PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven football team exploded for more than 600 yards and eight touchdowns en route to a 63-16 Homecoming victory over Northeast-10 rival LIU Post on Saturday afternoon in front of 4,684 fans at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. With the victory, New Haven improves to 5-3 overall and 5-2 in the NE-10 and with a victory next week against Pace would clinch an appearance in the NE-10 Championship game.

Overall, New Haven finished with 401 yards on the ground, closing out the game without losing a yard on the ground assault in 53 total carries. The 401 rushing yards is the most for a New Haven team since September 20, 2013 when they finished with 509 against Saint Anselm. Leading the Chargers ground efforts was junior Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) who finished with 128 yards on 14 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Anderson also ran back a kick off in the third quarter 90 yards for seven points. That run back was the first time a Charger has ran back a kick off since Mike DeCaro returned one 78 yards, also against LIU Post, on September 28, 2013.

Joining Anderson on the ground was graduate Trevor Officer (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) who finished with 127 yards on 13 carries. He also scored on the ground with a 15-yard run that closed out the Chargers second possession of the game. Justin Wilson also had a career-day on the ground as he finished with 86 yards on eight carries including a 50-yard run straight up the middle early in the fourth quarter.

Junior quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) excelled in the air, completing 13-of-20 attempts for 231 yards and four passing touchdowns. All four TD's in the air were pulled in by different players with Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) opening the game up with a 36-yard grab for a touchdown on the Chargers second drive. Courtney Moshood (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto), Jonathan Badyna (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) and Devin Martin (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) all joined Headen with touchdown receptions. All four touchdown receptions were completions of more than 20 yards with the longest of the day a 62-yard pass to Moshood early in the second quarter that put the Chargers ahead 28-0.

New Haven's defense was on the prowl right out of the gates, not allowing a LIU Post first down on the first four drives, with two of those drives ending in a loss of 11 total yards. Overall, the Pioneers either punted or turned the ball over on down on their first eight drives before allowing a field goal as time expired in the first half.

Individually, the Chargers defense was led by sophomore Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS) who finished with 14 total tackles, seven of which were solo stops. Finishing just behind him was senior linebacker Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) who finished with 13 tackles. The Chargers also sacked LIU Post's Jeff Kidd three times and picked off a pair of Pioneer passes with Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) grabbing both of those interceptions.

FIRST QUARTER NOTES

·           After a three-and-out in the opening possession, the Chargers offense responded by marching 74 yards in under three minutes capped off by a 36-yard completion to Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) to put New Haven on the board first. Just prior to that pass, junior quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) completed a 20-yard pass to junior running back Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) who took the screen pass and kept running for the big gain.

·           Defensively, New Haven held LIU Post without a first down on its first four possession, allowing New Haven to take a 21-0 lead early in the afternoon contest. New Haven's second touchdown completed a 68-yard drive that took just over 3:30 with the score coming on a 15-yard run from Trevor Officer (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury). That scoring play followed back-to-back passes from Patterson to Headen (16 yards) and Henry Adegunle (Rockaway, N.Y./Channel View) (11 yards) as well as an 11-yard QB keeper.

·           On its fourth drive of the game, New Haven took advantage of a short punt by the Pioneers that started the drive on the 30 yard line. Patterson would complete, which lasted just 43 seconds, the drive with a completion to tight end Devin Martin (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville).

·           Overall, New Haven finished with 122 yards in the air on eight catches and 56 yards on the ground as they erupted for an early three touchdown advantage.

·           Defensively, Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS) finished the opening quarter with six total tackles, followed by Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) who chipped in four and Matt Zakrzewski (Traverse City, Mich./Saint Francis / Indiana) and Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) who each added three.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

·           New Haven kept the pressure on in the second quarter, scoring on its first drive. Beginning the drive on their own 35, the Chargers used just four plays to extend their lead to 28-0. Following a pair of runs by Trevor Officer (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) that totaled 17 yards, Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) aired out a pass that Courtney Moshood (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto) pulled in for the score.

