Allen Lessels' College Football: Ground Chad (et al.)

DURHAM – He burst into the end zone from 15 and 22 yards out to get the University of New Hampshire football team off to a good start on the way to its 48-21 win over Northeastern last Saturday.

Then there was the carry late in the third period that came up just short of a touchdown.

Senior Chad Kackert took a pitch on the option from Kevin Decker and got outside and into the Northeastern backfield and worked his way down the field.

Running mate Sean Jellison, who earlier had his own 64-yard touchdown run, was impressed. And excited.

"I've never seen him weave like that," Jellison said. "He cut across. I didn't know he could do that. It seems he's more 'get the ball and go straight.'"

Kackert chuckled.

"Everyone likes to give me a hard time, saying I can only run straight," he said. "I try to do what's appropriate each time and usually my speed is what's best for me. I guess I found some opportunities to make some people miss."

That run ended on the Northeastern 5-yard line, and at 73 yards, it was Kackert's longest since his freshman year.

His 176 yards on 17 carries for the day were a career high and the best Wildcat total since R.J. Harvie went for 179 against Maine on Nov. 22, 2003.

The best part of all, the Wildcats hope, is what the breakout day means for the days ahead, starting tomorrow with a home game against Rhode Island, 1-7 overall and 0-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association.

UNH is ranked No. 8 at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association and in the stretch run now.

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In years past, Kackert has done his best work, had his biggest moments, late in the season.

Between the improving play of the offensive line and Kackert's improving health, things seem to be looking up for the running game and offense overall.

"He's getting healthy as the season's progressing and I just hope it's a sign of things to come," said coach Sean McDonnell.

The fact that quarterback R.J. Toman, who has had toe and ankle injuries, has been able to run more is also helping the offense.

Kackert did come out of the weekend with a bruised knee and was slowed in practice this week, but expects to be ready to go tomorrow.

The time, with three games left in the regular season and the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in sight, is now.

"We've been waiting for him to turn it on," Jellison said. "This is big. He's always been a big threat. He has big-play capability, so it's huge."

THE PANTHER LOBBY: Plymouth State, 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the New England Football Conference's Boyd Division, closes out the regular season in Middletown, R.I., against Salve Regina, 4-5 and 3-3, tomorrow at noon.

The Panthers are out to strengthen their case for a berth in the ECAC tournament. The tournament field will be announced Monday, Nov. 16.

Ty Long, a freshman running back from Dover, has carried 105 times for 620 yards for Plymouth State for an average of 5.9 yards a carry. He has four touchdowns.

J.J. Brooks, the junior quarterback form Seabrook and Winnacunnet of Hampton, has passed for 15 touchdowns and has thrown five interceptions. He has scored nine TDs on the ground.

Salve Regina quarterback Jeff St. Onge, a senior out of Kingston and (Lawrence, Mass.) Central Catholic High School, has completed 64.3 percent of his passes. He's thrown for 16 scores and been intercepted nine times. He also has nine rushing touchdowns.

Ben Hall a senior wide receiver out of Exeter and Hebron Academy, has 30 catches for 365 yards and two scores for Salve Regina.

HAWKS LANDING: St. Anselm, 2-7 overall and 1-6 in the Northeast-10, finishes up against Southern Connecticut, 5-4 and 5-2, at home tomorrow at noon.

Freshman quarterback Michael Pierce has completed 214 of his 409 passes for 2,448 yards. He has thrown 19 touchdown passes and been intercepted seven times. Sophomore wide receiver Marc Wilson has 74 catches for 810 yards and seven touchdowns.

Senior outside linebacker Dan Bohenek leads the Hawks with 104 tackles, 12 of them for a loss.

Three of the top five Hawk tacklers are freshmen. Freshman outside linebacker Ethan Sylvain has 81, freshman linebacker Chris Bent has 72, senior linebacker Kevin Flynn 52 and freshman lineman Mike Hobbs 50.

Southern Connecticut, which is coming off a 52-42 loss to Merrimack, beat St. Anselm, 56-0, last year.

DARTMOUTH'S SCHWIEGER OUT: Dartmouth, 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the Ivy League, needs to look for another answer at running back with sophomore Nick Schwieger gone for the season. Schwieger broke a finger in last week's 42-21 loss at Harvard.

Cornell, 2-5 and 1-3, is at Dartmouth for a 12:30 game tomorrow.

Sophomore Connor Kempe, who has taken over at quarterback for the injured Alex Jenny, has completed 57 of 114 passes for 622 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions.

Schwieger finished with 139 carries for 626 yards. Last year, Dartmouth rushed for 434 yards as a team.

Cornell won its first two games and has lost its last five.

Cornell quarterbacks have thrown six touchdown passes and been intercepted 13 times, but Big Red running backs have not lost a fumble all season.

Last year, Cornell beat Dartmouth, 37-14, in Ithaca.

The last time Cornell came to Hanover, in 2007, Dartmouth won, 59-31.

Allen Lessels covers college football for the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News. He may be reached at alessels@unionleader.com.