WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior linebacker
Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) tallied a career and second best 21 total tackles Saturday night, but the University of New Haven football team dropped its final game of the 2014 season at Assumption, 16-7. Defense ruled the game as the teams combined for just 422 yards on 136 plays, while the game features 18 combined punts.
The Chargers held a 7-0 lead for the entire first half, but Assumption scored 16 unanswered points in the second half, including a 54-yard fumble recovery touchdown late in the third quarter. New Haven concludes the season at 6-5 overall after the loss. The Greyhounds conclude the year at 7-4 with the victory.
Condit helped anchor the defense which allowed just 232 total yards to Assumption. The Caldwell, N.J. native also broke through the line for for 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Jacob Weaver (Wilmington, Del./Archmere Academy) also recorded double digit tackles with 11 stoppers. He collected 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a fumble recovery as well.
Matt Zakrzewski (Traverse City, Mich./Saint Francis / Indiana) added to the linebackers tackles with eight in his final collegiate outing.
The defensive backfield was anchors with eight tackles, a forced and recovered fumble by
Miles Pease (Sicklerville, N.J./Saint Joseph / Milford Academy). Defensive lineman
Drake Harris (Union, N.J./Union) chipped in with six tackles, one tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble.
Offensively, New Haven struggled all night at Multi-Sport Stadium. Senior quarterback
Joey Bradley (Issaquah, Wash./Issaquah / University of North Dakota) went 14-for-37 with 97 yards and a touchdown in his final game at UNH.
Rishawn Harris (Springfield, Mass./Putnam Vocational Technical Academy) was his top target with five receptions for 42 yards and the Chargers' lone touchdown.
Collin Hill (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) grabbed four catches for 29 yards, while
Henry Adegunle (Rockaway, N.Y./Channel View),
Courtney Moshood (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto),
Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) and
Brandon Fowler (Prospect, Conn./Woodland Regional / Connecticut) each brought in catches as well.
Trevor Officer (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) was the top rusher for the Chargers with 66 yards on 15 carries. Thomas contributed 55 yards on nine carries and Bradley totaled three yards on five carries.
Assumption was led by shutdown defense, including 11 tackles from both Bakari Blair and Jarrod Casey. Derrick Mann also helped the defense with four total tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and a scoop and score which gave the Greyhounds their first points of the game in the third quarter.
On the other side of the ball, Assumption's Matt Heriveaux and De'Ontray Johnson combined for 132 rushing yards, while Heriveaux scored the only offensive touchdown of the game for Assumption.
Quarterback Sean Mayo went 10-for-23 with 69 yards and an interception.
New Haven scored its only points of the game on its first possession. Harris sacked Assumption quarterback Mayo in the backfield and forced a fumble 2:30 into the opening quarter. Weaver returned the ball to the Assumption 42 yard line to set up the opening score. A mix of four running plays and two passing plays advanced the ball to Assumptions 11 yard line. Bradley then connected with Harris with 9:56 left in the first quarter.
The remainder of the first half included seven punts, two Assumption turnovers and a drive which ended as the first half concluded as UNH held on to a 7-0 lead at the break.
The first eight drives of the second half resulted in a punt or a turnover on downs. Assumption tied the game late in the third as Mann returned a fumble recovery 54 yards to paydirt. The game was tied at 7-7 at the conlcusion of the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter the Chargers had a punt blocked and it setup a short field for the Greyhounds as they recovered at the New Haven 3-yard line. One play later Assumption took a 13-7 lead. After another UNH punt, the Greyhounds made it a two-possession game with the game's only sustained drive. Assumption went just 34 yards, but took 4:31 off the clock and kicked a 33-yard field goal with 2:16 left to play.
New Haven's final offensive series of the season stalled at its own 34-yard line before Assumption took over on downs and went into victory formation.
New Haven's six wins of 2014 make it five consecutive six-win seasons for the Chargers.
