September 9, 2023
FB: Lombard tops century mark but UNE holds off Panthers
PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) ran for 105 yards, but the University of New England built a 31-7 lead and thwarted a late Panthers' comeback bid as the Nor'easters topped Plymouth State University, 31-21, in non-conference football action at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
Playing in front of the home crowd for the first time this season, Plymouth State took advantage of a short field after the Nor'easters fumbled a punt and junior Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) found graduate student Jake Donahue (Hudson, N.H.) in the back of the end zone to trim an early UNE lead to 10-7.
The Nor'easters restored the 10-point advantage with an eight-play, 75-yard drive just before the second quarter expired as the visitors took a 17-7 lead into the break.
PSU went for it on fourth down just over midfield midway through the third, but the UNE defense held and the Nor'easters marched downfield to extend the margin to 24-7, before a blocked punt gave the visitors a short field which was converted into another TD.
Plymouth State put together its two best drives of the afternoon in the fourth quarter. Lombard ripped off a pair of long runs before senior Tyler Kayo (Londonderry, N.H.) pushed through the line from two yards out to cut the margin to 31-14 with 9:08 left to play and, after forcing a three-and-out, the Panthers marched 63 yards in 14 plays, converting two third downs and a fourth down play, before senior Tyler Gleifert (Bristol, Conn.) capped the drive with a one-yard burst through the line to make it 31-21, but time ran out on the Panthers' comeback bid.
Plymouth State slips to 0-1, while UNE goes to 1-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 21, UNE 31
- Plymouth State (0-2)
- UNE (2-0)
How it Happened:
- After trading three-and-outs, UNE struck first midway through the opening quarter on a 32-yard field goal to go up 3-0.
- Lynn scrambled for a 22-yard gain on the ensuing possession to convert a third-and-22, but the Panthers' drive stalled as the first quarter came to an end.
- The visitors followed with three long plays, including a 29-yard touchdown pass, to push the margin to 10-0 just over a minute into the second quarter.
- PSU was unable to gain momentum on its following drive, but the Nor'easters couldn't cleanly handle a punt off the foot of senior Jack Marsden (Broadalbin, N.Y.), and junior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) pounced on the loose ball to give the Panthers a short field. One play later, Lynn fired over the middle to Donahue for his second TD catch in as many weeks to pull within 10-7 with 12:01 left in the half.
- The teams traded field position until the 3:21 mark of the frame. UNE used a 25-yard catch-and-run to jumpstart its final possession of the half and seven plays later a 6-yard touchdown throw gave the visitors a 17-7 lead.
- Kayo picked up 15 yards on a screen pass on the Panthers' second possession of the third quarter, and Lombard and graduate student Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) had back-to-back 12-yard runs to move to the UNE 28-yard line, but the Nor'easters' defense stepped up with a key sack and denied PSU's bid on fourth down to take over near midfield.
- UNE followed with a quick TD-scoring drive as the lead grew to 24-7 with 4:49 left in the third.
- Lynn hit senior Kyle Baker (Pelham, N.H.) for a 10-yard gain to kick off its next drive, but the offense stalled from there and UNE answered back with another touchdown-scoring drive to make it 31-7 with just 1:03 left in the frame.
- Plymouth State got the ball back early in the fourth and Lombard sliced through the defense for a drive-starting 16-yard gain. Five players later Lombard converted a third-and-9 by bursting through the defense for 36 yards, leading to Kayo's two-yard dive into the end zone with 9:08 on the clock.
- The Panthers forced a three-and-out and followed with another lengthy drive. Donahue converted a short pass for a 12-yard gain on third-and-3 and Lynn found graduate student Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) for four yards to move the chains on fourth-and-3. Six plays later, Gleifert pushed the pile into the end zone with 1:11 left on the clock.
- PSU attempted the onside kick, but the Nor'easters recovered and ran out the clock.
By the Numbers:
- Lombard finished with 105 yards on 16 carries for a 6.6 average. He topped the century mark for the second time in his career and finished just five yards shy of his career high.
- Sanchez added 60 yards on the ground, while Gleifert and Kayo recorded their first and second career rushing TDs.
- Lynn finished 9-of-19 for 71 yards and a touchdown.
- Graduate student David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.) recorded a game-best eight tackles with five solo stops, while junior Josh Crosswhite (Littleton, Mass.) and graduate student Jyaire Hatcher (Uniondale, N.Y.) added seven tackles apiece. Crosswhite had a team-high six solo tackles.
- The Panthers controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for 34:21 to UNE's 23:15.
- PSU went 4-of-13 on third downs and 1-for-2 on fourth down conversions, and scored touchdowns on all three of its red zone possessions.
- This was the first meeting between the two programs.
Up Next:
- The Panthers open MASCAC play next Saturday (Sept. 16) with a trip to Bridgewater State. Kickoff is slated for noon.
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