On Nov. 9, the New Haven Chargers traveled to Grappone Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire, for a pivotal matchup against the Saint Anselm Hawks. New Haven entered the game with a strong 6-2 record, including a 5-1 mark in conference play, and was riding high after a big win the week before. The Hawks, at 5-3 overall and 5-1 in the conference, were looking to keep their playoff hopes alive with a crucial win on their home turf. With both teams fighting for positioning in the standings, this game promised to be a hard-fought battle from start to finish.The Chargers defeated the Hawks, 14-11.
The first quarter saw both teams struggling to put up any points, as neither offense was able to capitalize on early opportunities. After Saint Anselm won the toss and deferred, New Haven received the opening kickoff, but was quickly forced to punt after a series of negative plays and incompletions. The Hawks started their first possession at their own 30-yard line and also struggled to move the ball. Despite a 24 yard connection from Drew Forkner to Jake Croce, and a 10 yard run by Jaidin Haynes, Saint Anselm’s drive was derailed by an interception from New Haven’s Chima Opara, who returned the pick 21 yards. However, the Chargers couldn’t make much of the turnover, as their subsequent drive stalled and they were forced to punt as well. The Hawks’ final drive of the quarter was similarly ineffective, managing only seven yards before punting the ball back to New Haven with 18 seconds remaining. The first quarter ended with both teams still deadlocked at 0-0.
The second quarter saw both teams exchange possession, with Saint Anselm striking first. After a quick three-and-out by New Haven, the Hawks capitalized on solid field position and moved the ball down the field with some big completions from Forkner to Andrew Edwards and Jude Santana. Despite a fumble from Jaidin Haynes, which was recovered by Saint Anselm, the drive stalled at New Haven’s 18-yard line and followed a sack, which forced Saint Anselm to kick a successful 38-yard field goal by kicker Sean Hurley. New Haven responded with a strong drive of their own which moved them to the Saint Anselm 25-yard line, but a fourth-down stop left them empty-handed. The Hawks’ next possession ended in another quick punt and gave the Chargers field position at the Hawks’ 45-yard line. Daelen Menard connected with Matt Chandler for a key 15-yard gain, and after several rushes from Zaon Laney, Menard punched in a one yard touchdown run with 18 seconds remaining, which put New Haven at a 7-3 lead. Saint Anselm had one final opportunity to respond, but their drive ended quickly and the half concluded with the Chargers ahead by four points.
The third quarter saw both teams struggling to gain momentum offensively, with both defenses stepping up. New Haven received the ball first and quickly found success, as Justin Felder broke off a 19-yard run to set up a drive that advanced to the Saint Anselm 30-yard line. However, penalties and a key stop on fourth down kept the Chargers from scoring. Saint Anselm started their drive at the 25-yard line, but was quickly pressured by the New Haven defense. A sack on Forkner and a series of stalled plays forced the Hawks into a three-and-out. New Haven’s ensuing drive similarly stalled out, with a false start penalty and a lack of consistency limiting their progress. Saint Anselm’s offense also continued to struggle, as a series of dropped passes and a failed fourth down conversion led to another punt. The Chargers had a chance to capitalize with good field position at the Hawks’ 48-yard line, but after a short gain and a missed connection on third down, they too were forced to punt. Saint Anselm’s next possession started deep in their own territory after a penalty, and after a few unsuccessful plays, they were once again forced to punt. New Haven began their next drive at the Saint Anselm 48-yard line, and Zaon Laney broke free for a key 18-yard rush to the Hawks’ 16-yard line, setting up the Chargers for a promising opportunity as the third quarter came to a close.
The fourth quarter was a dramatic and pivotal stretch for both teams, as New Haven and Saint Anselm traded key plays with each other. New Haven opened the quarter with a l drive from their own 16-yard line, and eventually capped the drive off with a three yard touchdown run by Zaon Laney. The Chargers had a 14-3 advantage with 12:06 left on the clock. Saint Anselm then hastily responded, starting on their own 25-yard line. Forkner led a series of good passes, moving the Hawks into New Haven territory. After a key penalty on New Haven for pass interference, the Hawks advanced to the 19-yard line. A few plays later, Jake Croce powered into the endzone for a one yard touchdown and cut the lead to 14-11 with 3:58 remaining. The Hawks attempted an onside kick after the score, but New Haven recovered at their 40-yard line. The Chargers then worked to kill the clock, but penalties and defensive pressure from Saint Anselm made it a tough series. With under two minutes left, New Haven still held the ball near midfield, but a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct pushed them back. Despite a few more efforts to break free, the Chargers’ drive stalled at the Saint Anselm 24-yard line as the game ended with New Haven holding on to a narrow 14-11 victory.
With this win, New Haven improved their overall record to 7-2 and 6-1 in conference play. The Chargers will look to build on this hard-fought victory as they prepare for their next matchup at 1 p.m. on Saturday. New Haven will host Pace University as their Senior Day opponent at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. For updates and more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
