By Tiffany Williams –
Boston College v. Northern Illinois:
With the first quarter going scoreless, Northern Illinois controlled the game in the second quarter with two touchdowns. In the third quarter Boston College got into this game with one touchdown and Northern Illinois had their third touchdown of the game. Boston College entered the fourth quarter down 14. But with a rushing touchdown by Thomas Castellanos and passing touchdown by Castellanos the Eagles came from behind to tie the game 21-21. In overtime the Eagles made a field goal but then Northern Illinois has a touchdown and won this game 24-27.
Castellanos, a transfer from UCF entered the game at the start of Eagles third offensive series and threw his first collegiate touchdown pass and first touchdown of the season for Boston College in the third quarter to Lewis Bond. For Bond, it was his first collegiate touchdown of the day, and he finished Saturday with four catches for 40 yards.
Castellanos finished Saturday’s game completing 5-of-16 career passes for 75 yards, while rushing five times for 14 yards and a score. He joins Phil Jurkovec (2020) and Anthony Brown (2017) as the only BC quarterbacks since 1981 to pass for two touchdowns in his first career game at BC, and is the first BC quarterback to pass and run for a touchdown in his first game since Tyler Murphy in 2014.
New Hampshire v. Stoneville:
The UNH Wildcats grabbed a Saturday afternoon season-opener 51-17 win against Stoneville with Max Brosmer throwing a career-high five touchdown passes and Dylan Laube scoring three touchdowns. Joe Eichman from Merrimack, New Hampshire recorded the only takeaway by either team’s defense with a first-quarter interception that led to a UNH touchdown.
UNH controlled the first quarter with two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and a punt return. UNH controlled the second quarter with two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and a field goal. Stoneville got into this game in the second quarter with their only touchdown of the game. With a passing touchdown in the third quarter and a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats won this game 51-17.
Max Brosmer recorded five passing touchdowns in the season opener.
Holy Cross v. Merrimack:
At Fitton Field in Worcester, Massachusetts, for the first time since September 11, 2021 the Warriors and Crusaders met to kick off the 2023 season.
The Warriors had a field goal in the first quarter to get them into the game and make it 3-0. But then Jalen Coker scored the first receiving touchdown of the season for the Crusaders to pull Holy Cross out front 3-7.
In the second quarter Tyvon Edmonds and Gavin McCusker both had rushing touchdowns for the Warriors, and Jordan Fuller had a receiving touchdown for the Crusaders. At the end of the second quarter, going into the half the Warriors were on top 17-14.
In the third quarter, the Warriors had one field goal while Crusaders standout Jordan Fuller had three rushing touchdowns. At the end of the third quarter the Crusaders were out front 20-28. With two more rushing touchdowns by Jordan Fuller in the fourth quarter, the Crusaders won this game 20-42, to win their home opener.
Crusaders junior running back Jordan Fuller recorded five touchdowns in Saturday’s home opener while senior receiver Jalen Coker recorded a touchdown on four receptions, totaling 136 yards. Senior quarterback Matthew Sluka passed for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while also totaling 91 rushing yards.
UMass v Auburn:
Coming off a 41-30 win from last week’s matchup with New Mexico State, the UMass Minutemen traveled to Auburn, Alabama this week for a meeting with the Auburn Tigers.
In the first quarter, Auburn had a touchdown and a field goal and the Minutemen had a rushing touchdown with Taisun Phommachanh. At the end of the first quarter Auburn was on top 7-10.
In the second quarter, Robby Ashford had three rushing touchdowns for the Tigers to put the Tigers out front 7-31.
In the third quarter, Auburn added three more touchdowns with Jaylin Simpson, Jay Fair and and Jeremiah Cobb and the Tigers were on top 7-52.
In the fourth quarter, Anthony Simpson recorded his first touchdown of the season for the Minutemen and Sean Jackson recorded the eighth touchdown of the game for the Tigers.
UMass redshirt junior quarterback Taisun Phommachanh was 8-for-16 through the air while also running for 34 yards and a touchdown. Anthony Simpson added a touchdown catch for the second consecutive game and redshirt senior Carlos Davis came in the game in the second half, finishing six-for-eight for 106 yards and a touchdown.
Fordham v. Wagner:
After a 13-34 loss last week against University at Albany, the Fordham Rams this week hosted Wagner College at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey field, and grabbed a 46-16 win in their 2023 home opener.
In the first quarter, Mekai Felton had a receiving touchdown for the Rams and Wagner made a field goal. End of the first quarter the Rams were on top 3-7.
In the second quarter, Julius Loughridge had a rushing touchdown for the Rams, and MJ Wright had two receiving touchdowns. End of the second quarter Rams were on top 3-27 going onto the half.
