UNH subdues Black Bears

R.J. Toman passed for 127 yards and two touchdowns to lift New Hampshire to a 28-24 win over Maine yesterday in Orono, Maine.

Chad Kackert rushed for 89 yards, including first-half touchdowns of 46 and 18 yards, for New Hampshire. The team's quick-strike offense came up with a methodical 11-play, 79-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory and capture the Colonial Athletic Association North Division title and make a fifth straight trip to the FCS playoffs. The selection show is tonight.

The Wildcats (9-2, 6-2) overcame a snow-covered Morse Field and cold, windy conditions to beat Maine (8-4, 5-3) and end the Black Bears' six-game winning streak.

The Wildcats took the lead when Mike Boyle took a short screen pass near the right sideline, eluded two potential tacklers, and tiptoed into the end zone with 3:27 remaining for one of his two touchdowns.

James Madison 58, Towson 27 - Rodney Landers rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns, Griff Yancey ran for three scores, and the Dukes clinched the CAA overall and South titles with a rout of the Tigers in Towson, Md.

Eugene Holloman gained 131 yards on 15 carries for the Dukes (10-1, 8-0), who piled up 440 rushing yards to 18 by Towson (3-9, 1-7).

The Dukes host a first-round playoff game next weekend.

Richmond 23, William & Mary 20 - In Williamsburg, Va., Andrew Howard's 37-yard field goal on the second possession of overtime lifted the Spiders (9-3, 6-2) over the Tribe and into the FCS playoffs.

Derek Cox returned a punt 80 yards for a score to pull the Tribe (7-4, 5-3) within 20-13 with 3:02 to play and, after a successful onside kick, William & Mary drove 59 yards on 10 plays to tie the game on Jake Phillips's 1-yard sneak with 18 seconds left.

Villanova 21, Delaware 7 - Aaron Ball ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats over the Blue Hens (4-8, 2-6) in Newark, Del.

Villanova (9-2, 7-1), which outgained the Blue Hens, 377-175, finished with its first nine-victory season since winning a school-record 12 games in 1997.

URI 29, Northeastern 14 - Jimmy Hughes and Anthony Ferrer combined for 164 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the visiting Rams (3-9, 1-7) prevailed.

John Griffin scored two touchdowns and had 110 yards on 18 carries for NU (2-10, 1-7).