Watch UNH football's crucial pick-6: Key moments in opening win over Monmouth

DURHAM — Junior running back Dylan Laube rushed for two touchdowns and University of New Hamsphire’s defense and special teams both scored a TD to propel the Wildcats to a 31-21 season-opening victory against Monmouth University at Wildcat Stadium Thursday night.

Rick Santos got the win in his debut as UNH's full-time head coach, succeeding Sean McDonnell, who retired last December following 23 years at the helm. A Wildcat alum, Santos was a record-setting Wildcat quarterback from 2004-07 and was inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. He served as interim coach in 2019 and as associate head coach under McDonnell.

The Wildcats ended 2021 with eight straight losses and entered 2022 looking to rebound.

Laube’s 19-yard score tied the game, 7-7, in the first quarter and his seven-yard TD run put the Wildcats ahead to stay, 24-21, at 6:20 of the fourth quarter. He carried the ball 16 times for 63 yards, had five receptions for 57 yards and two kickoff returns for 26 yards for a total of 146 all-purpose yards.

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In his first game since March 2021, sophomore quarterback Max Brosmer completed 18 of 35 passes for 272 yards. Junior tight end Kyle Lepkowski was the top target with seven catches for 121 yards.

Late pick-6 seals victory for UNH

Junior cornerback Randall Harris had two interceptions, one of which he returned 25 yards for a touchdown to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 31-21 with 4:07 remaining.

Sophomore defensive end Josiah Silver blocked a punt that was returned for a 35-yard TD by junior wide receiver Charles Briscoe III.

Junior linebacker Bryce Shaw had a team-high 10 tackles. Senior captain Niko Kvietkus made eight stops, including two behind the line of scrimmage.

MU quarterback Tony Muskett was 26 of 41 for 281 yards and one TD. Juwon Farri was the Hawks’ leading ground gainer with 35 yards on nine carries, and Owen Wright ran for a pair of touchdowns. Alex Bryant caught eight passes for 67 yards and a score.

Here's a look at more key plays for both teams in UNH's win:

Monmouth strikes first

Monmouth took a 7-0 lead at 10:10 on Wright’s five-yard scamper and the PAT kick by Vincenzo Rea.

UNH answered immediately with a 9-play, 73-yard drive of 4 minutes, 34 seconds that was capped by Laube from 19 yards. Redshirt freshman Nick Mazzie converted the PAT kick to tie the score at 5:32.

UNH leads at half

Silver’s sack on the last play of the first quarter forced Monmouth to punt, and Silver blocked Ryan Kost’s punt on 4th-and-22 from the MU 47; Briscoe III scooped up the ball for the score and 14-7 lead at 14:52.

Monmouth marched 70 yards on 12 plays to tie the score, 14-14, on Wright’s two-yard run at 9:43.

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The Wildcats started 1st-and-10 on the UNH 17 with 52 seconds left and quickly advanced the ball downfield with a 25-yard pass to Lepkowski, 24-yard completion to Laube and 26-yarder to Lepkowski that gave the ‘Cats 1st-and-goal at the MU 8 with 23 seconds on the clock.

Following two incompletions and a sack, Mazzie’s 28-yard field goal gave UNH a 17-14 lead with six seconds remaining in the half.

Monmouth regains lead

Monmouth went back in front, 21-17, when Muskett found Bryant alone in the middle of the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown at 9:25.

UNH's clutch finish

UNH overcame three offensive penalties to regain the lead, 24-21, on an 8-play, 72-yard drive. A 26-yard completion to senior Sean Coyne moved the ball across midfield to the MU 43, and then a 33-yard pass play to grad student Andrew Edgar (Chicago, Ill.) set up 1st-and-10 at the MU 11. One play later, Laube gained the corner around the left side for a 7-yard TD run at 5:10.

Facing 4th-and-11 at the MU 24 with just over four minutes remaining, the Hawks kept their offense on the field. Harris stepped in front of the intended receiver at the 25-yard line and raced into the end zone to secure the win.

Inside the numbers

UNH had the slight edge in total offense yards, 353-343.

The Wildcats won the turnover battle with three interceptions; Monmouth’s defense recorded one INT.

MU won the time of possession with 35:50 in comparison to UNH’s 24:10.

This was the first ever meeting between these programs.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: UNH football defeats Monmouth in 2022 football season opener