DURHAM – Thursday’s Blue-White scrimmage was a dress rehearsal for the University of New Hampshire football team’s season opener, a Sept. 3 date at FBS San Diego State. It was also a dress rehearsal for the new Wildcat Stadium, which will have its grand opening Sept. 10 when UNH hosts Holy Cross.
UNH Coach Sean McDonnell called the new facility, “amazing,” and he was also pleased with the play inside it.
“What happened is what I thought should have happened and did happen,” McDonnell said. “Both the No. 1 defense and the No. 1 offense did what they’re supposed to do against the second teamers.”
McDonnell is still trying to decide who will be the starting quarterback, and Adam Riese and Trevor Knight didn’t do anything to make that decision easier. Riese went 12-for-18 for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Knight was 15-for-20 for 234 yards and three touchdowns.
“I thought I played well, just quickening up on my reads,” Knight said. “That was a big thing for me from spring ball until now, so I think that’s good progression.”
Five quarterbacks played for the ’Cats, including Ivan Niyomugabo, a redshirt freshman from Merrimack Valley. Niyomugabo, the third quarterback in, went 4-for-9 for 23 yards and also had a nine-yard run.
“Today went well, especially for all the quarterbacks. We all got a lot of looks and we all did really well, went through our reads, hit some passes,” Niyomugabo said. “The biggest thing is the older quarterbacks, especially Riese, are helping us all out.”
Neil O’Connor had five catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns to lead all receivers.