By Tiffany Williams –
The University of New England turned a tight football game into a blowout on Saturday, unleashing a 28-point fourth quarter to bury WPI 41-3 in Biddeford, Maine. The loss drops the Engineers to 0-2, while the Nor’easters stay unbeaten at 2-0.
For much of the afternoon, WPI hung around. After Chris Lang hit Tim Visbeek for an 18-yard strike on UNE’s opening drive, the Engineers punched back with a field goal following a Ryan Hannigan interception. Nathan Napier’s 42-yarder cut the deficit to 7-3 late in the first quarter, and WPI’s defense forced two turnovers in the third to keep the hosts within striking distance. But their offense never found a rhythm, managing just 122 total yards and seven first downs all day.
UNE broke things open after halftime, and then the floodgates opened. Nathan Delgado muscled in from the 1-yard line before halftime, stretching the lead to 13-3, but the fourth quarter was the hammer. Lang scrambled for a 29-yard touchdown run, then dialed up a deep shot to Will McLoughlin for 48 yards. Steven Rosario powered in from eight yards out, and Austin Ingersoll delivered the dagger with a 76-yard sprint down the sideline to cap the rout.
Lang torched WPI with 327 yards through the air, plus the rushing score. Ingersoll’s game-breaking run highlighted his 111-yard day, while Rosario added another punch on the ground. The Nor’easters’ defense smothered WPI, harassing quarterback Aedan McDermott into just 52 passing yards while limiting the Engineers’ rushing attack to scraps.
For WPI, it was a long day despite some individual bright spots. Linebacker Carter Learned racked up 22 tackles, Patrick Andrews added 16 and a sack, and Hannigan’s first-quarter interception gave the Engineers life. But the defense eventually wore down as UNE’s depth and pace took over.
The Crimson and Gray now face a critical early-season test next Saturday at Husson, still searching for their first win. UNE, meanwhile, will try to keep its perfect start alive on the road at VTSU Castleton.