·           The Chargers struck once more in the second quarter with a five-play, 55-yard drive that concluded with an eight yard run by Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse). Anderson finished the drive with all but eight of the 55-yards as he carried the ball four straight times, the longest of which was a 27-yard dash.

·           The majority of the New Haven offense in the second quarter came on the run as Officer and Anderson led the way with 83 and 67 yards, respectively. Officer's 83 yards came on eight carries and Anderson carried the ball five times. Patterson attempted just three passes, completing two, with the 62-yard touchdown to Moshood leading the way.

·           Defensively, Matt Zakrzewski (Traverse City, Mich./Saint Francis / Indiana) led the Chargers with four tackles. Three other players finished with three tackles including a sack by Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) that resulted in a four-yard loss.

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

·           Receiving the ball to open the second half, the Chargers didn't let the break get in the way, marching down the field for a six-play, 68 yard drive that ended with a 34-yard touchdown run by Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) as he broke free from a low tackles and scored. Prior to Anderson's run, a 10-yard completion to DeeJay White (Brooklyn, N.Y./Sheepshead Bay / Bowling Green State University) and a 20-yard rush from Officer helped set up the scoring play.

·           Pm the ensuing LIU Post drive, the defense also proved the break didn't affect them as Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) picked off the first of two passes, running this one back 24-yards.

·           The highlight of the third quarter came with 4:57 remaining when Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) found a hole and ran back a Pioneer kickoff 90 yards for his third touchdown of the afternoon. The Chargers defense answered with the second Clements interception, which led to a 20-yard pass to Jonathan Badyna (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) for his first score of the season.

·           In addition to Clements two interceptions, he ended the third with three tackles, two shy of Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS)'s team-leading five tackles. Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) also joined in the action with four stops.

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

·           The Chargers didn't let up in the fourth quarter as Justen Wilson (Hamden, Conn./Hyde Leadership) capped off a seven-play 83 yard drive with a 50-yard dash straight through the middle of the Pioneers line for his first career touchdown. Later in the fourth, Wilson would pick up six more rushes as he closed out the quarter with 86 total yards.

·           Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) joined Wilson in leading the fourth quarter rushing efforts as he finished with 25 yards on five carries. Shazzon Mumphrey (Louisville, Ky./Waggener) took over behind center for New Haven, completing the one pass he attempted, an 11-yard pick up to Courtney Moshood (Miami, Fla./Miami Palmetto).

·           Defensively, Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and Ari Nwobi (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) led New Haven in the final period, each finishing with three tackles.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·           The 63 points, the 401 rushing yards and the 643 total yards are all the most by New Haven since a 70-26 rout of Saint Anselm on September 20, 2013.

·           Defensively, the two interceptions for Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) is the second time this season a Chargers has picked off a pair of passes in the same game – Nigel Davis (Williamsville, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute) against Slippery Rock. In addition all seven of New Haven's interceptions in 2015 have come on DellaCamera Stadium.

·           The four touchdown passes for Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) was not only a career-high for him but the first time a Charger has thrown three or more since Joey Bradley (Issaquah, Wash./Issaquah / University of North Dakota) finished with four last season against Saint Anselm.

·           The 90-yard kickoff return for Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) is the first time a Charger has run back a kickoff since Mike DeCaro did against LIU Post on September 28, 2013.

TWEETABLES (140 characters or less)

·           The Chargers offense lit up for 643 total yards, including an impressive 401 rushing yards and 7 TD's, 3 on the ground and 4 in the air.

·           Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse), the CT National Guard Player of the Game, finished with 128 yards and three touchdowns, including a 90-yard run back.

·           JR QB Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) finished with 243 yards and a career-high 4 TD's, the most since Joey Bradley (Issaquah, Wash./Issaquah / University of North Dakota)'s four last season vs St. A's.

·           Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) finished with a pair of Pioneer pickoffs, the second time this season a Charger has finished with a pair of interceptions.

UP NEXT
The Chargers close out their six-game regular season home schedule with a visit from the Pace University Setters on Halloween, October 31. Kick off in the Senior Day match-up is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at DellaCamera Stadium. Complete coverage of Charger football can be found at www.NewHavenChargers.com.