Vailas’s play warrants debate on Goldrich’s role

It was the start of the third quarter at Cowell Stadium and the New Hampshire Wildcats were facing a 7-0 deficit to the then No. 8 Delaware Blue Hens. The Hens struck in the first quarter and the Wildcats had spent the entire first half punting the ball and ending their last drive of the half with a turnover on downs.

Fans of UNH football knew coming into the game that the Wildcats were the underdogs. UNH was ranked No. 20 and were sitting at an unsatisfactory 2-2 record, while Delaware came to Durham riding high on a 4-0 record (as well as a seven game win-streak dating back to last season).

The defense held strong, letting up just one touchdown, and forcing an offense that had been tied for second – with UNH, no less – in the CAA for scoring offense. It was UNH’s offense that was struggling in the first half. The UNH offense did not enter the red zone in the first half, the closest they came being the Delaware 46 yard line.

An adjustment needed to be made.

    UNH quarterback Andy Vailas had made four competitions on six attempts in the first half and offensive coordinator Ryan Carty must have decided it was time for the offense to go to the air.

    After six offensive plays by Delaware and a punt to UNH wide receiver Joey Orlando to start the half, Vailas headed out onto the field with Carty in his ear and a new game plan.

    Vailas opened up the drive with a quick throw to wide receiver Justin Mellow, who broke a tackle and took the ball up field for an extra ten yards. He then completed passes to Orlando and Chris Setian for 12 and five yards, respectively.

After an incomplete pass to R.J. Harris, it was third and five from the Delaware 32 yard line. Vailas stepped up into the shotgun formation, alone in the backfield.

At the snap of the ball, the Delaware defense immediately dropped back into coverage. Vailas’ eyes quickly glanced over the field as he took too steps back, then two steps forward as the pocket began to collapse.

He then went on to throw a perfect pass over the shoulder and into the hands of Harris in the end zone for the first UNH touchdown of the game.

The crowd erupted and the cannon let out a fierce explosion that electrified Cowell Stadium. Vailas would add a rushing touchdown to his stat-line as well as another touchdown pass to Harris by the end of the game.

While this was all going on, redshirt-freshmen quarterback Sean Goldrich was playing catch in full pads on the sideline.

This weekend will mark one month since Goldrich was injured on the opening drive of the week-two matchup against Minnesota. Named the starter for this UNH team at the end of a hard fought position battle in the offseason, Goldrich has not taken a live snap since that play in Minnesota.

As noted in the Sept. 21 edition of The New Hampshire, McDonnell said that once Goldrich is healthy, he would resume his starting role.

“As I have done all throughout my career, the guy that gets hurt, he comes back and starts until he cannot perform again,” McDonnell said on Sept. 19.

Perhaps things have changed in the 13 days that have passed since that press conference, but no one can be sure.

Will Goldrich be starting this weekend if he is healthy?

Vailas has done nothing but deliver since he has taken over the starting role. He led the offense past Central Connecticut State in his first start, and then threw for 336 yards and five touchdowns against the then No. 5 Old Dominion Monarchs. And finally, this past weekend, he led the Wildcats to an upset victory over Delaware.

Goldrich showed a lot of promise in his debut against Holy Cross and if he did return to the starting role, he could return to his form and help the Wildcats win games, but putting the breaks on Vailas right now simply would not make sense.

UNH quarterback Andy Vailas had made four competitions on six attempts in the first half and offensive coordinator Ryan Carty must have decided it was time for the offense to go to the air.

After six offensive plays by Delaware and a punt to UNH wide receiver Joey Orlando to start the half, Vailas headed out onto the field with Carty in his ear and a new game plan.

Vailas opened up the drive with a quick throw to wide receiver Justin Mellow, who broke a tackle and took the ball up field for an extra 10 yards. He then completed passes to Orlando and Chris Setian for 12 and five yards, respectively.

After an incomplete pass to R.J. Harris, it was third and five from the Delaware 32 yard line. Vailas stepped up into the shotgun formation, alone in the backfield.