THE FIRST LOOK
New Haven (2-1, 2-0 NE-10) continues its Northeast-10 Conference schedule with its first game against LIU Post (2-1, 1-1 NE-10) since 2003. Today's meeting also marks the first time the two regional foes square off as conference opponents. Formerly C.W. Post, the Pioneers entered the NE-10 as an associate member in football prior to this season, after competing in the PSAC for five years (2008-12). The Chargers enter today's game as winners of two-straight overall and 18-straight NE-10 matchups. Last week, UNH set records in a 70-26 victory at Saint Anselm, while LIU Post gave up 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and fell, 38-24, at Bentley. In previous weeks, New Haven defeated Pace and the Pioneers defeated Southern Connecticut State and Millersville.

LAST MEETING
On a chilly, windy and cloudy afternoon in Brookville, N.Y., New Haven and C.W. Post met for the fourth time in series history on Saturday, October 4, 2003. The winless Chargers were in search of their first win of the season, while the Pioneers were in search of their third win of the season. New Haven scored the game's first points off a 39-yard Lars Anderson field goal, but the Pioneers would take over from there. C.W. Post scored 19 unanswered points and led 19-10 at halftime. The Chargers cut the lead back to one score after Sarth Benoit returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter to bring the score to 19-17. The Pioneers went on to score three of the game's final four touchdowns and sealed a 40-23 victory. With two botched punts for -67 yards, the team finished with -25 rushing yards in the loss. UNH gained 228 total offensive yards and the Pioneers racked up 470 yards. Joe DiMeglio led the Chargers passing game with 223 yard, one touchdown and three interceptions on 20-of-43 passing. Benoit finished with eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and the interception return.

ALL-TIME SERIES
New Haven and LIU Post have met four other times and the Pioneers hold an unblemished 4-0 record against the Chargers. The teams' most recent meeting was in 2003 when the Chargers traveled to Long Island and dropped a 40-23 decision. One year prior, LIU Post came to West Haven and shutout the Chargers, 20-0. The other two meetings in the series took place in the early 1980s. The first-ever matchup was right here in West Haven at Dodds Stadium. The Chargers led 14-3 at halftime, but the Pioneers rallied with 17 unanswered points in the second half to take the victory. One year later, the Chargers played their first game on the LIU Post campus and fell, 30-7.
    1983: LIU Post - 20 | New Haven - 14 (West Haven, Conn.)
    1984: LIU Post - 30 | New Haven - 7 (Brookville, N.Y.)
    2002: LIU Post - 20 | New Haven - 0 (West Haven, Conn.)
    2003: LIU Post - 40 | New Haven - 23 (Brookville, N.Y.)

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
In their first three games this season, New Haven's offense has been anchored by senior quarterback Ronnie Nelson and senior running back Mike DeCaro. Nelson, who ranks first in the NE-10 and ninth in NCAA Division II with a 164.6 passing efficiency, has compiled 648 yards and eight touchdowns on 42-of-71 passing. He also adds 238 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Last week, the reigning Northeast-10 Offensive Player of the Week became the first-ever Charger quarterback to pass for over 300 yards and rush for over 150 yards in a game. He finished the game with a record 483 yards of total offense and five total touchdowns. DeCaro, the program's first 200-yard rusher since 2010, amassed a career-best 205 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. He also became the program's first 2,000-yard rusher of the new era and moved in to fourth all-time with 2,179 all-time rushing yards. Defensively, three Chargers have 20-plus tackles this season. Defensive back Najae Brown leads the way with 22 total tackles, including 14 solo stops. Sean Berglund anchors the defensive line with 19 total tackles and five tackles-for-loss. As a whole, the defense ranks in the top of Division II in fumbles recovered (12th), red zone defense (20th), tackles-for-loss (24th) and turnovers gained (11th).

New Haven Special Teams Key to the Game: When comparing the teams prior to Saturday's game, it looks to be a very tightly contested game and in close games, special teams always play an instrumental role in the outcome. New Haven must "win" the special teams, in all aspects of kicking, returning and punting to pull out a victory.

New Haven Offensive Key to the Game: Offensively, the Chargers will key on controlling the line of scrimmage Saturday afternoon. Last week, the offense enjoyed one of its best offensive outputs of the new era and controlling the line will need to continue this week to be successful. The Pioneers' four defensive linemen combine for 12 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks this season. The Chargers' three interior offensive linemen will have their hands full with 6-foot-7, 290-pound defensive tackle Dillon Quinn.

