DURNHAM, N.H. — After making seven FCS quarterfinal appearances in the last 10 years, the University of New Hampshire football program and head coach Sean McDonnell are headed to the semifinals for the first time.
McDonnell, who was part of the St. Peter’s (now Saratoga Central Catholic) 1973 Class B state championship basketball team, credited the resiliency of a team that started off 1-3.
“It’s a product of a lot of hard work and a lot of people in this football program, not just coaches and players,” McDonnell said. “We’ve been on the threshold for a long time. This year, this group is very resilient. We’ve found ways to win football games. It’s just a credit to these kids that they’ve stuck with it and stayed the course and put themselves in the position that they’re in.”
Despite starting the season 1-3, the Wildcats are now 10-4 heading into tonight’s matchup against top seeded North Dakota State University.
“You’re talking about the two-time defending national champion that we’re playing,” McDonnell said. “Our work is cut out for us, but that being said, this team has been so resilient. It’s just another opportunity for them to create a great story again. Our kids are looking forward to it. We’ve practiced well the last few days. We’re looking forward to going out and playing on national TV and giving ourselves a shot at being one of the last two teams left. We’re still standing, so that’s a good sign.”
To get past the quarterfinal hump, the No. 15-ranked Wildcats took a 20-17 victory over No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana, who came into the matchup on a 10-game win streak, on Saturday, December 14.
At the end of the game, UNH completed an 80-yard drive, which included a crucial fourth down conversion despite being in field goal range, capped off by quarterback Sean Goldrich’s two-yard touchdown run.
“We’ve been in that situation before,” McDonnell said. “We were behind to Villanova with a minute and 30 left and we scored a touchdown and went for a two-point conversion to win the game (29-28, October 19).”
The Wildcats have now won six games in a row.
McDonnell has been the head coach at UNH for 15 seasons and has been with the team since 1991. After his high school days at St. Peter’s, he also played football for UNH.
The man who Saratoga Central Catholic Athletic Director Phonsey Lambert referred to as “one of the best athletes to come out of this area” also was the quarterback of the St. Peter’s football team and a catcher in baseball.
