You can say that again
Postgame quotes from Saturday's Colonial Clash:
University of New Hampshire
Head Coach Sean McDonnell
QB Kevin Decker
RB Dontra Peters
LB Matt Evans
(On general thoughts on the win today)
SM: Can't say enough about what it is for our school and our program to have an opportunity to play in a city and a setting like this - and most importantly, for our kids. We drove in here yesterday and looked at it and then played in here today with all the people here - it's just something special. Having the opportunity to play UMass and not knowing if we're ever going to have another one against them, it meant a lot to us to win this football game. I thought we played a pretty clean game. We caused some turnovers, which was good. I was very pleased with the way we had the opportunity to run the football today; we did a nice job running the football. Early in the game I thought we did a nice job of containing [Jonathan] Hernandez, but that kid is a good football player. He got going downhill going in to the second and third, but we hung on because of these kids; they wanted it. This is the last dance they're having with these guys and they went out and got it.
(On the play late in the game when Kevin Decker was nearly sacked but got free and got the first down)
SM: It was funny, we watch Kevin scramble and do that and it was huge. It kept the ball in our hands and kept the ball out of their hands and got us the first down, which was big, but it also kept the drive alive, which has been huge this year for us and he's done a lot of it. The next drive, when we kicked the field goal, one of the assistant coaches was a little bit upset that Deck didn't throw the ball away at the snap. We just reminded him that you live and die by that at times. The scrambling ability kept us alive. He does that very well; it helps our offense.
(On if he was just looking for anybody)
KD: We work on that in practice. We do scrambling mechanics drills where we go out right or left and the receivers have to see where I'm going and come back to the ball. Jimmy G [Giansante] is one of the best at that on the team. He did a good job of snapping on his route and looking for the ball.
(On the decision to go for two on the opening score)
SM: We'll have to look at the tape on that one guys. I don't think it ended up the way we drew it up. It's something that we've been doing now for a couple of years. You get up in those no huddle things and see how you're lined up. We felt we had something and they adjusted; they did a good job. Kevin [Decker] scrambled and hit Brian [Ciccone]. Brian was open and he couldn't get to him. We're going to do things like that because it gives us an opportunity get points on the board, that's huge.
(On if the running attack was planned or if it was just going)
SM: It was going today. If you look over years at how we play offense, if we feel good with it, we're going to do it. If we get the run game going, it really opens up a lot of different things for us. Today, we ran well. Dontra [Peters] did a great job and the line did a great job.
(On if there's something special about being the last winner of the Bill Knight trophy)
DP: I think personally, it's not even about the trophy. This game is huge for us, because like Coach said, this might be the last time we ever play them. I think it's much more than the trophy. Our guys have been practicing hard for this because there's always a UMass-UNH rivalry and we get all hyped up about it all week. I'm just satisfied getting the win and putting the last 'W' on the board.
(On if he gets to keep the trophy)
SM: We talked about that. We've got a rock from Dartmouth and now we have the Bill Knight trophy. So, unless we play them again, it's going to be in Durham for a while.
SM: It's huge. It gives us an opportunity to win October. After losing down there last week to William & Mary, now we come back home and play against a really good football team in Rhode Island. I don't know what happened with them; they were tied late in the game - they won? It's going to be another battle up there. It's huge to keep us alive and give us an opportunity to win the CAA.
(On who replaces UMass as a rival)
SM: The University of Maine is that same kind of feeling for this football program. We're fortunate to have a border rival with Massachusetts and Maine. All our energies and efforts need to go to the University of Maine it looks like for, hopefully, the next 15-20 years. But unfortunately, losing this is sad; it's been something special for a long time. If it goes away that will be very disappointing.
University of Massachusetts
Head Coach Kevin Morris
QB Kellen Pagel
WR Julian Talley
TB Jonathan Hernandez
(On his thoughts on the game)
KM: Disappointing loss, certainly. The difference in the game in the end was what happened in the beginning. They came out strong with a great kick return and were able to punch that in for a score and were playing from behind the rest of the ballgame. We weren't able to overcome our own mistakes and penalties with the officiating on that touchdown. We're certainly looking forward to moving on after this ballgame.
(On whether the play where Kevin Decker escaped to get a first down was a back breaker)
KM: There's a lot of back breaker type plays over the course of a game, I don't know if that was a back breaker in and of itself but it certainly contributed to the overall outcome of the game. Decker did a great job - we knew that's what he was capable of doing. He stepped up again and did a great job of scrambling, evading pressure and making plays.
(On if it was surprising to miss two extra points)
KM: Yeah, considering the percentage rate for most teams it about 99 percent. We missed two today - very disappointing.
(On how the kick returns contributed to the field position battle)
KM: Unbelievable right? Big difference in the game. I don't know what their starting position was, I haven't had a chance to look at the statistics but they probably had the ball on the 45 yard line. We were down on our end starting position probably wasn't quite near that. That's a great advantage for an offense to get the ball out by midfield. Nice job, UNH.
(On if you had good momentum after getting within six points)
JT: We definitely felt like we had a little momentum swing our way. In turn, we wanted to come out defensively get the ball back and offensively go down score again. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way and UNH did a good job making plays to keep themselves ahead and come out with the win.
(On the running game)
JH: I put that on me. The line was doing a great job today. I was missing a couple of reads. That's on me - that's all I have to say.
(On the use of the no-huddle)
KM: It's part of our package every week. We'll have some high-tempo stuff as we go. But that whole first drive wasn't all no-huddle. That final drive, in the two-minute session was. That's obviously because we were down needing two scores.
(On if UNH's running success was a surprise)
KM: Yeah I think in the first half we came off the field, we thought we missed a bunch of tackles, opportunities in the hole, we were running by the play instead of stepping up and falling into the play. Good job by UNH again.
(On losing UNH as a rival)
KM: I think it's one of those where you move up and move on. Future headed in the MAC Conference, we'll create some rivalries there. The regional one would be Temple. Certainly we'll have some great games with some of the other teams and form some great rivalries with the teams at the top of that league - so we're looking forward to that.
(On playing at Gillette Stadium)
KM: In the locker room, they're going to put some UMass stuff down and make it a true home locker room for us. I think it will be great for our guys to make it really feel like our home field as we come down here from Amherst to play our home games over the next few years. There's no better venue in the country to play NFL football or obviously college football. We'll be very excited to make this our home field. We're excited it will be our home field, lets put it that way.
