DURHAM, N.H. (Sept. 12, 2026) – The Stonehill football team gained 491 yards of offense led by
Jack O'Connell's 380 passing yards, four passing TDs and 53 rushing yards, but the Skyhawks fell at New Hampshire by a score of 42-35 at Wildcat Stadium Saturday evening.
Stonehill goes to 1-2 (1-0 NEC), while the Wildcats improve to 1-2 (0-0 CAA).
STONEHILL HIGHLIGHTS:
- Jack O'Connell amassed over 400 yards of offense, finishing with a personal best 380 passing yards and also a best four TDs through the air.
- O'Connell becomes the first Stonehill quarterback with four passing TDs since he threw four against Duquesne in 2024. It was also the first time a Skyhawk QB threw for over 300 yards since Anton Stoneking had 337 vs. Bentley in 2019.
- O'Connell now ranks tied for seventh in school history with 29 career touchdown passes, and he moves up to eighth with 3,329 career passing yards.
- Shane Eason caught four passes for 77 yards and had 20 yards rushing, including a TD.
- Jaylin Baker caught two TD passes and finished with six receptions for 64 yards.
- Kevin Sheridan had a 16-yard TD catch, while Cole Clarke made four grabs for 88 yards.
- Adjatay Abegesah recorded a nine-yard sack, and Jordan Irvine and Caden Henritzy both finished with nine tackles to pace the defense.
- Logan Chenette had four punts for an average of 41.5 yards, with a long of 55 yards.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
UNH scored in the opening seconds of the game, as Ryan Ricketti returned a kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown 13 seconds into the contest. On Stonehill's ensuing possession,
Jack O'Connell found
Shane Eason for a 33-yard reception on 4th and three, and then Eason dashed into the endzone with a three-yard rushing score, as the Skyhawks tied the game, 7-7, at 11:03.
Later in the first, the Wildcats blocked a field-goal attempt by
Domenic Scalese at the UNH 24-yard line, and Trevor Barry picked it up and returned it for a touchdown, 14-7. At 12:46 of the second,
Kevin Sheridan caught a pass from O'Connell and ran for a 16-yard TD to knot the game, 14-14. UNH went back in front, 21-7, when Joquez Smith had a 26-yard TD run with 5:55 to go in the half. The Skyhawks gained 266 yards on 43 plays through the first 30 minutes.
In the third, the Wildcats extended their lead to 28-14 when Brooks Bentley completed a five-yard TD strike to Ty Carlson with 6:33 remaining in the quarter. Minutes later, O'Connell threw his second touchdown pass of the evening, this time to
Jaylin Baker for a six-yard TD at 3:44, 28-21. UNH responded with a 34-yard TD rush by Smith on its next drive to go back up by two scores, 35-21, with 2:18 left in the frame.
O'Connell connected with Baker for another TD pass in the fourth, as the quarterback sent a pass through traffic and found his target for a 21-yard score at 14:06 to pull Stonehill back within seven, 35-28. UNH responded with a three-yard TD run by Smith to go back up by two scores, 42-28, with 11:06 remaining.
Stonehill's offense responded once again, as O'Connell collected his fourth TD pass of the day, finding Clake for a one-yard score at 5:41, 42-35. On the final play of the game, Stonehill had an opportunity to tie it up, but O'Connell's pass just sailed high in the back of the endzone.
UP NEXT:
Stonehill will visit Massachusetts for the program's first meeting against an FBS opponent on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 3:30 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on
Twitter,
Facebook, and
Instagram.
