UNH back Dylan Laube dives into the end zone during the Wildcats' season-opening win over Monmouth on Thursday night in Durham. (Courtesy photo by Rick Wilson/UNH Athletics)

DURHAM – Junior running back Dylan Laube of Westhampton rushed for two touchdowns and UNH’s defense and special teams both scored a TD to propel the University of New Hampshire football team to a 31-21 season-opening victory against Monmouth University at Wildcat Stadium in the Thursday Night Throwdown.

The Wildcats made a winner out of Ricky Santos in his first game as the UNH head football coach.

Laube’s 19-yard score tied the game, 7-7, in the first quarter and his seven-yard TD run put the Wildcats ahead to stay, 24-21, at 6:20 of the fourth quarter. He carried the ball 16 times for 63 yards, had five receptions for 57 yards and two kickoff returns for 26 yards for a total of 146 all-purpose yards.

In his first game since March 2021, sophomore quarterback Max Brosmer (Roswell, Ga.) completed 18 of 35 passes for 272 yards. Junior tight end Kyle Lepkowski (Adamstown, Md.) was the top target with seven catches for 121 yards.

Junior cornerback Randall Harris (Walled Lake, Mich.) had two interceptions, one of which he returned 25 yards for a touchdown to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 31-21 with 4:07 remaining. Sophomore defensive end Josiah Silver (Hampton, Va.) blocked a punt that was returned for a 35-yard TD by junior wide receiver Charles Briscoe III (Bowie, Md.).

Junior linebacker Bryce Shaw (Raynham, Mass.) had a team-high 10 tackles. Senior captain Niko Kvietkus (Southington, Conn.) made eight stops, including two behind the line of scrimmage.

MU quarterback Tony Muskett was 26 of 41 for 281 yards and one TD. Juwon Farri was the Hawks’ leading ground gainer with 35 yards on nine carries, and Owen Wright ran for a pair of touchdowns. Alex Bryant caught eight passes for 67 yards and a score.