College football: Goldrich earns first win as UNH outlasts Stonehill

DURHAM — Senior running back Joquez Smith rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns to lead the University of New Hampshire football team to a 42-35 victory over Stonehill College on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Wildcat Stadium.

The win marked the first career victory for first-year UNH head coach Sean Goldrich.

Smith scored on runs of 26, 34 and 3 yards, with his final touchdown extending the Wildcats’ lead to 42-28 with 11:06 remaining in the fourth quarter. He finished with 13 carries.

Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Ricketti set the tone early with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He totaled a game-high 182 all-purpose yards, recording three receptions for 47 yards and 135 kickoff return yards on three returns.

Senior quarterback Brooks Bentley completed 14 of 22 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, a 5-yard strike to junior wide receiver Ty Carlson. Senior receiver Ja’Carree Kelly led the Wildcats with five catches for 78 yards.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Trevor Barry recorded a career- and game-high 15 tackles, forced a fumble and returned a blocked field goal 71 yards for a touchdown. Graduate student safety Jackson Stone added a career-best 14 tackles, while sophomore linebacker Isaiah Jones finished with a personal-high nine tackles.

Stonehill quarterback Jack O’Connell threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns. He also led the Skyhawks on the ground with 53 rushing yards on 17 carries.. Jaylin Baker pulled in six catches for 64 yards and two scores.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: College football: Goldrich earns first win as UNH outlasts Stonehill