New Haven Defensive Key to the Game: The Chargers defense must limit the Pioneers' big plays on Saturday in order to keep LIU Post from scoring. The Pioneers have 15 scoring drives this season resulting in 13 touchdowns and two field goals. Of the 15 scoring drives, three started inside the opponents' red zone and 11 of the remaining 12 featured at least one play of more than 20 yards. Only one of the scoring drives, against Southern Connecticut State, was a sustained drive with nine plays going 58 yards for a touchdown.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Winners of two-straight to open the season, LIU Post is looking to rebound at its first loss of 2013 last week. The Pioneers defeated Millersville 47-16 in week one before opening their Northeast-10 Conference schedule with a 24-12 victory over Southern Connecticut State in week two. Bentley handed LIU Post its first loss of 2013 last week in Waltham, Mass. by the score of 38-24. A member of the PSAC East Division for the previous five seasons, the Pioneers were picked fourth in the NE-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll and received two first-place votes.

The LIU Post Offense: Much like the Chargers' offense, the Pioneers have a versatile quarterback who leads the team in both passing and rushing yards. Steven Laurino averages 217 passing and 80 rushing yards per game. He's thrown six touchdown passes and rushed for one score. Jeff Mack is the team's second leading rusher with 72.67 yards per game, while two receivers average 50-plus yards per contest, Joe Botti and Michael Richardson. The Pioneers have scored on every trip inside the red zone and are currently tied with 11 other teams in Division II with a perfect 100-percent efficiency.

The LIU Post Defense: The Pioneers feature a similar defensive alignment as New Haven with four down linemen, two inside linebackers and five defensive backs. Inside linebackers Rob Bright and Julian Santiago anchor the team with 33 and 25 tackles, respectively. Defensive end David Sumter leads the team with six tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks. Defensive back Tommy Williams is also tied with the national lead in interceptions with three this season.

SCORING SPREE
One of just two teams in NCAA Division II with two 65-plus point performances this season, New Haven scored 65-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time and tied the highest two-game scoring total in program history over the previous two weeks. The 135 points scored against Pace and Saint Anselm tied a two-game stretch from 1992 against Virginia Union and Central Connecticut. To break the three-game scoring record, New Haven would need another 67 points this week against LIU Post.

A WIN FOR THE AGES
In last week's 70-26 victory at Saint Anselm, the Chargers set just one all-time program record, but many more numbers came close to program records and were the most since 2009 for the Chargers' return to the gridiron. The following numbers against Saint Anselm were all the most since 2009:
Individual
  Most rushing yards - Mike DeCaro, 205
  Most total offensive yards gained - Ronnie Nelson, 483 (*all-time record)
  Most all-purpose yards - Mike DeCaro, 286
  Most extra point conversions - Anthony Greenfield, 10
Team
  Most rushing yards - 509
  Most yards per rush (min. 20 attempts) - 9.6
  Most rushing touchdowns - 7
  Most total offensive yards - 821
  Most all-purpose yards - 907
  Most points scored - 70
  Most touchdowns - 10
The win also ranked among the best in NCAA Division II this season, tying for fourth place in points scored, coming in second in total offense and third in rushing yards.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION
The Beyond Sports Network (BSN) recognized the New Haven offensive line and running back Mike DeCaro this week as national players of the week. The o-line helped put up 509 rushing yards and 821 total yards in a 70-point performance last week. DeCaro was recognized as the running back of the week after 205 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. BSN recognizes national award winners for the top performances in the FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA. The Beyond Sports Network staff hands out awards for Offensive Line of the Week, Defense of the Week, Offensive Players of the Week, Defensive Players of the Week, and Special Teams Players of the Week.

RUNNING UP THE RECORDS BOOK
On his second carry and the team's third offensive play against Saint Anselm, Mike DeCaro became the fifth player in the storied history of New Haven football to rush for 2,000 career yards. Needing just 26 yards to cross the plateau against Saint Anselm, DeCaro not only crossed the mark, but moved into fourth all-time with his 205-yard outing. His career numbers now include 2,179 rushing yards (4th), 25 rushing touchdowns (3rd) and 4,502 all-purpose yards.

CALLING HIS NUMBER
Ronnie Nelson put together one of the most impressive individual performances in Charger football history against Saint Anselm in week three. The Stuart, Fla. native set a record for total offensive yards in a game and was the first quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards and rush for more than 100 yards in a game. This season, the senior currently ranks ninth in Division II and first in the NE-10 with a 164.6 passing efficiency rating. He also ranks 19th in Division II and third in the NE-10 with eight touchdown passes this year. In seven games as the starting quarterback, Nelson is 94-for-146 for 1,419 yards (202. 7 ypg) with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. His career numbers include 2,144 passing yards and 962 rushing yards, bringing him within 38 yards of becoming the first player in UNH football history to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards.

