WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven football team (7-4, 6-3 NE-10) matched its win total from a year ago, defeating the Southern Connecticut State University Owls for the eighth straight time, 26-24, to close out the 2016 season. Leading the Chargers on the day was graduate tight end Jesse Tate (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North / Elon) who finished with three catches for 29 yards, two of which went for New Haven touchdowns.

In addition to a Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) rushing touchdown, defensive back Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) picked off a Ray Catapano pass in the first quarter and returned it 41 yards for his first career touchdown, the Army ROTC Play of the Game, the first pick-six of the season for the Blue and Gold.

Quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) closed out his sophomore season connecting on 16-of-21 pass attempts for a 76 percent completion average. Overall, Patterson threw for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His primary target was senior Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) who completed six catches for 83 yards, including the longest of the day, a 32 yard pick up.

On the ground, the Chargers relied on two backs with Thomas leading the team with 80 yards on 21 carries. Chris Liggio (Mount Laurel, N.J./Holy Cross) followed him with 34 net yards on 11 attempts.

Defensively, New Haven was led by senior linebacker Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) who capped of his school record career with 13 tackles against the Owls. He also finished with 1.5 sacks for 14 yards lost. Dean Tsopanides (Orange, Conn./Torrington / Iowa) followed Condit with 12 tackles, including a sack for eight yards. In addition to his interception, Clements finished the day with four tackles and a key pass breakup in the end zone on a third and long for the Owls.   

SCORING

·         12:57 1st – UNH Clements 41-yd interception return (Stock kick failed) – Score: 6-0

·         11:31 2nd – UNH Tate 2-yd pass from Patterson (Stock kick) – Drive: 8 plays, 33 yards, 4:04 – Score: 13-0

·         00:18 2nd – SCS Parks 1-yd run (Rice kick) – Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards, 3:38 – Score: 13-7

·         10:28 3rd – SCS Fowler 9-yd run (Rice kick) – Drive: 6 plays, 34 yards, 3:04 – Score 13-14

·         05:13 3rd – UNH Thomas 1-yd run (Stock kick failed) – Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 5:09 – Score: 19-14

·         14:50 4th – SCS Rice 25-yd field goal – Drive: 12 plays, 52 yards, 5:14 – Score: 19-17

·         11:39 4th – UNH Tate 3-yd pass from Patterson (Stock kick) – Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 3:04 – Score 26-17

·         01:53 4th – SCS Catapano 1-yd run (Rice kick) – Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 3:26 – Score: 26-24

STATISTICAL LEADERS

·         Quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) completed a career-best 72 percent of his passes on the day, converting 16-of-21 attempts for 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

·         Both of Patterson's touchdown passes were hauled in by tight end Jesse Tate (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North / Elon) who finished the day with three catches for 29 yards.

·         Patterson's primary target on the day was senior wide receiver Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) who finished with six catches for 83 yards, including the longest catch of the day which netted 32 yards.

·         New Haven relied on a pair of running backs on the day with Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) leading the way with 80 yards on 21 carries. Chris Liggio (Mount Laurel, N.J./Holy Cross) followed with 34 net yards on 11 attempts.

·         Defensively, New Haven was led by captains Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and Dean Tsopanides (Orange, Conn./Torrington / Iowa) who finished with 13 and 12 tackles, respectively. The pair also combined for 2.5 sacks that drove the Owls back a total of 22 yards.

·         Junior defensive back Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) had the biggest impact defensively when he returned the Chargers only interception for a touchdown in the first quarter, the Army ROTC Play of the Game, breaking multiple tackles for the 41 yard return.  

HIGHLIGHTS

·         New Haven quickly turned the momentum in the first quarter when Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy) stepped in to pick off a Ray Catapano pass on the opening drive of the game, breaking multiple tackles and crossing the goal line 41 yards later for the Blue and Golds first interception returned for a touchdown this season.

·         The Chargers expanded their lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter when Jesse Tate (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North / Elon) dove for his first touchdown of the day, a two yard pick up.

·         Facing its first deficit of the game in the middle of the third quarter, Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) capped off a 12 play, 65 yard drive with a one-yard run on first ten following a pass interference call in the end zone against the Owls.

·         Tate struck again, this time a three-yard diving catch in the back corner of the end zone that provided a two-score lead in favor of the Chargers, 26-17.

·         After giving up a Southern touchdown late in the fourth, New Haven secured the victory after recovering the onside kick attempt and converting one last first down on back-to-back runs by Thomas.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·         Mark Clements (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest / Worcester Academy)' 41 yard touchdown return in the first quarter was the first time New Haven returned an interception for a TD since September 1, 2012 when Tom Herd did against Merrimack.

·         Tyler Condit (Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) capped off his career with 452 tackles, 30 more than the previous school record holder Erik Lesinski who finished with 422 (1984-87).

·         The win over Southern Connecticut is the eighth straight over the Owls and the 21st in the last 24 meetings against the crosstown rival.