UNH prevails with second effort
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
Quarterback R.J. Toman didn't lead the University of New Hampshire to victory over Dartmouth on Saturday. Kevin Decker did.
Decker, a sophomore QB who transferred to Division III Trinity College following the 2008 season but then returned to UNH, replaced an injured Toman midway though UNH's 44-14 vtriumph.
Decker threw for a touchdown and ran for another against the Big Green. He completed 9 of 14 passes for 76 yards and was intercepted once. He also carried the ball three times for 56 yards.
"It's my job to be ready in case something happens to RJ," Decker said. "The offensive line did a great job and the receivers made plays -- made it easy for me out there. I felt comfortable out there because I've been with those guys in practice. They did a great job of stepping up when I came in and helping me out.
"After leaving here I realized what I missed. I missed the guys. I missed competing and that's why I came back. I'd rather come here and compete with RJ, make him better, and that's what I'm doing right now."
Toman completed 9 of 13 passes for 154 yards before leaving the game early in the third quarter with a toe injury.
"Very pleased with Kevin Decker," UNH coach Sean McDonnell said. "The kid's a good football player. He did on the field today what he's been doing in practice and in scrimmages around here. He really did a nice job of running the offense after RJ sprained his toe and had the turf toe problem.
"(Toman) could have gone in the second half. It was gonna benefit us to keep Kevin Decker in there. The team has confidence in him."
UNH outscored Dartmouth 24-0 in the second half. The second-half TDs came on a 15-yard pass from Decker to J.T. Wright, Decker's 33-yard run and Dino Vasso's 34-yard interception return. The Wildcats also received a 24-yard field goal from Tom Manning with 4:42 to play.
UNH, which had 528 yards of total offense, improved to 3-0 with the victory. The loss dropped Dartmouth to 0-2.
UNH has a 17-0-2 record in its last 19 games against Dartmouth. The Wildcats have scored at least 42 points in each of the last seven contests.
Although UNH scored on its first three possessions, the Wildcats had an uncomfortable 20-14 lead at halftime.
Dartmouth turned the ball over five times (three fumbles). "It was mistakes that cost us," Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens said.
Dartmouth's TDs came on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Alex Jenny to wide receiver Michael Reilly that helped make it a 7-7 game with 10:14 left in the opening quarter, and a 12-yard pass from Jenny to Niles Murphy.
"The (offensive line) played a phenomenal game," Jenny said. "I can probably count on one hand the number of times I got hit today. Didn't get sacked at all. It just comes down to the turnovers."
Dartmouth's Nick Schwieger, a sophomore, rushed for a game-high 119 yards on 26 carries.
"I think Darmouth's a much-improved football team," McDonnell said. "They're a better football team than in the past three or four years when we've played them."
"It was a growth opportunity for our football team and I think we did move forward," Teevens said. "There's some developing confidence that we haven't had as a football program in a while."
Extra Points
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Teevens has a 2-6-1 record against UNH, including an 0-6-1 mark while at Dartmouth. He coached Maine to two victories over the Wildcats. McDonnell-coached UNH teams are 10-0 against Dartmouth.
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It was the 14th consecutive loss for Dartmouth dating back to the 2007 season.
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UNH defensive lineman Steve Young did not play. McDonnell said Young has been bothered by headaches and didn't feel well after suiting up Saturday.
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Saturday's attendance was 8,271.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
UNH--Kackert 4 run (Manning kick), 12:17.
DART--Reilly 10 pass from Jenny (Schmidt kick), 10:14.
UNH--Kackert 15 run (Manning kick), 7:16.
UNH--Toman 7 run (kick blocked), 2:41.
Second Quarter
DART--Murphy 12 pass from Jenny (Schmidt kick), 7:39.
Third Quarter
UNH--Wright 15 pass from Decker (Jellison pass from Decker), 3:16.
Fourth Quarter
UNH--Decker 33 run (kick blocked), 11:11.
UNH--Vasso 34 interception return (Manning kick), 7:36.
UNH--Manning FG 24, 1:03.
