(10-14-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - The University of New Haven football team takes on Merrimack College in week seven of the 2009 season. The Chargers are looking for their fourth win of the season and their third Northeast-10 Conference.
This Week's Matchup
New Haven (3-3, 2-3 NE-10) travels to Merrimack College (4-2, 3-1 NE-10) this week in its seventh game of the season. The Chargers are coming off a 28-25 victory over American International College at DellaCamera Stadium, while the Warriors suffered a 39-36 loss last week to Assumption College. Prior to their loss last week, the Warriors had won four-straight, including a 14-12 victory over NE-10 leading Bentley University. Merrimack's only other loss this season came in week one against American International (58-34). The Chargers have won two of their last three, with both victories coming at home.
As a team, UNH is averaging 356.8 yards per game, while Merrimack is averaging a NE-10 best 480.2 yards per game. A majority of the Chargers yards come from the NE-10's best passing attack (298.3 passing yards per game), while over half of the Warriors yards come from the nation's seventh ranked rushing attack (242.2 rushing yards per game).
The Charger offense will use a single-back formation, spreading the field for the passing game, while Merrimack also runs a single-back formation with a tight end to keep the defense outside of the box and open holes for the running game. Both teams run a 3-4 defense, with a nose guard anchoring the defensive line.
Common Opponents
The Chargers and Warriors have four common opponents so far this season. Both teams hold a 2-2 record against those four common opponents. Both has also defeated Stonehill College and lost to Assumption College. They've had mixed results against American International and Bentley, however. Merrimack fell 58-34 to AIC in week one, while the Chargers took a 28-25 victory over the Yellow Jackets last week. In week three the Chargers lost 23-15 to Bentley, while the Warriors shocked the Falcons 14-12 two weeks ago.
New Haven's Keys to the Game: Stop the Rushing game/Score
For the second-straight week, the Chargers' keys to the game include stopping their opponents dominating rushing attack. They have their work cut out for them this week, facing the conference's best rushing attack in Merrimack's running back Anthony Smalls and quarterback James Suozzo. The UNH defense has continued to improve as the season has worn on, including holding the AIC rushers under 100 yards last week. In each of the Chargers' three victories this season, they've held their opponents under 100 yards rushing.
Offensively, it will be important to keep up with the Warriors scoring. Merrimack can score quickly, on two or three plays, and the Chargers' offense will have to answer as the game develops Saturday. A telling statistic has to do with the third quarter; when leading heading into the third quarter, the Chargers of 3-0, when trailing they are 0-3. Osiecki will need to guide the Chargers down the field with poise, which he's demonstrated in the fourth quarter the past two weeks.
The UNH rushing game, which ran for a season-low 29 yards last week, will need to improve against the NE-10's sixth ranked rushing defense. Merrimack is giving up 136.7 rushing yards per game and the Chargers will need to take advantage this week. Expect another handful of Chargers to see carries this week, including Victor Jones, Andrew Nass, Josh Smart, Bernard Risco and even Sharieff Hall who carried the ball a couple times last week on option plays.
Scouting the Warriors of Merrimack College
The Warriors are led by a fierce two-back running game. Anthony Smalls is averaging 139 yards per game, while quarterback James Suozzo adds nearly 100 more yards on the ground each game. The two combine for 473.8 yards per game through the air and on the ground. A productive rushing attack helps open the defense up for Suozzo's favorite receiver Chris Laham, who leads the NE-10 in receiving yards per game with 108.8. The Warriors are averaging 31.7 points per game this season, while UNH is scoring 22.5 points per game. The Merrimack defense, ranked last in the NE-10, allows nearly 400 yards per game (399.5), including 262.8 passing yards per game.
Follow the Game
The game can be heard live in New Haven on 88.7 FM WNHU or online at www.wnhu.net with UNH alumni, Craig Mortali and Pat Ryan calling the action live from Warrior Field in North Andover. Also visit www.newhaven.edu/athletics/livecoverage for links to live statistics and a video webcast of the game.
For this week's game notes, click here.
