DURHAM – When he was asked about his team’s FCS-best five defensive touchdowns on Wednesday, Sean McDonnell smiled and said, “What do I want now? I want another one.”
New Hampshire’s coach got what he wanted Saturday as the Wildcats scored on defense yet again and forced five turnovers in a 43-14 win over No. 22/20 Stony Brook. It was the first conference loss of the year for the Seawolves (5-3, 4-1 CAA) and it was the fifth win in six games for the Wildcats (6-3, 5-1 CAA), who go into their bye week with smiles and a 13th straight trip to the FCS playoffs in their sites.
“As I told the guys, it’s setting the table for the next one and that’s huge,” McDonnell said. “Gives us some life going in to November, championship month, and that’s something we pride ourselves on in this program. … Now we’ve got an opportunity. We’re still fighting for the CAA championship. We’re still fighting for the playoffs.”
Taking advantage of opportunities is exactly what UNH did Saturday in front of 5,029 at an overcast Wildcat Stadium. Stony Brook had a 268-219 advantage in total yards, but the ’Cats scored touchdowns off four of the turnovers.
“(New Hampshire) took advantage of the opportunities that were presented to them,” Stony Brook Coach Chuck Priore said. “That’s what good football teams do, and they’re a good football team.”
That “taking advantage of opportunities” theme played out on the micro level for redshirt freshman linebacker Quinlan Dean. UNH linebackers DeVaughn Chollette (shoulder) and Jared Kuehl (concussion) both had to leave the game in the first half, forcing Dean into a bigger role. He seized the chance by coming up with two interceptions, a fumble recovery and nine tackles.
“(Dean) is a really good football player. We’re fortunate that we’ve got a couple good ones there at linebacker that have been playing, but (Dean) is learning. He was better last week against Towson and this week, he did what he was supposed to do,” McDonnell praised before slipping in a good-natured barb. “I wish he would tuck the ball away when he runs with interceptions. That would make me feel a lot better, but we can correct that.”
After Dean’s fourth-quarter fumble recovery, he jumped up in celebration and continued the party by running 50 yards with his teammates chasing and whooping it up behind him.
“I guess today was just my day,” Dean said. “I was extremely pumped (after the fumble recovery) and I just wanted to go celebrate with my guys.”
UNH opened the game with an impressive 59-yard touchdown drive against a Stony Brook defense that hadn’t give up a touchdown in 10 quarters and was ranked No. 11 in the FCS in scoring defense (17.9 ppg allowed) and No. 13 in total defense (296.6 yards allowed per game) coming in to the contest. The ’Cats converted a fourth down on the drive and found pay dirt when Trevor Knight (13-for-27, 144 yards, three touchdowns) hit Dalton Crossan with a nine-yard touchdown pass.
Less than a minute later, on Stony Brook’s second offensive play, UNH freshman corner Prince Smith, Jr., picked off Joe Carbone (19-for-31, 165 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions) and returned it 43 yards for the score. It was the second pick-six in as many weeks for Smith and gave the ’Cats a 15-0 lead after just 4:27 of football.
“It was huge,” McDonnell said of the start. “15-0 before most people were sitting down. That’s a pretty good deal.”
Stony Brook eventually answered when Carbone hit Steve Marino with a 9-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter to make it 15-7. The score stayed that way through the second quarter as the defenses asserted themselves. Not only did the Wildcat defenders come up with big plays – Smith had a second pick just before the half to halt a potential scoring drive – they held the Seawolves, who were averaging 161.9 rushing yards per game, to 103 rushing yards on 44 carries, a paltry 2.3 yards per carry average.
Once the second half started, the Wildcats quickly went back to work creating opportunities and taking advantage of them. Dean intercepted Carbone on the third offensive play of the second half and returned it 17 yards to the Stony Brook 18. On the very next play, Knight hit Neil O’Connor with a pretty 18-yard scoring strike to give the ’Cats a 22-7 lead.
In the middle of the third, Dean came up with his second pick to give UNH the ball at the Stony Brook 36. Eight plays later, Knight ran it in from a yard out to make it 29-7 with 6:26 left in the third.
The Seawolves answered again when Carbone found Tim Keith for a 38-yard touchdown, but the Wildcats immediately countered when Casey DeAndrade returned the kickoff 91 yards and Knight connected with Malik Love (six catches, 51 yards) for a 6-yard touchdown and another one-play drive.
“The defense and special teams put us in great position all game … it was more just really important to capitalize on that,” Knight said. “We knew what we had to do and it’s great when you can just take one play and go and score. It’s a huge momentum change.”
(Tim O’Sullivan can be reached at 369-3341 or at tosullivan@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @timosullivan20.)