The Waterbury Times|The New England Saturday|Sept 6, 2026
Week 1: UConn makes a statement, Stonehill flips the script and New England takes some hard lessons
Connecticut- The first full Saturday of the New England college football season is in the books.
The New England Saturday: Week 1 Kickoff Preview
And it was a day of extremes.
UConn opened the Jason Candle era by putting up 56 points. Stonehill bounced back from an opening-week loss by dominating New Haven in the first NEC matchup between the programs as Division I opponents. Meanwhile, New Hampshire, Bryant, Holy Cross, Rhode Island, Maine and Boston College all took losses.
Sacred Heart came within one score of winning its historic CAA debut.
By the time the final whistle sounded across the region, New England had plenty to celebrate — and plenty to think about.
THE BIGGEST WIN: UCONN 56, LAFAYETTE 7
If the goal was to make a first impression, Jason Candle’s UConn team did exactly that.
The Huskies rolled past Lafayette 56-7 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, opening the season with 671 yards of total offense — a new school record — and giving Candle his first victory as UConn’s head coach.
Kalieb Osborne was at the center of the performance.
The quarterback completed 19 of 26 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns while adding 90 rushing yards and two more scores. UConn scored 21 points in the first quarter and never looked back.
For a program entering a new era, this was about as clean a start as UConn could have asked for.
The real test comes next.
The Huskies return home Sept. 12 to face Maryland.
GAME OF THE WEEK: STONEHILL 21, NEW HAVEN 3
Our first Game of the Week did not disappoint — even if it didn’t go the way we predicted.
Stonehill walked into Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium and turned the tables on New Haven, winning 21-3 in the NEC opener for both programs.
New Haven entered the game 1-0 after its dramatic victory over Marist.
Instead, Stonehill’s defense controlled the afternoon.
The Skyhawks held New Haven to just 295 total yards and, more impressively, stopped the Chargers on all 10 of their third-down attempts. Stonehill also intercepted three New Haven passes.
Quarterback Jack O’Connell completed 14 of 18 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while Aidan Garrett accounted for two touchdowns.
Stonehill is now 1-1 overall and 1-0 in NEC play.
New Haven falls to 1-1 and 0-1.
The Chargers’ new FCS era got its first reality check.
THE SURPRISE: STONEHILL BOUNCES BACK
Stonehill entered Saturday trying to erase the memory of a 24-6 loss to Bryant in Week 0.
It did exactly that.
The Skyhawks controlled possession, outgained New Haven 373-295 and held the Chargers without a third-down conversion.
It is an important early result for a Stonehill program beginning to establish itself in the NEC.
The Skyhawks now hit the road again, traveling to New Hampshire on Sept. 12.
THE TOUGHEST DAY: NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire had no answer for Syracuse.
The Wildcats were overwhelmed 66-3 at the JMA Wireless Dome, dropping to 0-2 on the season.
Sophomore linebacker Trevor Barry led New Hampshire with 11 tackles, including a sack.
But Syracuse controlled the game from the opening quarter, taking a 41-0 halftime lead before cruising to the finish.
New Hampshire now has to regroup quickly.
The Wildcats return home next week to face Sacred Heart.
ARMY 59, BRYANT 3
Bryant’s second game of the season was a brutal one.
Army ran for 569 yards and rolled to a 59-3 victory at Michie Stadium. The Black Knights finished with 648 total yards and 31 first downs, while Bryant managed just 165 yards and nine first downs.
Army scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and never allowed Bryant to find the end zone.
The Bulldogs are now 1-1 after opening the season with a victory over Stonehill.
The lesson from this one is simple: the schedule gets very different when you walk into West Point.
COLGATE 35, HOLY CROSS 10
Holy Cross is still searching for its first win.
After opening the season with a 35-10 loss to Lehigh, the Crusaders fell by the same score at Colgate on Saturday.
Colgate quarterback Jake Stearney threw four touchdown passes, including three to Matt Fogler, while the Raiders shut out Holy Cross in the second half.
Holy Cross did have some offensive production.
Quarterback David Lynch threw for 264 yards, while receiver Ty Curran had seven catches for 130 yards.
But at 0-2, the margin for error is already getting smaller.
The Crusaders travel to Miami University next Saturday.
TEMPLE 38, RHODE ISLAND 14
Rhode Island came into the afternoon with momentum after beating Merrimack 34-7 in Week 0.
That momentum didn’t last.
Temple pulled away for a 38-14 victory at Lincoln Financial Field, dropping the Rams to 1-1.
Rhode Island quarterback Tyler Budge connected with Marquis Buchanan for a 35-yard touchdown on the Rams’ opening possession, but Temple’s defense eventually took control.
The Rams return home next week to face Elon.
MONMOUTH 31, SACRED HEART 24
Sacred Heart didn’t get the victory, but the Pioneers made a statement.
In their first official game as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, Sacred Heart pushed Monmouth throughout the afternoon before falling 31-24.
The Pioneers finished with 408 total yards and 26 first downs.
Quarterback Poochie Snyder threw for 191 yards and three touchdowns, while Dean Hangey caught eight passes for 110 yards and two scores.
The result leaves Sacred Heart 0-1, but the performance suggested the Pioneers are capable of competing in their new conference.
And they won’t have to wait long for another major test.
Sacred Heart travels to UMass next Saturday.
APPALACHIAN STATE 55, MAINE 3
Maine’s trip to Boone turned into a long afternoon.
Appalachian State dominated the Black Bears 55-3, piling up 647 yards of offense and taking a 31-0 lead into halftime.
Maine was held to 250 total yards and just 12 first downs.
The Black Bears did get on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Samuel Tremblay connected on a 40-yard field goal, but the outcome had long been decided.
Maine returns home next week to face UAlbany.
CINCINNATI 34, BOSTON COLLEGE 15
Boston College’s season opener was another difficult result for New England.
The Eagles fell 34-15 at Cincinnati after being held scoreless through the first half.
Quarterback Mason McKenzie finished with 223 passing yards and a touchdown while adding 78 rushing yards. Evan Dickens scored on the ground, and Johnathan Montague Jr. caught a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.
But Cincinnati’s ground game and quarterback JC French IV proved too much.
French accounted for four touchdowns, while Cincinnati ran for 254 yards.
Boston College returns home next week against Rutgers.
THE WEEK 1 SCOREBOARD
UConn 56, Lafayette 7
Stonehill 21, New Haven 3
Army 59, Bryant 3
Syracuse 66, New Hampshire 3
Colgate 35, Holy Cross 10
Temple 38, Rhode Island 14
Monmouth 31, Sacred Heart 24
Appalachian State 55, Maine 3
Cincinnati 34, Boston College 15
NEW ENGLAND’S WEEK 1 RECORD
Among the nine New England programs highlighted in this week’s Games to Watch, the region went 2-7 on Saturday.
UConn and Stonehill were the winners.
New Hampshire, Bryant, New Haven, Holy Cross, Rhode Island, Sacred Heart, Maine and Boston College all took losses.
That sounds ugly.
But this is only the beginning.
UConn has a new coach and immediately looked dangerous. Stonehill showed it can respond after a bad opening performance. Sacred Heart demonstrated that its move to the CAA won’t necessarily mean it is overmatched.
And several teams now have a chance to answer back next weekend.
THE FINAL WHISTLE
Week 1 gave us our first real snapshot of New England college football in 2026.
UConn looks like a team worth watching.
Stonehill may have found something.
Sacred Heart showed fight.
And for several others, the season has already become about response.
That’s what makes September important.
There is plenty of football left.
The New England Saturday returns next week.
From the first kickoff to the final whistle.
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