NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The University of New Haven football team, led by two big defensive stands inside its own 10-yard line in the fourth quarter, defeated Merrimack College 48-41 Saturday afternoon at a wet Martone-Mejail Field. 

Down by seven, Merrimack marched to New Haven's one-yard line with over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. On two consecutive plays, the Chargers' defense stopped the Warriors and an incomplete pass on fourth down gave the ball back to New Haven. After a quick three-and-out by New Haven, Merrimack again got the ball inside UNH territory with 2:40 left on the clock. The Warriors brought the ball inside New Haven's 10-yard line and was faced with second-and-four with 1:08 left. On three-straight plays, the Chargers forced incomplete passes by Joe Clancy. The Chargers took over with 47 seconds remaining and sealed the win in victory formation.

Senior Mike DeCaro (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay ) added 270 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns to lead the Chargers offense. He ran for a team-best 57 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. He caught four passes for 72 yards and one touchdown, while returning five kickoffs for 141 yards.

Quarterback Ronnie Nelson (Stuart, Fla./South Fork ) added 281 yards and three touchdowns on 16-of-25 passing, while Nick Music (West Milford, N.J./West Milford ) led all receivers with five catches and 102 yards. 

Defensively, Jaylen Johnson (Linden, N.J./Linden) led the team with 12 total tackles, while Najae Brown (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Mount St. Michael / Trinity Pawling) added 11 total tackles, including a team-high 10 solo stops. 

New Haven wasted no time on the first series of the game, scoring off a 24 yard DeCaro carry just 1:49 into the opening quarter. The Chargers went 68 yards on just four plays to take the quick advantage. 

The Warriors answered on their first series as well, scoring at the end of a nine-play, 82-yard drive off a 10-yard touchdown catch by Greg Devine from Joe Clancy.

Tied at 7-7, New Haven took the lead back at the 5:59 mark of the first quarter off DeCaro's second touchdown carry in as many drives. UNH went 60 yards on eight plays for the touchdown. DeCaro carried the ball three times during the series, including a 14-yard run on first-and-10 from Merrimack's 43-yard line.

Merrimack again answered the Chargers with another scoring drive. The Warriors took the ball from their own 17-yard line and advanced it all the way to New Haven's nine-yard line. Clancy completed six passes during the stretch before Quinn McDonough carried the ball on the final two plays of the series. The running back coughed up the ball at New Haven's seven-yard line before his own teammate, Drew Bellamy, fell on it in the endzone. The extra point evened the scored once again, 14-14, with 1:02 left in the first quarter.

Through the final few plays of the first quarter and opening offensive series of the second, New Haven once again mounted a scoring drive. The Chargers went 75-yards on nine plays before Nelson found Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) for a 36-yard catch and run. UNH went ahead 20-14 after a missed extra point attempt.

The Warriors answered for the third-straight time with the sixth consecutive scoring drive to open the game. Merrimack used 12 plays to march 53 yards to New Haven's eight-yard line. Nick Zwaan then lined up for a 25-yard field goal and split the uprights, bringing the score to 20-17 with 5:47 left in the first half.

After DeCaro returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to the Merrimack 42-yard line, Nelson found the Weston, Fla. native on a shuffle pass as he was going to the ground on second-and-10. DeCaro maneuvered around numerous defenders and went 42-yards for another UNH touchdown. The point after was good and New Haven led by ten with 4:40 left in the first half.

After seven-straight scores to open the game, New Haven's defense was the first to force a punt on Merrimack's next drive. Merrimack's defense also responded and stalled the Chargers' offense on three plays with 1:28 left in the first half.

In just under 90 seconds, Merrimack was able to run 11 plays and went 66 yards to the Chargers' 10-yard line. The Warriors lined up for a field goal with four seconds left in the second quarter and Zwaan missed the 27-yard attempt wide left as New Haven held on to a 27-17 lead at halftime.