In the third quarter, MJ Wright recorded his third receiving touchdown of the game. Rickey Spruill recorded a receiving touchdown for Wagner and then Garrett Cody had a rushing touchdown for the Rams to end the third quarter with the Rams out front 10-33.
In the fourth quarter, Trevor Shorter recorded a receiving touchdown for Wagner. Jaden Allen recorded a rushing touchdown for the Rams and Jacob Rodriguez recorded a receiving touchdown for the the Rams to lock down their 46-16 win.
Freshman running back Jacob Rodriguez scored his first collegiate touchdown on a five-yard rush in the fourth quarter. Garrett Cody recorded the third 100-yard receiving game of his career.
University of Georgia v. Tennessee-Martin:
Saturday night football at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia the Bulldogs kicked off their 132nd season of football hosting the Skyhawks.
In the first quarter, Brock Bowers recorded his first rushing touchdown of the season to put the Bulldogs on top 0-7.
In the second quarter, Carson Beck recorded his first rushing touchdown of the season and Peyton Woodring made a field goal. End of the second quarter the Bulldogs were out front 0-17 going into the half.
In the third quarter, Mekhi Mews recorded his first rushing touchdown and Roderick Robinson II recorded his first rushing touchdown to put the Bulldogs on top 0-31.
In the fourth quarter, Oscar Delp recorded his first receiving touchdown of the season to put the Bulldogs on top 0-38. Trevonte Rucker scored the only touchdown of the game for Skyhawks. The Bulldogs wrapped up this game with Peyton Woodring making a field goal and then Kyron Jones recorded a 26 yard Interception to grab the 7-48 dub.
Georgia went 5-for-5 in the Red Zone with three TDs and two field goals while UT Martin was 1-for-1 with a TD.
Peyton Woodring recorded 12 points, going 6-for-6 on PATs and made field goals covering 23 and 33 yards. Peyton is the first true freshman placekicker to make his debut in the season opener since 2012 when Marshall Morgan tallied nine points against Buffalo.
TE Brock Bowers finished with 5 rec., 77 yards all in the first half, TB Cash Jones finished with a career-high 4 rec.,for 25 yards, WR Mekhi Mews finished 3 catches, 75 yards, one 1 TD. Mews had a 54-yard TD catch for his first career TD, and TE Oscar Delp had a 21-yard TD catch.
Georgia Southern v. The Citadel:
In Statesboro, Georgia Saturday night the Georgia Southern Eagles hosted The Citadel Bulldogs for the 25th time since November 26, 1988. The Eagles defeated the Bulldogs 0-34.
In the first quarter, OJ Arnold and Jalen White both recorded their first rushing touchdowns to make it a 0-14 game.
In the second quarter, Michael Lantz made a fief goal and put the Eagles on top 0-24.
Third quarter, Anthony Queeley recorded his first receiving touchdown with a pass from Davis Brin to put the Eagles out front 0-31.
Fourth quarter, the Eagles grabbed their 0-34 win with Michael Lantz making his second field goal of the game.
Eagles defense held The Citadel to 212 total yards.
Khadry Jackson led the team with six total tackles and one sack on the night, Davon Gilmore stopped a Bulldog drive with a forced fumble that was recovered by Tyrell Davis to ensure a shutout.
Quarterback Davis Brinthrew for 236 yards and two touchdowns on 27 of 36 passing to lead the Eagles, and running back Jalen White returned from injury to rush for 125 yards and a score on 16 carries to average 6.6 yards per carry.
Howard v. Eastern Michigan:
Friday night the Howard Bisons traveled to Ypsilanti, Michigan for a matchup with Eastern Michigan and the Bisons dropped their season opener 23-33.
The Eagles recorded two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter and had a safety to put them on top 0-16.
In the second quarter the Eagles recorded one more rushing touchdown, one passing touchdown and made a field goal. Bisons recorded their first passing touchdown of the season and going into the half it was a 9-30.
In the third quarter Kasey Hawthorne recorded his first passing touchdown and first rushing touchdown of the season to add 12 points to the game for the Bisons and both point after attempts by Dylan West were good to add two points for Howard. End of the third it was a 23-30 game.
In the fourth quarter, Kenyon Bowyer recorded made a 25 yard field goal for the Eagles to win 23-33.
Georgia Tech v. Louisville:
Georgia Tech lost its season opener for the third-straight season and fell to 89-38-4 all-time in season openers.
Georgia Tech’s 34 points were its most in a game since a 35-17 win over Western Carolina on Sept. 10 of last season and its most against an NCAA Division I FBS opponent since a 48-40 loss at Virginia on Oct. 23, 2021.
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