DURHAM — They rolled up big numbers running the ball and a takeaway defense allowed Central Connecticut State's offense to do little.

The No 18-ranked University of New Hampshire football team quickly shook off a rough first play, too, and then bounced back nicely from a tough loss last week with a 43-10 taking-care-of-business win on Saturday in front of 7,784 in Cowell Stadium.

“We wanted to get back after it as soon as we were in the locker room in Minnesota,” said UNH senior linebacker and captain Matt Evans.

The Wildcats got after it, all right.

They put up 331 yards rushing, their most in a game in six years, and scored five rushing touchdowns, two by sophomore Jimmy Owens and one each by sophomore quarterback Andy Vailas, sophomore Nico Steriti and redshirt freshman wide receiver Jared Allison.

The defense came up with six turnovers with four interceptions — two by sophomore defensive back Nick Cefalo — and a pair of fumble recoveries, both by sophomore defensive tackle Matt Kaplan of Franklin.

“I was very pleased with the defense,” said UNH coach Sean McDonnell. “The ends, the tackles and the linebackers in particular did a real nice job keeping the ball caged inside and I thought our safeties, inside and out, did a real good job of getting to the perimeter and making some plays.”

UNH had 459 yards of total offense to Central Connecticut's 234.

The day helped the Wildcats push last week's 44-7 loss at Minnesota a little deeper into the past and now they'll prepare for a couple of stiff tests the next couple of weeks.

“I told the boys to buckle up, we're going to the CAA right now,” McDonnell said.

With 0-3 Central Connecticut out of the way, it's all Colonial Athletic Association games for UNH the rest of the way.

The Wildcats play at CAA short-timer Old Dominion in Norfolk Va., ranked No. 6 in the country last week, on Saturday. They then return home the next week to take on Delaware, which was ranked No. 13 last week. ODU and Delaware were both 2-0 going into Saturday's games. Old Dominion played Campbell on Saturday night and Delaware faced Bucknell.

The Wildcats must clean up their game after losing three fumbles against Central Connecticut, McDonnell said.

Vailas turned the ball over on UNH's first play, but Kaplan and the defense quickly bailed the quarterback out.

Running and looking for more yards, Vailas tried to get the ball to wide receiver R.J. Harris, but threw it away and Central Connecticut recovered.

“It was all my fault,” Vailas said. “I'm sure everyone wasn't happy with me when I came to the sidelines after the first play.”

The Blue Devils, though, put the ball on the ground on the next play and Kaplan jumped on it.

“They messed up the exchange and I was in the right place at the right time,” Kaplan said.

This time, Vailas and the offense stormed down the field and the quarterback scored on an 8-yard run and UNH was on its way to its seventh straight Cowell Stadium win.

UNH stretched its halftime lead to 23-3 with a 28-yard field goal from Mike MacArthur, the sophomore out of North Hampton and Winnacunnet, on the last play before the break.

The Wildcats owned a wide edge in statistics in the half. They put up 317 yards of total offense to Central Connecticut's 152.

They got first-half touchdowns from Vailas, from Allison on a wild 30-yard reverse the first time he touched the ball as a Wildcat and from sophomore tight end Harold Spears on a 1-yard pass from Vailas.

Owens scored his first touchdown on a 5-yard run with 10:29 left in the third quarter to make it 30-3. The Wildcats got two more quick scores spanning the third and fourth period from Setian with a 27-yard run and Owens on a 6-yard run.

Vailas completed 14 of his 20 passes for 122 yards and the one score.

Steriti, who was banged up on a third quarter run and did not return to the game, carried 12 times for 104 yards, Owens went 11-for-91 and Setian 11-81.

“One, we needed to do it,” said McDonnell of his team's rushing for the 331 yards, its most since collecting 417 in a win over Stony Brook in 2006. “Two, there were some things we saw on tape and I think we executed very well on the offensive line.”

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NOTES: Evans led the Wildcats with nine tackles and moved up to second on UNH's career list with 361. He passed Matt Parent (356 from 2005-08) and Jeff Pammer (359 from 2004-07). He trails only Steve Doig (434 from 1978-81). ... Steven Thames and Chris Houston had the interceptions to go with Cefalo's pair.