2008 Woodie Awards
Football closes season in defeat
Rival UNH retains the Brice-Cowell Musket for fifth-straight contest
Adam Clark
Issue date: 11/19/07 Section: Maine Sports
Coming into the season-ending rivalry game Saturday, the University of Maine Black Bear football team had won three straight games. The University of New Hampshire, on the other hand, had lost two straight. With all the momentum and nothing to lose, the chips appeared to be in favor of the Black Bears. There was one thing though; the Wildcats had Ricky Santos.
On Senior Day at Cowell Stadium, the senior quarterback and reigning Walter Payton Award winner threw four touchdown passes and the defense held UMaine to just 69 yards rushing as New Hampshire routed the Black Bears 39-14 in front of 6,222 fans.
With the win, the Wildcats took home the Brice-Cowell Musket, which is awarded to the winner in this annual rival game. It was New Hampshire's fifth straight victory over UMaine.
UMaine (4-7, 3-5 Colonial Athletic Association) only trailed 17-7 at the half, but the Wildcats put the game away early in the third quarter.
New Hampshire (7-4, 4-4) blocked a punt for a safety and scored after a 47-yard return to take a 26-7 lead with 12:25 to go in the third quarter.
"I've got to check my inspiration speech," head coach Jack Cosgrove told the Maine Sunday Telegram. "We went in the opposite direction. The players said it best. [New Hampshire] wanted it more than we did."
UMaine's potent running attack, who averaged about 189 yards per game coming into Saturday, managed only 69 yards on the ground. Junior running back Jhamal Fluellen, a 1,000-yard rusher, managed only 31 yards on 13 carries.
"We didn't execute when we needed to," said UMaine quarterback Michael Brusko, who had two scoring drives halted in the first half due to holding penalties. "The entire offensive unit, up front, the offensive line, the receivers. I didn't do my job in the running game. The entire unit, we just struggled."
Santos was 25-for-32 and had 355 yards through the air. Three of his four touchdowns were thrown to wide receiver Mike Boyle, who had nine receptions and 170 yards receiving.
On Senior Day at Cowell Stadium, the senior quarterback and reigning Walter Payton Award winner threw four touchdown passes and the defense held UMaine to just 69 yards rushing as New Hampshire routed the Black Bears 39-14 in front of 6,222 fans.
With the win, the Wildcats took home the Brice-Cowell Musket, which is awarded to the winner in this annual rival game. It was New Hampshire's fifth straight victory over UMaine.
UMaine (4-7, 3-5 Colonial Athletic Association) only trailed 17-7 at the half, but the Wildcats put the game away early in the third quarter.
New Hampshire (7-4, 4-4) blocked a punt for a safety and scored after a 47-yard return to take a 26-7 lead with 12:25 to go in the third quarter.
"I've got to check my inspiration speech," head coach Jack Cosgrove told the Maine Sunday Telegram. "We went in the opposite direction. The players said it best. [New Hampshire] wanted it more than we did."
UMaine's potent running attack, who averaged about 189 yards per game coming into Saturday, managed only 69 yards on the ground. Junior running back Jhamal Fluellen, a 1,000-yard rusher, managed only 31 yards on 13 carries.
"We didn't execute when we needed to," said UMaine quarterback Michael Brusko, who had two scoring drives halted in the first half due to holding penalties. "The entire offensive unit, up front, the offensive line, the receivers. I didn't do my job in the running game. The entire unit, we just struggled."
Santos was 25-for-32 and had 355 yards through the air. Three of his four touchdowns were thrown to wide receiver Mike Boyle, who had nine receptions and 170 yards receiving.
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