University of New Haven Athletics

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A four-year member of the Charger football team, Pierre Fils helped lead the UNH receiving corps from 1987-90. An All-American selection as a senior, he was one of the most talented receivers and returners to ever wear a New Haven uniform.

As a freshman, Fils averaged 12.8 yards per catch and 16.3 yards per kickoff return, but it was his sophomore season that he came alive as one of the Chargers’ top all-around players. Fils saw action as both a receiver and return specialist. His 31.5 yards per kickoff return led all of NCAA Division II and he returned a kickoff for a career-best 93 yards for a touchdown. As a receiver, the speedster caught 21 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns, including a season-best 49-yard scoring strike against Norwich. Ranking among the nation’s top 20 teams, the Chargers recorded their third-straight seven-win season and finished 7-3 overall in 1988.

The Monsey, N.Y. native further established himself as one of the top players in all of New England as a junior. After leading the nation in return yardage in 1988, Fils ranked third nationally in 1989 with a 29.1 yard average. He was an All-New England First Team pick and caught a team-high 38 passes for 693 yards and five touchdowns. His best game of the season came against Virginia Union when he grabbed seven passes for 171 yards and three scores. He returned a kick 74 yards against Virginia Union and earned ECAC Player of the Week honors for his remarkable performance. That season the Chargers’ reached as high as 12th in the NCAA Division II national rankings and fell just short of receiving their first NCAA playoff bid. In 1989, the team also recorded its second eight-win season during Fils’ career.

Fils concluded his four-years with one of the most amazing individual season performances from any Charger football player. He connected with quarterback Jay McLucas over 60 times and impressed fans with a career-high 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was the first wide receiver in Charger football history to cross the 1,000-yard plateau and the first to record double-digit touchdowns in a single season. The team’s success would continue during Fils’ senior year, coming just shy of an NCAA playoff berth with a 7-3 record. The postseason accolades poured in, as Fils earned his second All-New England selection and first All-ECAC honor. He also became the first wide receiver in New Haven history to earn All-American recognition. During his senior year, Fils re-wrote the single-season record books and solidified his place in UNH football history. At the conclusion of the 1990 season, his totals placed him first in single-season receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

Throughout his career, Fils amassed 127 catches for 2,218 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. He currently ranks fifth in career receiving yards, t-eighth in receiving touchdowns and ninth in receptions at New Haven. As a return specialist, the Monsey, N.Y. product added over 1,300 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Fils led the team his final three seasons in all-purpose yards and guided the Chargers up the Division II national rankings. The team also boasted a 30-10 overall record during his four seasons.