The University of New Haven football team demonstrated this past Saturday that there are many ways for a team to score in a game, when they hosted the Pace University Setters at DellaCamera Stadium. The Chargers recorded touchdowns on a quarterback pass, halfback run, kick return, fake field goal and fumble recovery.
The game began slowly as both teams failed to score for the first ten minutes of the game. The Setters broke the rut following a New Haven fumble with a one play drive, highlighted by a 24 yard touchdown pass. QB Ryan Osiecki helped New Haven respond quickly, leading the Chargers on an 8 play 65 yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a Josh Smart 7 yard touchdown run, evening the score at seven to end the first quarter.
The game remained at a back and forth tempo into the second quarter as Pace executed a 10 play touchdown drive. However, the extra point was blocked by the Chargers leaving the score at 13-7. On the resulting kickoff, Sharieff Hall demonstrated why he is the most electric return man in the NE-10 Conference by bringing the kickoff back 75 yards for a Charger touchdown. The New Haven defense held strong on the next drive, returning the ball to the offense with six minutes remaining in the half. UNH was poised to build on their lead before halftime until a fumble at midfield ended their drive. Pace would again seize the opportunity to capitalize on a Charger turnover. This time it was with a 46 yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 19-14 after a missed two point conversion. The Chargers responded with a 9 play touchdown drive of their own. The drive saw New Haven convert on three consecutive third downs, the final conversion coming on a 26 yard touchdown pass from Osiecki to WR Demitrius Washington-Ellison. The Chargers headed to the locker rooms at the half with a 21-19 lead.
Opening the second half, the Chargers offense displayed their dominance on the first offensive drive of the half, resulting in a 19 yard touchdown pass from Osiecki to Washington-Ellison. The New Haven lead was extended to 28-19 with the converted extra point. The score would remain the same until early in the fourth quarter, when the game’s turning point occurred. While setting up for a 29 yard field goal attempt, the Chargers perfectly executed a fake field goal bootleg pass for a touchdown. The holder and backup QB Brice DeRosa fired a strike to TE Kameel Lashley from 12 yards out.
The Chargers would add two more touchdowns before the game was over, the first of which came on a 30 yard touchdown pass from Osiecki to Hall. During the scoring drive, QB Ryan Osiecki broke the school record for completions in a season with his 210th successful pass. Osiecki, who was unaware of his latest accomplishment, was quick to give credit to his teammates when asked about the record saying, “A lot of the credit has to be given to my offensive line and receivers for making it possible for me, I definitely wouldn’t be able to achieve success without them.” The final Charger score of the afternoon came on a 34-yard fumble touchdown by OLB Tom Herd. Pace would add a touchdown on to the game’s final score to make it 49-27. The Chargers look to build on this victory next Saturday when they travel to Saint Anselm to take on the Hawks at noon.