SPREADING OUT THE SCORING
In back-to-back weeks, six different Chargers have scored touchdowns. Last week four players scored rushing touchdowns and three players threw touchdown passes in week two against Pace.

THREE-TIMES AS GREAT
Against Pace in week two, Ronnie Nelson, Anthony Greenfield and Joey Bradley all threw touchdown passes in the Chargers' 65-0 victory - the first time three different players threw scoring strikes since Nov. 5, 2011. Ryan Osiecki, Ronnie Nelson and Brice DeRosa helped lead UNH to another 60-plus point performance and win over Pace.

ICE-BERG ANCHORS D-LINE
Senior defensive tackle Sean Berglund posted a career-high seven total tackles in each of the first two games this season. He registered a career-best four tackles-for-loss and three sacks against Pace in week two, while also forcing a fumble and recovering another loose ball. His season totals include 19 total tackles, five tackles-for-loss and three sacks.

GREENFIELD'S KICKING
Last week, Anthony Greenfield came on extra point short of tying New Haven's all-time record of 11 conversions. He connected on 10-of-10 attempts and improved his season total to 21-for-21, including 19-of-19 in the last two weeks. In week two against Pace, Anthony Greenfield booted a 64-yard punt late in the fourth quarter to seal the late-game shutout for UNH. The punt was the longest of his career and the first punt over 60 yards since the Chargers returned to the gridiron in 2009. The last punt longer than 64 yards came in 2002 when Lars Anderson kicked a 65-yard punt on Sept. 21 at Indiana (Pa.). The Chargers' longest punt ever belongs to John Cerra, who booted a 75-yard punt against Southern Connecticut State in 1996.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT ROOKIES
The team's leading tackler and rookie starting cornerback, Najae Brown has made his presence known early in the 2013 season. He leads the team with 22 total tackles and 14 solo stops. Fellow rookie and Boston College transfer Andre Lawrence is tied for second on the team with 20 total tackles. On the other side of the ball, Michael Flacco leads all receivers with eight catches for 58.3 yards per game and three total touchdowns.

FORMER TEAMMATES
Former teammates at Boston College, New Haven's Andre Lawrence and LIU Post's Dillon Quinn will square off against each other this Saturday. The former Eagles played together for the previous three seasons at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

DEFENSIVE STANDS
Since the return of Charger football in 2009, the New Haven defense has held its opponents scoreless on four different occasions. In week two's 65-0 shutout, UNH came one point shy of the largest margin of victory in program history and the set the record for the largest since 2009. Last season's 45-0 victory over Saint Anselm was the third shutout since 2009 and the first at home since week two of the 2010 season. That season, the Chargers managed two shutouts, blanking Lincoln (Pa.) and American International.

THE COACHES
The 2012 Liberty Mutual Division II Coach of the Year and three-time Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year, Peter Rossomando is in his fifth season as head coach for the Chargers, although he was hired in January of 2008 to start rebuilding the program. In four short years, Rossomando has brought the Charger football program back into the national spotlight as one of the premier programs in Division II. He previously spent seven seasons at the University at Albany and five seasons at UNH, as an assistant under current Oakland Raiders offensive line coach Tony Sparano. Bryan Collins has been the Pioneers' head football coach since 1998 and enters his 16th season as the school's all-time winningest coach with an overall 110-54 record. In 2011, he was inducted by an alumni committee into the LIU Post Football Hall of Fame.

COACH TO CURE MD
Coach Rossomando and all the New Haven coaching staff are joining coaches all over America Saturday in wearing a patch on their left arms to help defeat a terrible genetic disorder. It's called Coach to Cure M-D. The American Football Coaches Association is working to raise awareness and research funding to cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most prolific genetic killer diagnosed in childhood. 

FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The University of New Haven football coaches will be selecting Players of the Week every week throughout the 2013 season. Head Coach Peter Rossomando and his assistants chose five student-athletes for the week three awards:
    Offensive Player of the Week: Ronnie Nelson
    Defensive Player of the Week: Najae Brown
    Special Teams Player of the Week: Mike DeCaro
    Offensive Scout Player of the Week: Jonathan Badyna
    Defensive Scout Player of the Week: Matt Rossi

GAMEDAY FORECAST
Saturday looks to be a very promising day for football in West Haven and family day at DellaCamera Stadium. The forecast includes sunny skies with highs in the lower 70s. There is no chance of rain and looks to be slight winds out of the west up to nine mph.

