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Football returns tonight at UNH with opener vs. UAlbany

By UNH Athletic Communications - | Mar 5, 2021

DURHAM — There won’t be fans in the stands But there will be football.

And that’s good news at the University of New Hampshire as the Wildcats will open up a special six-game season, delayed from the fall due to the pandemic, vs. the University of Albany tonight at 7 p.m. at Wildcats Stadium.

The game will be televised on NBC Sports Boston.

It will be the first game on the sidelines for UNH head coach Sean McDonnell since Nov. 17, 2018 (24-21 loss at Rhode Island), and the first time on the Wildcat Stadium sidelines for a game since Nov. 10, 2018 (24-10 vs. UAlbany). McDonnell, whose team returns seven starters on both sides of the ball, did not coach in 2019 while battling cancer.

On offense, that includes the quarterback, running back, two wide receivers and three offensive lineman; last year’s leading rusher and receiver were lost to graduation. On defense, the Wildcats re-turn three defensive linemen (one end, both tackles), a linebacker and three safeties. New Hampshire has a 5-3 lifetime record against UAlbany and that includes last year’s 24-17 road loss at Casey Stadium.

The Great Danes have won three of the last four matchups. In the most recent meeting at Wildcat Stadium, UNH prevailed 24-10, in November 2018.UNH has an 18-5 lifetime record at Wildcat Stadium (opened in the 2016 season) and that includes 12-4 against conference opponents.

The ‘Cats went 5-0 at home in 2019.Since 2008, UNH has a 60-10 home record (.857 win percentage) that includes 41-7 (.854) against CAA teams. UNH is 14-1 the past 15 home openers; the lone blemish was in 2018, when Colgate left town with a 10-3 win. It also includes the first ever meeting between UNH and UAlbany on Sept. 20, 2008, when the Wildcats were 32-24 victors. The Wildcats went 2-2 against nationally-ranked teams in the 2019 season. Since the start of the 2015 season, the ‘Cats have a 9-10 mark against nationally-ranked teams.

LORDEN ADDS DEPTH

Adding deoth to the wide receiver position for UNH is senior and former Bishop Guertin standout Nick Lorden of Milford.

Lorden played each of the last nine games in 2019 and recorded five catches for 69 yards and one score; his 13.8 yards per reception ranked second and is best among all returning Wildcats. In 32 career games, Lorden has 19 catches for 224 yards and seven TDs (leads all active Wildcats).

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