half on five carries. Kackert's longest run of the game, a seven-yard scamper in the first half, was the only time he saw any running room. Averaging 168 yards rushing on the season, New Hampshire managed just 27 rushing yards on 22 carries.

"Once I get through the line, it's up to me on what I'm going to do," Kackert said. "The line did their job on that play, and it's kind of up to me. Sometimes I like to put my head down, and I didn't really get the opportunities to put my head down and get out."

The Tribe defense got into the backfield often, disrupting Toman's rhythm on nearly every play. William and Mary defensive end Adrian Tracy recorded seven tackles, including two sacks.

When Toman did have time to throw, he was successful. The junior connected with tight end Scott Sicko for five catches and 41 yards, including a touchdown on a play-action pass over the middle near the end of the first quarter.

The touchdown was set up four plays earlier. Facing third and long from his own 38-yard-line, Toman read the Tribe blitz before the snap, called an audible, then used a nice ball fake to free wide receiver Travis Negron for a 30-yard completion. The catch was Negron's only of the game and helped put UNH in front, 7-3.

Yet the Wildcats managed just three drives in the game that amassed more than 30 total yards, including a drive that ended with a Toman interception on fourth down from the William and Mary 32-yard-line early in the fourth quarter.

"They dropped to Cover 2, dropped six guys underneath," Toman said about the interception. "I didn't see the drop in right away, and I thought I could hit (Kackert) real quick on the wheel, but the defensive end stepped out and made a good play."

Tied at 10 at halftime, William and Mary took a 17-10 lead midway through the third quarter after Toman threw an interception on third and 3 from the Wildcat 20-yard-line. Three plays later, William and Mary receiver Chase Hill beat linebacker Hugo Souza in the corner of the end zone to catch the touchdown pass.

UNH stayed within one score of the Tribe late in the third quarter after a 47-yard missed field goal by Tribe kicker Brian Pate. The long attempt was set up after linebacker Devon Jackson made a diving stop to bring down Tribe quarterback R.J. Archer, saving a touchdown.

"We just played base defense the whole time," Souza said. "Our defensive line did a great job, our linebackers, great tackling. Our last game we tackled poorly, but we stepped it up this game."

Now at 8-2, UNH closes the regular season at home Saturday against Maine.