EASTON, Mass. - For the second time in as many weeks, the University of New Haven football team came from behind and earned a victory on the final offensive play of the game in a 23-17 triumph over Stonehill at a rain-soaked W.B. Mason Stadium. After the Chargers' defense held the Skyhawks scoreless in their first offensive possession of overtime, Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) capped a three-play overtime drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge for the victory.

With the win, the Chargers improve to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Skyhawks fall to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in conference action.

As a team, New Haven ran for 104 yards on 33 carries and threw for 205 yards on 33 pass attempts. The UNH defense held Stonehill to 345 yards on 70 plays, while more importantly forcing four fourth quarter turnovers by the Skyhawks.

Joey Bradley (Issaquah, Wash./Issaquah / University of North Dakota) paced the UNH offense with 205 passing yards on 19-of-33 with a touchdown. Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) was his favorite target with 11 catches for 116 yards and a score. Thomas and Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) led the UNH rushing attack combining for 104 yards on 31 carries.

Defensively, the Chargers held the Skyhawks to seven, second-half points with Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) leading the way with 12 total tackles and an interception. Jacob Weaver (Wilmington, Del./Archmere Academy) added 10 stops, while two additional Chargers recorded interceptions. Herbens Antenor (Malden, Mass./Malden) and Matt Zakrzewski (Traverse City, Mich./Saint Francis / Indiana) each ended Stonehill drives in the fourth quarter with picks.

The victory marked the first overtime game for UNH since the 2011 opener and the first time since 1998 that the Chargers have played five consecutive one-possession games.

The Chargers were forced to go three-and-out on their first offensive series and the Skyhawks responded with a 29-yard punt return which set up great field position inside UNH territory. Stonehill went 31-yard on nine plays to the Chargers 9-yard line. Steve Grzywacz split the uprights on 4th-and-6 to put Stonehill ahead 3-0 six minutes into the first quarter.
 
New Haven responded on its following series with a nine-play, 79-yard drive which was capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass from Bradley to Headen. It marked the pair's third TD connection of the season and third in as many weeks.
 
Stonehill's next possession marched down inside the New Haven red zone before the first quarter came to a conclusion. Three plays into the second quarter Colin Markus went into the endzone from 2-yards out to put the Skyhawks ahead 10-7.

Each offense then punted away or turned the ball over on downs for three straight series before the Chargers began a drive with 5:24 left in the first half at their own 34-yard line. Including a 42-yard reception by Courtney Moshood (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto), the Blue and Gold went 48 yards to Stonehill's 18-yard line before lining up for a field goal attempt with 3:22 left. Brian Roberts (Amherst, N.Y./Amherst Central) attempt went left of the uprights and the Chargers remained down by three.

The Skyhawks started the final series of the first half at their own 20-yard line with 3:22 on the clock. After moving across midfield with just over 10 seconds left, Stonehill chose to run out the clock and hold on to a 10-7 lead at halftime.

New Haven gave up one first down, but then forced a Stonehill punt in the first series of the second half. The Chargers then went 65-yards on 12 plays to linup for another Roberts field goal attempt. The Amherst, N.Y. native missed his first attempt, but a running into the kicker flag was thrown and he earned a second chance from 33 yards out. This time, he split the uprights and evened the game at 10-10 with 9:21 left in the third quarter.

The Chargers defense bent, but didn't break, on Stonehill's ensuing drive. The Skyhawks marched into UNH territory, but were halted on 4th-and-1 at the New Haven 24-yard line. New Haven then went three and out which set Stonehill up with decent field position at its own 41-yard line. On the opening play of the drive, the Chargers' coverage broke down and Stonehill went for a 59-yard touchdown pass from Tom Sydeski to Gordon McLeod. The long strike and point after put the Skyhawks ahead 17-10 with 2:17 on the clock in the third quarter.

The quarter would end with the Skyhawks holding on to a one-touchdown advantage.

On the third play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter, Zakrzewski picked off his first pass of the fall when a ball over the middle was tipped into the air into his hands. He returned it six yards and set up 1st-and-10 for UNH at the Stonehill 14-yard line. The Chargers would need just four plays to even the score as Thomas surged across the right side of his offensive line from one yard out with 12:17 left in the fourth. After the Roberts extra point, the game was all tied at 17-17.

The final minutes of regulation went back-and-forth for both teams. Bradley was intercepted at the 9:01 mark and on Stonehill's next play Antenor stepped in front of a Stonehill pass for his second interception of the season. 

The Chargers punted on their next two possessions and Stonehill turned it over another two times. Condit intercepted a pass and Chard Woodfine forced a fumble inside Stonehill territory. The Blue and Gold, however, were unable to capitalize as a three and out and missed field goal haunted the offense once again.

Stonehill struggled as well in the final minutes and both defenses ended up forcing overtime.

After winning the overtime coin toss and electing to play defense first, the Chargers managed another impressive defensive stop. The Skyhawks ran three plays and moved the ball just two yards before sending out the field goal team. Stonehill's 40-yard attempt fell short and all the Chargers would need to win the game on their possession in overtime was a score of any type.

With 1st-and-10 from the 25-yard line, Bradley found Headen crossing across the middle on a 22-yard pass and catch to set up 1st-and-goal. Two plays later, Thomas pushed in throw the left time and secured the road win for the Blue and Gold.

New Haven returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 11 when it hosts cross-town rival Southern Connecticut State in a 1 p.m. tilt at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium.