WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The nationally ranked No. 10 University of New Haven football team honored 10 senior class members on Saturday before going off for a season-high 63 points on
485 yards of total offense. The Chargers claimed their seventh straight win by defeating Pace, 63-6 in the team’s final regular season game at DellaCamera Stadium.
With the win, New Haven improved to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference to remain perfect in league play. The Setters dropped to 1-8 overall and 0-7 in the NE-10.
The game was all New Haven right from the start as sophomore running back Mike DeCaro (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay ) returned the opening kickoff 80-yards untouched for the first score of the game. After a Pace drive that lasted 3:35 minutes, the Chargers regained possession and scored two plays later on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Osiecki (Seymour, Conn./Seymour / Univ. of Louisville) to Chris Higgins (Cumberland, Maine/Bridgton Academy ). In less than five minutes of play, New Haven had already scored two touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead with 10:22 to play in the first quarter.
After a Setters three-and-out, the Chargers found the endzone once again on a one-yard run from Osiecki. The touchdown was set-up by a 30-yard pass to Chris Ruffin (New York, N.Y./Phillip Randolph) who stepped out of bounds inches before the pylon. The Chargers drive featured 46 yards on just four plays in 1:05.
New Haven was well on its way of scoring the team’s fourth touchdown in the first quarter but a Charger’s fumble cut the drive short at the Pace nine-yard line. The Setters recovered the ball but went three-and-out on its following drive.
After a 26-yard punt return from Josh Smart (New Haven, Conn./Hamden ) to place the Chargers at the visitor 44-yard line, Anthony Tillman (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) and Quran Kent (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic) led another four-play touchdown drive. Tillman took the first two carries for 12 and six yards respectively before an 11-yard run and 15-yard touchdown reception from Kent concluded the one minute and 38 second drive.
The following Setters possesion resulted in a net loss of seven yards on three plays. Tom Herd (Sparta, N.J./Sparta ) and Brent Macleod (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) broke through the offensive line to sack Jordan Raynor for a 10-yard loss on third down.
New Haven went on to score two more touchdowns before the break. The Chargers increased their lead to 35-0 at the 9:18 mark after a 46-yard scoring run from DeCaro. The following drive went 81 yards on five plays in one minute and 23 seconds. On third-and-one, Ronnie Nelson (Stuart, Fla./South Fork ) escaped two sure tackles and broke away a 45-yard score. The Chargers went into the locker rooms at halftime ahead 42-0.
After returning the opening kickoff of the second half for 20-yards, Pace began its first offensive drive of the half. Three plays later, Raheem Stanley (Hartford, Conn./Weaver ) picked off a Jordan Lupfer pass at the Pace 38-yard line. He then returned it 10-yards and gave the Chargers their first possession of the half. Six plays later, Ronnie Nelson (Stuart, Fla./South Fork ) connected with an unlikely target, Scott Schultz (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills / University of Connecticut) on a two-yard touchdown pass. The ensuing extra point gave the Chargers a 49-0 lead with 11:26 left in the third quarter. It was Schultz’s second career touchdown at UNH.
The Setters then scored their only points of the game on the next possession. After returning the Chargers’ kickoff 14 yards, Pace mounted a 74-yard touchdown drive midway through the third quarter. The Setters took the ball 74 yards on seven plays over the course of 3:08.
On New Haven next possession, Brian Alston (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) took over the ball carrying responsibilities and carried the ball for nearly the entire drive. The sophomore helped lead the Chargers on a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive over the course of nearly five minutes. Alston capped the drive with his eighth carry for a 16-yard touchdown with 3:24 left in the third.
The Setters next drive was cut short by another turnover. On their first play from scrimmage, Kervin Eduard recovered a botched shotgun snap and once again gave UNH possession inside Pace territory. Brice DeRosa (Huntington Station, N.Y./Walt Whitman / Iona College) and Alston combined on a four-play, 27-yard touchdown drive which was capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from DeRosa to Quavari Jackson. It was DeRosa’s first touchdown pass and Jackson’s first touchdown catch of the season. Pace then regained possession, but time ran out in the third quarter after just one play.
Pace’s drive which carried into the fourth quarter, took up over seven minutes of time. The Setters marched the ball 48-yards in 13-plays and would eventually attempt a 34-yard field goal. Ali Mourtada’s kick sailed wide left and UNH regained possession at its own 17-yard line.
On UNH’s next possession, they were forced three-and-out as the Setters would get one more possession in the game. Pace took over possession with 5:31 left in the fourth quarter and held possession as time expired in the fourth quarter.
With 329 rushing yards in the game, UNH tallied a season-high on the ground. Nelson led the way with 81 yards on four carries and one touchdown, while Alston was second on the team with 76 rushing yards and a touchdown. DeCaro capped the day with 67 yards and a touchdown on five carries, while Anthony Tillman (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) added 64 yards on 10 carries. Quarterback’s Osiecki, Nelson and DeRosa combined for 156 yards and four touchdowns on 7-of-9 passing. Seven different receivers tallied catches in the game as well. Kameel Lashley (Boston, Mass./Boston Comm. Leadership Academy) led the way with 40 yards.
Defensively, Charlie Hatchett (Bridgeport, Conn./Stratford / Santa Monica College) and Jaylen Johnson (Linden, N.J./Linden) led the team with seven total tackles. Tom Herd (Sparta, N.J./Sparta ) added 1.5 tackles-for-loss, while Stanley and Chalifoux each recorded interceptions.
New Haven will conclude the 2011 regular season on Saturday, November 12 when its travels to Saint Anselm College. Game time in Manchester, N.H. is set for 12 p.m. Saturday. For complete coverage throughout the week, stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com.
