PORTLAND — The University of New England pre-varsity football team fell to visiting Kirkland Academy 26-14 at Fitzpatrick Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

UNE, who is in the process of finding a permanent home location, has spent the majority of the season on the road as it has been the visiting team each game. The Nor’easters finally had a home game, traveling up the road to Portland.

“We were really proud to play here. This is the site of a lot of great contests in the state,” said UNE head coach Mike Lichten. “I’m glad that we could be a part of that and have the opportunity to compete In the epicenter of the state, in one of the best cities in New England.”

UNE led Kirkland 7-6 heading into the second half, but the Lions took control in the third quarter. 

Kiambu Jones would score on an 8-yard run, followed by a successful 2-point PAT to give Kirkland the 14-7 lead. Jajuan Curtis would then break off a 71-yard rushing touchdown to extend the Lions’ lead to 20-7 midway through the quarter.

The Nor’easters would pull themselves back into it with 2:35 remaining in the third, when Ryan Gaboury recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone to make it 20-14 heading into the final period.

After a tightly-contested 10 minutes, Kirkland quarterback Justin Guerrero broke through for a 3-yard score to make it 26-16. Kirkland would get an interception on the ensuing drive to put the game out of reach.

“Playing against players like that makes you realize the importance of being technically sound. The way you block, tackle, and pursue the football,” said Lichten of Kirkland’s athleticism. “All those things, if you are on unsound in your technique they will expose you. They have athletic ability and speed, they used it today and it hurt us.”

Kirkland took the early lead in the first quarter when it returned its own botched punt for a 52-yard score. UNE responded early in the second when Parker Belsky rushed for a 2-yard score.

The Nor’easters fall to 2-5 in their inaugural season, and have one game left as they take on Bridgton Academy in next week’s season finale.

After some experimentation early in the year, the Nor’easters have been getting more comfortable in their roles on the team, and have found more consistency in their gameplans.

A handful of York County natives have also fit into the lineup. Biddeford’s Austin Dutremble has been a regular starter at the wide receiver spot, while fellow Tiger Pat Pearl has been getting reps at tight end.

Biddeford’s Joey Curit and Wells’ Owen Berry have also been regulars in the defensive backfield, along with Thornton Academy’s Cam Cadorette. Kennebunk’s Pat Saunders has emerged as one of UNE’s top linebackers.

“Some injuries have forced us to walk into some guys, but it’s important to develop guys that way. We are trying to find a good niche for guys to get comfortable in the way they play, we are going to continue to do that,” said Lichten.

Heading into the final week, the Nor’easters have put an emphasis on a strong finish. Lichten has been pleased with the direction of the program, and UNE hopes to avenge its earlier loss to Bridgton next week.

“Our guys have made a lot of progress in a lot of different areas. We have been running more complex plays, end of game, two minute or four minute situations. We need to continue to develop that through experience,” said Lichten. “The last week is very important in terms of competing and learning how to finish the season. We have Bridgton Academy who we lost to the first time, we have an urgency to finish the season the right way.”