UNH football opens season with 28-14 loss at UAlbany

ALBANY, N.Y. — Senior quarterback Brooks Bentley threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns, but the University of New Hampshire football team fell to UAlbany, 28-14, on Friday at Bob Ford Field at Tom and Mary Casey Stadium.

Senior wide receiver Ja'Carree Kelly led the Wildcats' receiving corps with six catches for 123 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown reception. Myles Thomason paced the ground game with 53 rushing yards and also caught a 4-yard touchdown pass.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Trevor Barry recorded a career-high 13 tackles, while sophomore safety Cohen Cook added 10 stops. Darren Burton II also came up with an interception for UNH.

On the first possession of the game, Burton II intercepted Colón's pass at the UAlbany 45 to give the ball to the Wildcats.

UNH, on the opening drive, took advantage of an Albany personal foul on a 37-yard field goal attempt that extended the drive. Bentley lofted a pass to the left flat corralled by Thomason at the 8-yard line and he ran into the end zone at 8:07 for the first score of the season. Lucas Glassburn kicked the PAT to give the 'Cats a 7-0 lead.

Trailing 21-7, it took UNH only two plays to cover 74 yards in 37 seconds to trim the deficit at 14:21 of the third quarter. Thomason ran around the left end for a 29-yard gain to the UAlbany 45, then Bentley connected with Kelly in stride down the middle of the field for a 45-yard touchdown.

The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, Sept. 5, when they travel to face Syracuse.