UNH coach Sean McDonnell indicated on the CAA football teleconference this morning that four members of the offensive line are set for Saturday’s opener at home against St. Francis University: They are veteran seniors Tom Neill, a regular last year, and Dan Larkin, who started nine games last season; and sophomore George Pecoraro and redshirt freshman Chris Zarkoskie, who have not started games. . . . McDonnell mentioned three others _ junior Seth Price and redshirt freshmen Isaiah Martin and Mickey DiLima _ as possibilities for the fifth spot. Price had been working with the first unit, but missed last week’s final scrimmage with a sprained ankle. Martin played much of that scrimmage with the starters. . . . There’s more on UNH’s opener in today’s print edition.
Chris Setian, a true freshman running back from East Longmeadow, Mass., and Suffield Academy, was the leading rusher in UNH’s final pre-season scrimmage yesterday. . . . Listed at 5-foot-9 and 210 pounds, Setian is a walk-on and carried 14 times for 58 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. . . . “He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid,” said UNH coach Sean McDonnell. “He’s a bowling ball, a tough kid. I really like him.” . . . McDonnell also cited the play of another true freshman, Chris Beranger of Winthrop, Mass., who led all defenders with 11 tackles from his free safety spot. “He’s still trying to figure out what’s going on with a lot of the calls, but he’s running around making plays. Both of those guys are doing a nice job.”
One of the things UNH football coach Sean McDonnell will be watching for in tomorrow’s final scrimmage of fall camp (12:30 in Cowell Stadium) is the tussle between contenders for the backup quarterback job. Redshirt freshman Matt Welch and sophomore Kevin Decker, who returned to the team this summer after changing his mind about transferring, are two of the primary candidates. . . . “It’s getting a little tight and we’ve got to figure out who that’s going to be,” McDonnell said. “I think both of them had good camps and I think Josh Vick has bounced back and played pretty well, too. It’s a good situation for us. We’ve got three kids who are competing hard for the No. 2 spot and doing a good job.”
UNH junior Brian Mayhew, a backup defensive back from Plymouth, is done for the season. He underwent surgery this afternoon to repair the patella tendon that he tore during a non-contact drill during morning practice. . . . “It was a tough time this morning,” said coach Sean McDonnell. “He tore it after having probably one of the best practices of his college career yesterday. It’s really sad.” . . . Mayhew appeared in four games last season and had five tackles. . . . UNH had its last double sessions today and wraps up pre-season camp with a scrimmage Thursday at 12:30 in Cowell Stadium.
The UNH football team’s final pre-season scrimmage is set for Thursday at 12:30 in Cowell Stadium. . . . The scrimmage will mark the end of pre-season camp and the beginning of preparations for the opener at home against St. Francis University of Loretto, Pa., on Sept. 5. . . . “Camp is a grind,” said defensive back Dino Vasso after a scrimmage last last week. “We can’t wait for the first game.” . . . After St. Francis, the Wildcats travel to Muncie, Ind., to take on Ball State on Sept. 12. Ball State, a Football Bowl Subdivision team, was undefeated in the regular season last year and finished 12-2 overall.
UNH’s starting group on offense, minus a couple of weapons, had trouble moving the ball against the top defense during a football scrimmage this morning in Cowell Stadium. To make matters worse, senior running back Chad Kackert came up limping after a long gain and his day was finished with a hamstring injury. . . . The better news on offense was that the backups to junior quarterback R.J. Toman were all able to move their groups and get into the end zone. . . . Matt Welch and Kevin Decker led their units to a couple of scores and Josh Vick and Mike Roberto each directed one scoring drive. . . . Redshirt freshman Shawn Sweeney of Plymuth scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run, junior Sean Jellison scored from 1-yard out and true freshman Chris Settian scored twice on the ground. Welch scored on a 13-yard keeper and Dontra Peters on a 1-yard run and Decker hit Mickey Mangieri for an 18-yard TD pass.
For the first time in six years, the UNH football team will open the season at home when it takes on St. Francis University of Loretto, Pa., three weeks from tomorrow. The last time the Wildcats started a season at Cowell Stadium, they beat Central Connecticut, 70-20, in 2003. The Wildcats won three of their last four games to finish 5-7 that season and the next year began a string of five straight playoff appearances that they will try to stretch to six this season. . . . In four of the last five seasons, UNH played its first two two games on the road. . . . After St. Francis on Sept. 5, the Wildcats play at Ball State on Sept. 12.
Off to UNH’s annual Media Day for football shortly. . . . The Wildcats are not only introducing their 2009 team today, they also have just launched a revamped website. The address is still the same, unhwildcats.com, but the website has a new look and added features. . . . It will highlight video and audio streaming, has a spot for statistics and provides a close look at publications and programs. such as Operation Hat Trick. . . . There are team pages and sections promoting the Wildcat Kids’ Club and the school’s “Students Only” programs, along with other changes and improvements.
The University of New Hampshire football team opens pre-season camp today in Durham. The Wildcats, picked No. 1 in the North Division in the Colonial Athletic Association pre-season poll, have their annual Media Day on Tuesday afternoon. . . . UNH’s final scrimmage is set for Thursday, Aug. 27 and the season opener is at home against St. Francis University of Loretto, Pa., on Sept. 5. . . . St. Francis went 0-11 overall last season and plays in the Northeast Conference with teams such as Albany, Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut. The Red Flash fell to league rival Wagner, 17-13, in their closest game last year.
UNH senior linebacker Sean Ware, a captain along with center Tom Neill and tight end Scott Sicko, is ready for the start of pre-season camp. “It’s definitely exciting,” Ware said in the UNH Field House the other day. “I can’t wait. We all can’t wait to get out there and get the season rolling.” . . . Many of the Wildcats went home this week for a quick break between optional summer workouts and camp. They report back Sunday and practice starts Monday. “We had good numbers up here and our strength totals were up again,” Ware said. “They’ve been going up ever since I’ve been here. Guys are getting stronger and faster. The young guys are coming along very well in the weight room. We’re looking pretty good right now.”
