Box Score
(10-24-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - A kickoff return and a fumble return touchdowns helped lift the University of New Haven football team to a 49-27 victory over the Pace University Setters at DellaCamera Stadium Saturday afternoon. With the win the Chargers improve to 4-4 overall and 3-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the Setters fall to 0-8 overall and 0-6 in the NE-10.
The Chargers started the opening drive by going three-and-out, but the Chargers punt on forth down went off a Pace player and the Charger were able to recover for a fresh set of downs on the Pace 33-yard line. Ten plays later the drive staled when UNH could not convert on fourth-and-17 from the Pace 21-yard line. After the Charger defense forced a Setters three-and-out, The Chargers started their third drive on their own 20-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Ryan Osiecki and running back Josh Smart had trouble exchanging the fumble was eventually recovered by the Setters.
On the next play, Pace went 24 yards for a touchdown. With a successful point after, Pace took a 7-0 lead. The Chargers immediately answered, with their own touchdown drive. Five Osiecki passes and three Smart carries took the Charger on an 8-play, 65-yard drive which was capped by a 7-yard touchdown run by Smart. Stephen Ward added the point after to even the score at 7-7 with 44-seconds remaining in the first quarter.
A 31-yard kickoff return by Pace, gave them great field position in the final seconds of the opening quarter. Another long 20-yard pass, gave the Setters the ball on the UNH 30-yard line as time ran out in the first quarter. Nine plays into the second quarter, Pace added six points off its second touchdown of the game, the point after failed as the Setters took a 13-7 lead.
It didn't take long for the Chargers to answer and take their first lead of the game. On the ensuing kickoff, New Haven's Sharieff Hall returned his second kickoff of the season for a touchdown. The 75-yard return and point after gave UNH a 14-13 lead with 11:37 left in the second quarter.
Pace regained the lead later in the second quarter when they recovered a New Haven fumble at the UNH 46-yard line. In their third 20+ yard pass of the half, Pace took a 19-14 lead off a 46-yard pass and catch one play later.
The Chargers once again rallied, on their final drive of the first half. UNH stated the drive following the Pace score and took the ball 46 yards in nine plays. Osiecki capped the drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Demetrius Washington-Ellison with 1:11 left in the half. Ward connected again on the kick to give the Chargers a 21-19 lead.
With just over a minute left in the half, Pace advanced the ball to the UNH 34-yard line, but did not muster a score.
After forcing Pace to go three-and-out in the opening drive of the second half, New Haven added seven more points on their opening 6-play, 54-yard drive of the second half. Osiecki and Washington-Ellison connected for the second time from 19-yards out to give UNH a 28-19 lead.
The Setters ensuring drive went 58-yards on 14 plays, but their field goal attempt went wide right with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter. After punting at the conclusion of that drive, the Chargers regained possession after just one Pace play. Richard Long forced the fumble and Jon Jackson recovered to give the Chargers the ball back at the Pace 13-yard line.
Four plays later, Osiecki connected with Josh Smart for a 12-yard pass and catch, which brought his season completions total to 210, breaking the previous record which was held by Jay McLucas (1990). The next pass went incomplete and New Haven lined up for a 29-yard field goal, but holder and backup quarterback Brice DeRosa took the snap and looked down the field where he found Kameel Lashley in the gold end zone at DellaCamera Stadium. Ward once against connected on the point after to give UNH a 35-19 lead.
UNH added two more in the final quarter, a 30-yard pass from Osiecki to Hall and a 34-yard fumble recovery and score by linebacker Tom Herd, to give the Chargers a 49-19 lead with 7:11 left in the fourth quarter.
Pace added seven with 3:40 left in the fourth to cut the UNH lead to 49-27
The Chargers totaled 315 yards, while the Setters registered 320 total yards. However, UNH held a 3-2 advantage in turnovers and a 32:41-27:18 advantage in time of possession.
Osiecki totaled 222 yard and three touchdowns on 21-of-34 passing on his record breaking day. He was sacked a just two times and did not throw an interception. Washington-Ellison was his favorite target with six catches fro 97 yards and two touchdowns. Hall added five grabs for 38 yards and one touchdown, while running back/wide receiver Smart grabbed four catches for 41 yards.
Smart also led the UNH ground game with a season-high 50 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. Hall also tallied 114 kickoff return yards on two returns. Smart totaled 161 all-purpose yards, adding 41 kickoff return yards and 29 punt return yards to his receiving and rushing totals.
Defensively, UNH was led by Moses White. The sophomore tallied 10 total tackles, including eight solo tackles and two tackles-for-loss. Herd added six tackles, one sack and 2.5 tackles-for-loss to his 34-yard fumble return.
The Chargers return to action on Saturday, October 31 when they travel to St. Anselm College. Game time on Saturday is set for 12 p.m.
