Box Score
(10-10-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven football team halted an American International College drive in the waning minutes of the game to pickup their second Northeast-10 Conference win of the season. The Chargers defeated the Yellow Jackets, 28-25, on Saturday afternoon at DellaCamera Stadium. With the win, New Haven improves to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the NE-10, while AIC slips to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
The Yellow Jackets were the first to get on the board in just their second drive of the afternoon. AIC quarterback, Shane Muprhy, connected with Davon LeGrier in the first play of the drive for a 61 yard touchdown pass. The extra point was good to put AIC ahead 7-0. That would be only time the Yellow Jackets would have the lead the entire game.
The New Haven offense came alive in the second quarter with a touchdown to tie the game. An 11 play, 80 yard drive including a 37 yard pass from quarterback Ryan Osiecki to Chris Ruffin was capped off by a one yard rush touchdown from Victor Jones. Stephen Ward’s extra point attempt was good and the two teams headed into halftime with the score tied, 7-7.
The start of the second half saw the Chargers immediately regain possession of the ball following a fumble recovery on the kickoff return. Lenroy Neysmith recovered the dropped ball from Davon LeGrier, setting up New Haven on AIC’s 38-yard line. The Charger offense made use of the favorable field position and took the lead with a 16 yard Osiecki pass to Demetrius Washington-Ellison. Ward’s second point-after attempt was good and UNH lead 14-7 early into the third quarter.
The Yellow Jackets kept the pressure up in their opening drive of the second half. However, the New Haven defense thwarted their attempts at a touchdown and AIC was forced to settle for a field goal, making it a 14-10 game.
The New Haven offense kept up their momentum and added its third touchdown of the afternoon. UNH worked the ball up from its own 35 yard line to end it with Osiecki finding Washington-Ellison in the end zone. The pair's second touchdown pass of the game was a 10-yard completion that put the Chargers up 21-10.
The game would head into the fourth quarter with New Haven up 21-10 and AIC in possession of the ball at UNH’s 31. The Yellow Jackets topped off a 70 yard drive with a 2-yard rush into the end zone. AIC opted for a two-point conversion – the pass attempt was good and the Yellow Jackets tightened the New Haven lead to 21-18.
The Chargers quickly brought the lead back up to 10 with a 90 yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Sharieff Hall. Hall found a lane on the sideline and carried all the way through to the end zone, giving New Haven the 28-18 lead.
Undaunted, AIC followed UNH's touchdown with one of their own two drives later. The Yellow Jackets wasted just 56 seconds from the clock as it utilized their field position after being setup on the UNH 36 yard line following a New Haven punt.
With the score 28-25 in favor of New Haven, American International would have its final chance of the game with 3:13 left on the clock. On the 50-yard line, the Yellow Jackets slowly and effectively worked down into Charger territory. After a passing interference call on New Haven, AIC was set up for first-and-ten on the 23rd. However, two AIC penalties kept the hungry offense away from the end zone. After being pushed back to the UNH 38 and on fourth and 25, New Haven’s Moses White and Mike Gomes ended AIC’s hope of a comeback. The duo tackled AIC’s Amadeus Guerrero-Pou on the 21 yard line- eight yards short of the first down. New Haven took its final possession on downs and let the 53 seconds left on the clock trickle down for the Chargers third win of the season.
Looking back on the game, UNH held a slight 17-16 advantage on first downs, while AIC held a 347-248 advantage on total offensive yards. However, it was Hall’s 90 yard kickoff return and UNH's two fumble recoveries that gave the Chargers the edge.
Osiecki went 23-for-31 for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Washington-Ellison and Kameel Lashley brought in five passes a piece for 55 and 46 yards, respectively. While Washington-Ellison recorded two touchdowns. Victor Jones ran for 16 yards, with Josh Smart adding 15 of his own.
Defensively, the Chargers forced three fumbles – recovering two of them. Robert Hill lead New Haven with seven tackles, while Richard Long added six, including five solo.
The Chargers are back on the gridiron next Saturday, October 17 as they head to NE-10 foe Merrimack College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
