BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Vermont State University Castleton football team posted a second-half shutout for the second week in a row, but a quick start by the University of New England ended with the Nor'easters on top 31-14 in the Spartans' final non-conference tune-up of the season on Saturday.
 
The Spartans (2-3) are off next Saturday and return to action on October 14 when they host Gallaudet at Dave Wolk Stadium for the first game of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference slate at noon. UNE (4-1) is also off next Saturday.
 
Dawson Pierson had a big day in the box score on defense, leading the team with seven tackles while forcing a fumble and intercepting a pass. Jordan Wright, Kevin McDonough and Ian DeTulleo had six tackles each, with McDonough logging a team-high 2.5 tackles for a loss. Ryan Duclos had two TFL and was one of three Spartans with a sack.
 
James Galarneau made his first start at quarterback for VTSU Castleton, completing 11-of-17 passes and throwing a touchdown. He also ran for 59 yards on the ground in the contest to lead the team in rushing yardage. Hunter Swan had two catches for 18 yards and a touchdown while Caezar Williams had three catches on the day. The Spartans got the rushing attack going in the second half, finishing the day with 174 yards on the ground. Christian Keeling had 38 yards rushing while Devin Wollner added 37 yards—20 of which came on a third-quarter touchdown run. Josh Colegrove ran for 29 yards on only three carries and Joel Davidson added 11 yards on two touches.
 
Jarrett Henault had 150 passing yards and 81 rushing yards to lead UNE in both categories. Nathan Delgado and Damien Jones accounted for all four Nor'easter touchdowns with each of the running backs finding the end zone twice. Gavin Anderson had six catches for 66 yards—both game-high totals.
 
The first half belonged to the home team, with UNE taking a 21-0 lead after the first quarter. The Nor'easters opened the game with a 10-play touchdown drive before forcing a Spartan three-and-out. Castleton got a quick turnover when Pierson punched the ball out of Henault's grasp and Josh Peters recovered, but another three-and-out gave UNE the ball back once more. The Nor'easters marched down the field and scored a touchdown for a 14-0 lead and on the ensuing kick-off, Castleton fumbled and UNE recovered in pristine field position. The short field led to a third UNE score in the opening frame and a three-touchdown lead after one quarter.
 
A seven-play, 75-yard drive in the second by UNE gave the home side a 28-0 lead, and a last-second field goal sent the hosts to the locker room ahead 31-0.
 
Castleton came out of the locker room rejuvenated, with the defense forcing UNE into a three-and-out on each of the first three drives of the second half. The offense found its rhythm as well, using an eight-play drive to break into the scoring column when Wollner broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run down the left sideline in the third quarter.
 
In the fourth, the Spartans went 87 yards in 12 plays before finding the end zone thanks to a 14-yard connection from Galarneau to Swan. Castleton converted three third downs to keep the drive alive on the way to the end zone, including a 24-yard rush on third-and-three by Galarneau.
 
Pierson notched an interception on the next drive to thwart a late UNE scoring chance, leaping up for the turnover at the goal line. Castleton got the ball back at its 20-yard line after the touchback, but with only 1:21 on the clock three rushes drained the final seconds of play. Colegrove opened the series with a 14-yard carry before Davidson carried twice for 11 yards to end the evening.