After deferring on the opening kickoff, Merrimack opened the second half on offense. The Warriors starting drive of the third quarter went 57 yards on 10 plays to New Haven's 14-yard line. Clancy's pass was incomplete on third-and-nine, forcing Zwaan to attempt a 31-yard field goal. This time the ball split the uprights and brought the Warriors back within one score, 27-20.

The New Haven offense came out of halftime on fire, scoring three touchdowns on its first three possession of the second half. The first six-play, 92-yard drive took 2:49 off the clock and was highlighted by two receptions by Music. The senior wide receiver set up first-and-goal for the Chargers on the Merrimack seven after a 27-yard catch from Nelson. On first-and-goal, the ladder ran the ball and crossed the endzone to put UNH ahead 34-20.

The Chargers' defense then came alive, stopping a Merrimack drive and recovering a high punt snap inside Merrimack's 10-yard line at the six. Music scored a non-traditional rushing touchdown one play later on a reverse and New Haven quickly jumped out to a three-touchdown lead, 41-20, with 8:12 left in the third quarter.

Merrimack's ensuing offensive series was halted after just three plays as Jelani Blandin (Boston, Mass./Newton South) opened the series with tackle-for-loss on first-and-10. New Haven began its third drive of the second hall with 6:44 left in the third quarter. The Chargers would need just 2:41 to take their largest lead of the afternoon. Nelson took over on the series, rushing for 15 yards on two carries and finding Michael Flacco (Audobon, N.J./Gateway Regional / The Community College of Baltimore County - Catonsville) for a 36-yard touchdown catch down the middle of the field. Anthony Greenfield (Bloomfield, N.J./Paramus Catholic / Wagner) converted the extra point and New Haven led 48-20.

Merrimack answered with its first touchdown drive of the second half. The Warriors took over at their own 25-yard line and went 75 yards on seven plays to bring the score back within 21. Clancy found Jere Brown for a 15-yard touchdown pass and catch with 1:41 left in the third quarter.

On New Haven's next series, Nelson was intercepted by Merrimack's James Flores on the second play from scrimmage. After the third quarter expired, the Warriors wasted no time and scored a touchdown on their fifth play of the series. The extra point was good and Merrimack was crawling back into the game at 48-34.

Merrimack's defense allowed one first down on the next New Haven series before Greenfield entered to punt. With 11 minutes left, the Warriors needed two touchdowns to even the score. They would get the first on the tail end of a nine-play, 82-yard drive. Clancy complete six passes on the drive and capped it with a two-yard touchdown run with 8:07 on the clock. The extra point was good and the Warriors now trailed by just seven points, 48-41.

New Haven went three-and-out of their ensuing offensive series and Merrimack regained possession at its own 32-yard line with 6:55 on the clock. A 33-yard pass from Clancy to Zach Ingalls started the drive which came all the way inside New Haven 10-yard line six plays later. After converting on a fourth-and-one with a seven-yard pass at New Haven's 16, Merrimack had four chances inside the 10. Clancy's first pass went six yards down to the three. A two-yard carry by the quarterback brought it to the one-yard line. One third and goal from the one, Clancy found Shane Ferguson for a pass of no gain. David Nooks (Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys & Girls / Lackawanna College) ensured Ferguson stayed out of the endzone on a huge sticking tackle. On their second attempt from the one, Clancy's pass flew over the out-stretched hands of Brown and New Haven took over on downs.

The Chargers' offense struggled for the third-straight series and on fourth-and-10 from their own one-yard line, Greenfield was brought in to punt. The short kick in to the wind landed at New Haven's 34-yard line with 2:40 left on the clock.

The Warriors again marched into the red zone after just three plays. Faced with first-and-10 from the 15, Merrimack's McDonough ran for six yards to New Haven's nine-yard line. Clancy's pass on second-and-four was incomplete. Two more pass attempts on third-and-four, and fourth-and-four also sailed incomplete. Johnson provided pressure up the middle of the line on fourth down and forced Clancy to intentionally ground the ball as well.

New Haven took over and snapped the ball three times in victory formation before the game was sealed with a seven-point victory.

New Haven returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 19 when it hosts Stonehill at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. Game time in West Haven, Conn. is set for 1 p.m.