The New Hampshire

Issue date: 11/7/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chris Shipley UMass took an early lead and the 'Cats offensive couldn't get in a groove.

The University of New Hampshire's comeback effort was cut short yesterday as the University of Massachusetts' defensive end John Hatchell would deflect a Ricky Santos shuffle pass, three yards away from the end zone with 15 seconds remaining resulting in a 28-20 loss for the Wildcats.

"This is a game we wanted to win very badly, it stings," said UNH Coach Sean McDonnell.

UNH got the ball at the opposing 21-yard line with 3:30 left in the game and Santos would lead the 'Cats down the field including a 17-yard run. After a late hit call, the run, however, turned into an eventual 32-yard gain.

Santos and company would find themselves on their 21-yard line and would get as close as the four-yard line with 23 seconds left. It all came down to the last play as the Wildcats would find themselves in a fourth and four situation.

The offense came out and the ball was snapped. The play called for a speed option left as Santos would try to draw in the defenders and pitch the ball to his running back Robert Simpson. Unfortunately, the UMass defense was prepared.

"I was actually expecting it," said Hatchell, who would end up deflecting the ball. "I had a pretty good read on it. I was able to get up and get a hand on it."

Even UMass's Coach Don Brown had an idea that his team would be alright in the final seconds.

"I had a feeling when I saw the play develop we'd be in good shape," said Brown. "We knew they'd come out with fast sweep options. That's their MO."

At least the Wildcats made it interesting. Coming into halftime, UMass was up 21-3 and would eventually make it 28 early in the third period. It had all the makings of a blowout. That was until Santos and the UNH offense got on a roll.

"It finally felt like we started clicking," said Santos, who threw for 383 yards and two touchdowns. "In the past couple of weeks we started off slow on offense and as we showed, it doesn't turn out to us winning. We finally got back to playing football that we're capable of and put ourselves in a chance to win the football game, but couldn't finish in the end."

With 3:22 in the third, the Wildcats would score their first touchdown of the game when Santos would find his favorite target senior David Ball for a 33-yard strike in the end zone making it 28-10.

Continued...

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