SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Senior linebacker Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) broke a pair of records on Saturday as he led the University of New Haven football team (5-4, 5-3 NE-10) to a 35-0 shutout of the AIC Yellow Jackets at Abdow Field. With his second tackle of the game, Condit became the All-Time tackler in the NE-10, while later in the third quarter, be broke the New Haven program record for career tackles, passing Erik Lesinski (1984-87) who finished with 422.

Leading the Chargers offensively against AIC was quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) who threw for 144 yards, completing 14 of his 23 attempts. He also threw a pair of touchdowns, including a 25-yard pass to Rishawn Harris (Springfield, Mass./Putnam Vocational Technical Academy). Patterson's longest pass of the day, 30 yards, also went to Harris and was part of a Chargers scoring drive.

On the ground, New Haven combined for 134 yards led by Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) who collected 57 total yards on 17 carries and twice crossed the goal line. Ryan McCarthy (Montclair, N.J./Bergen Catholic) followed him with 44 yards on 14 attempts.

Harris closed out the day with three catches for 55 total yards, tied with Devin Martin (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) for the team lead in receptions. Martin finished with 19 yards. Just behind them was McCarthy and Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) who each finished with two catches for 27 and 23 yards, respectively.

Defensively, Condit led the Blue and Gold, finishing with 11 tackles, the only Charger in the game in double figures. Following him in leading the way was C.J. Fitzpatrick (Pearl River, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional) who finished with eight total tackles. Also among the defensive leaders was Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS) who returned a blocked punt 11 yards for a Chargers touchdown, with Markel Johnson (Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln) credited with the block.

SCORING

·         0:34 1st – UNH Thomas 3-yd run (Stock kick) – Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 2:42 – Score: 7-0

·         10:12 2nd – UNH Tate 3-yd pass from Patterson (Stock kick) – Drive: 7 plays, 45 yards, 3:42 – Score: 14-0

·         5:41 2nd – UNH Bicknese 11-yd blocked punt return (Stock kick) – Score: 21-0

·         1:14 2nd – UNH Thomas 13-yd run (Stock kick) – Drive: 6 plays, 60 yards, 2:46 – Score: 28-0

·         12:12 3rd – UNH Harris 25-yd pass from Patterson (Stock kick) – Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards, 1:24 – Score: 35-0

STATISTICAL LEADERS

·         New Haven finished with 278 total yards on offense led by quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) who finished with 144 yards, completing 14 of his 23 pass attempts. He also threw a pair of touchdowns, including a 25-yard score to Rishawn Harris (Springfield, Mass./Putnam Vocational Technical Academy). Patterson's longest pass of the day went for 30 yards, also to Harris.

·         On the ground, New Haven collected 134 total yards led by Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) who finished with 57 yards gained, without a loss, on 17 carries. Joining him in leading the ground efforts was Ryan McCarthy (Montclair, N.J./Bergen Catholic) who finished with 44 yards on 14 carries.

·         Harris' two long catches on the day were part of a team-high three total as he finished with 55 total yards and a touchdown. Joining him with three catches on the afternoon was Devin Martin (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) who finished with 19 yards, while McCarthy and Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) each finished with two catches for 27 and 23 yards, respectively.

·         Defensively, New Haven was led by senior linebacker Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) who finished with 11 tackles, the only Charger in the game in double figures. Joining him in leading the way was C.J. Fitzpatrick (Pearl River, N.Y./Saint Joseph Regional) who finished with eight.

·         As a team, the Blue and Gold defense held American International to just 33 yards on the ground, the second time this season the Chargers have held an opponent under 50 yards.

HIGHLIGHTS

·         After a nearly scoreless first quarter, the Chargers capitalized on good field position starting its fourth drive of the game at the 50 yard line. Just two plays into that drive came the longest play of the series when Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) connected with Rishawn Harris (Springfield, Mass./Putnam Vocational Technical Academy) in the middle for a 30 yard gain. Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) capped off the drive, which took just under three minutes, with his first of two touchdowns on the day, running in from three yards out.  

·         The Chargers would then score three touchdowns in the second quarter, breaking the game open. The first of those came on UNH's first drive of the quarter, marching 45 yards in under four minutes. Capping off the drive was Patterson's first TD throw of the day when he found Jesse Tate (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North / Elon) in the end zone from three yards out.

·         Special teams came through for New Haven's next score when Markel Johnson (Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln) blocked an AIC punt attempt with senior Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS) recovering the blocked punt and returning it 11 yards to give the Blue and Gold a 21-0 lead.

·         Rounding out the first half scoring was Thomas who netted his second tally of the game when he scampered in from 13 yards out to put the Chargers margin at 28-0 going into the halftime break.

·         The final New Haven touchdown came on its first possession of the second half when Patterson connected with Harris for the second passing touchdown of the day, this time from 25 yards out. That drive for the Blue and Gold took just 84 seconds as they took over on the Yellow Jackets 36 yard line.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·         Senior Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) broke a pair of records on Saturday. With his second tackle of the game Condit became the All-Time tackler in Northeast-10 history, while with his 10th of the day, which came in the third quarter, he passed Erik Lesinski (1984-87) to become the All-Time tackler in Charger Nation history. He closed out the game with 11 tackles, which now gives him 424 for his career.

·         With his 144 yards against AIC, quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) broke into the top-10 all-time at New Haven in career passing yards. He now stands in ninth with 4,292 yards and will move into eighth, passing Ken Suhl (1989-92) with 64 more.

·         The shutout for New Haven is the first time they have held an opponent scoreless since November 1, 2014 when they shutout Pace.

·         Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS)'s 11-yd blocked punt return for a touchdown is the first time that New Haven has returned a blocked punt for a score since September 2014 when Nigel Davis (Williamsville, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute) returned one 10 yards against LIU Post.  

·         New Haven has now held two opponents in 2016 with under 50 yards rushing, holding AIC to just 33 on Saturday. Previously, the Chargers held Pace to 29 yards on September 24.

NEXT ON TAP
The Chargers return to DellaCamera Stadium to close out the regular season with a Senior Day game against Bentley. Prior to the game, New Haven will honor 20 Chargers who will don the blue and gold for the final time at DellaCamera. Kick off in the week 10 matchup is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.