GAME COVERAGE
Charger fans from around the world can tune into Saturday's game through NewHavenChargers.com. With multiple camera angles, instant replays and top-notch commentary, fans are guaranteed a great interactive experience. Click the "Live Video" link for Saturday's game on NewHavenChargers.com, or visit www.NewHavenChargers.com/LiveVideo. UNH alumni Craig Mortali and Pat Ryan will be calling the action live from West Haven. Live statistics will also be available for fans on their computer or phone through a link at NewHavenChargers.com. Lastly, live updates will be available on the Chargers' twitter page, @UNHChargers. Look for gameday media coverage in the New Haven Register on Friday and Saturday, as well as WTNH Channel 8/MyTV 9 Saturday night during the nightly sports recap.

UP NEXT
New Haven hits the road for a pair of NE-10 games over the next two weeks. The Chargers travel to Assumption for their second of three night games on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. The two-game road trip comes to an end at Merrimack on Saturday, Oct. 12. For complete coverage throughout the coming weeks, stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com.

NE-10 PRESEASON RESULTS
The No. 12 University of New Haven football team has been selected to finish second in the Northeast-10 Football Coaches' Preseason Poll, which was released today by the conference office. The nationally-ranked Chargers received three of 10 first-place votes. The three-time defending Northeast-10 Champion, New Haven garnered 73 total points on the preseason ledger. American International was tabbed as the favorite by the conference's 10 head coaches, collecting five first-place tallies to edge the Chargers with 75 total points. Bentley nabbed 61 points, LIU Post had 60 – including the two remaining first-place votes – and Merrimack rounds out the top half of the poll with 44 points. Southern Connecticut, Stonehill, Assumption, Saint Anselm and Pace rounded out the preseason poll.
2013 Northeast-10 Football Coaches Preseason Poll
1. American International – 75 (5)
2. New Haven – 73 (3)
3. Bentley – 61
4. LIU Post – 60 (2)
5. Merrimack – 44
6. Southern Connecticut – 42
7. Stonehill – 41
8. Assumption – 24
9. Saint Anselm – 21
10. Pace – 9
* - first-place votes in parentheses

CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2013
Seniors Mike DeCaro, Ronnie Nelson, Herbens Antenor and Brent MacLeod were named captains for the 2013 season. The four will anchor the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, along with 24 other seniors on the roster.

THE REMAINING SCHEDULE
New Haven returns home to take on LIU Post (formerly C.W. Post) in the teams' first-ever conference battle in week four. The 2013 season will mark the first year for the Pioneers as a member of the NE-10, bringing the total number of regular season conference games to nine. LIU Post holds a 4-0 record against UNH dating back to 1983. As the season takes full swing, New Haven will travel to Assumption College in the first weekend of October. One of three night games on New Haven's 2013 schedule, the Chargers and Greyhounds will play Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in Worcester, Mass. New Haven plays back-to-back road games as it travels to North Andover, Mass. for a meeting with Merrimack College in week six. The Chargers hold a 3-1 record against the Warriors since first meeting in 2009. The Chargers will then host homecoming at DellaCamera Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19 against Stonehill College. New Haven has held the upper hand in the four year series with the Skyhawks, but last year's game in Easton, Mass. went down to the final seconds as UNH scored the go-ahead touchdown with six second on the clock. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The Elm City Trophy will be awarded in week eight with the Chargers traveling to crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University on Friday, Oct. 25. The third night game on the schedule will kickoff at 7 p.m. at Jess Dow Field. UNH and SCSU have a storied history dating back to 1981. New Haven holds a 16-6-1 record against the Owls, including three straight wins. The November schedule includes two NE-10 home games for the Chargers. American International travels to West Haven on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. The Chargers and Yellow Jackets have met 18 times since 1983 with UNH holding a 12-6 advantage in the series. Bentley University will round out the regular season for the Chargers on Saturday, Nov. 9 at DellaCamera Stadium. UNH and Bentley have also met every year since 2009 and the Chargers hold a 3-1 record against the Falcons. For the second straight season, the NE-10 Conference will host a championship weekend on Saturday, Nov. 16. The top seeded team will host the second seed in a true championship game format. The remaining teams will also play games in the final weekend of the regular season. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth seeded teams will host the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th seeded teams, respectively. The NCAA Division II Football Championship tournament begins on Saturday, Nov. 23 with the first round, while the Division II Champion will be crowded on Saturday, Dec. 21 at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala.

Read more in the week three game notes (PDF)