BIDDEFORD, Maine — The Husson University football team battled the University of New England in a back-and-forth contest on Saturday afternoon at Blue Storm Stadium, putting together one of its best offensive showings of the season before falling 38-28 to the Nor'easters in the fifth annual Lobster Trap Game.
The Eagles (2-5, 1-3 CNE) rolled up 484 yards of total offense, including 389 through the air, and controlled possession for more than 38 minutes. Senior quarterback Max Clark led the way, completing 30 of 49 passes for 389 yards, which was good for second place in a single-game in all three categories in program history, in addition to three touchdowns while also adding a rushing score.
After a defensive opening quarter that saw UNE (6-1, 3-1 CNE) jump ahead 7-0, Husson began to find its rhythm early in the second. The Eagles marched 91 yards on 15 plays, capped off by a one-yard quarterback keeper from Clark to even the score at 7-7 with 12:37 left in the half.
On their next possession, the Eagles' offense went right back to work. Starting at their own nine-yard line, Clark engineered another 91-yard drive over 11 plays, highlighted by a key third-down conversion to sophomore Caden Crocker and a 39-yard strike to junior Jacob Lenz down the left sideline for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:53 remaining in the half. Senior Garrett Martin's extra point made it 14-7 Husson.
UNE answered quickly before halftime with an 18-yard rushing score from Damien Jones to knot the game at 14-14 heading into the break.
The Nor'easters seized momentum early in the third quarter, punching in two touchdowns within the first five minutes to build a 28-14 lead. Husson refused to back down. After a short UNE punt, the Eagles struck back when Clark found sophomore tight end Dominic Trott wide open in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown, capping a three-play, 51-yard drive to bring Husson within a score at 28-21.
UNE added another touchdown later in the quarter and a 34-yard field goal early in the fourth to make it 38-21. Husson kept fighting, putting together a 70-yard, 11-play drive that ate up more than six minutes. Clark capped it off with a 23-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Mari Montgomery, who made a leaping grab in the back corner of the end zone to trim the deficit to 38-28 with 6:38 to play.
Lenz led all receivers with 10 catches for 139 yards and a touchdown, while Montgomery hauled in seven passes for 69 yards and a score. Crocker added six receptions for 75 yards, and Trott chipped in his first career touchdown. On the ground, graduate student Elijah Garnett carried the ball 31 times for 89 yards, consistently helping Husson move the chains.
Defensively, senior Evan Bourget anchored the Eagles with 15 total tackles, while senior Ryan Banister tallied 11 stops and a half-sack. Sophomore JT Wright finished with 10 tackles, and sophomore Kane Smith and freshman Noah Snyder each recorded interceptions to halt UNE drives.
The Eagles return home next Saturday to host Curry College at the Winkin Sports Complex with kickoff set for 12 p.m.
