WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Led by over 360 rushing yards, the nationally ranked No. 8/9 University of New Haven football team defeated Saint Anselm College 45-0 Saturday afternoon at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. The Chargers improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win.
The Chargers offense amassed over 600 yards on 67 plays (9.2 yards per play), while the defense held Saint Anselm to 22 rushing yards and 189 total yards. It was also New Haven’s first shutout in the last two years, dating back to Oct. 16, 2010 at American International.
Ronnie Nelson (Stuart, Fla./South Fork ) anchored the offense with 250 passing yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-21 passing. He also ran for 34 yards on seven carries in the win. Victor Jones (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Tech) added 128 rushing yards on six carries, including an 87-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Kameel Lashley (Boston, Mass./Boston Comm. Leadership Academy) caught two passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns and Jason Thompson (Indiantown, Fla./South Fork ) added five catches for 47 yards and one touchdown.
On their first possession of the game, the Chargers took their opening drive 68 yards in the first three minutes. Nelson then found Thompson on an 11-yard touchdown pass and Chris Scifo (Coral Springs, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas / Central Connecticut State University) connected on the extra point for a 7-0 UNH lead. The Chargers next possession took over 5:30 off the clock off 11 plays, which went 78 yards. Scifo capped the drive with a 28-yard field goal with 3:34 left in the first half to give UNH a 10-0 lead. New Haven maintained the ten-point lead through to end of the first quarter.
The Chargers first possession of the second quarter went 52 yards on five plays over a five-minute span. Nelson found his second target for a touchdown, Lashley, on a 19-yard pass and catch. Scifo was good on the extra point and New Haven took a 17-0 lead with 10:25 left in the second quarter. On the second to last drive of the first half, the Chargers mounted another scoring drive. UNH went 73 yards on seven plays for its third touchdown of the game. Nelson connected on his third touchdown of the day with Demetrius Washington-Ellison (Rahway, N.J./Rahway / Univ. of Maine) for 23-yard connection down the middle of the field. Saint Anselm ran three more plays in the first half before the halftime horn sounded.
With 8:58 left in the third quarter, the Chargers began their second drive after Raheem Stanley (Hartford, Conn./Weaver ) forced a Saint Anselm fumble. Herbens Antenor (Malden, Mass./Malden) recovered the ball at the New Haven eight-yard line. Two plays later, Jones rumbled for 87 yards all the way to the Hawks’ endzone. He put the Chargers ahead 30-0 and Scifo completed the play with an extra point. Two drives later, New Haven scored quickly once again. On three plays, the Chargers went 74 yards, including Nelson’s second touchdown pass to Lashley for 75 yards. Scifo again split the uprights and New Haven held a 31-0 lead with 1:56 left in the third.
The Chargers scored their final points of the game on their first possession of the fourth quarter. Justen Wilson (Hamden, Conn./Hyde Leadership) rumbled 31 yards through the right side of the Chargers’ line for the sixth touchdown of the afternoon. Scifo completed the drive to give New Haven a final score of 45 points.
Scott Lowery (Elmwood Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic ) led the Chargers’s defense, which allowed just 22 rushing yards, with nine total tackles and two tackles-for-loss. Carlos Lozada (New London, Conn./New London) chipped in with eight tackles and Bernard Risco (Philadelphia, Pa./James Hillhouse) with seven stops.
New Haven has one week off before hosting Assumption College on Saturday, Oct. 6 at DellaCamera Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. Stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com for complete coverage leading up to game day.
