BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The University of New Haven football team dropped its Northeast-10 Conference opener at LILU Post 43-20 on Saturday afternoon. The Chargers used 17 unanswered points that spanned the second and third quarters to pull within two points before allowing 21 unanswered points to the Pioneers. New Haven falls to 0-2 on the season, while the Pioneers improve to 2-0.

Leading the Chargers on the day was senior quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) who finished with 187 yards on 17 completions in 30 attempts. He threw a pair of touchdowns, connecting with Henry Adegunle (Rockaway, N.Y./Channel View) and Rishawn Harris (Springfield, Mass./Putnam Vocational Technical Academy), including a 45-yard completion to Adegunle as time expired in the first half to pull within 22-17 at the intermission.

Senior running back Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) led the Chargers on the ground with 74 yards on 14 carries, while Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) added 64 yards on 11 attempts.

Defensively, the Chargers were led by Nigel Davis (Williamsville, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute) and Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS) who finished with 13 and 12 tackles, respectively. Both finished with seven solo stops, while Bicknese led the defense with a pair of tackles that resulted in losses for the Pioneers.

SCORING

·         9:26 1st – LIU – Higgins 26-yd pass from Kidd (Brennan rush for 2-pt conversion good) – Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 5:34 – Score 0-8

·         5:32 1st – UNH – Stock 28-yd field goal – Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 3:49 – Score 3-8

·         9:31 2nd – LIU – Higgins 9-yd pass from Kidd (Tolgyesi kick) – Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 4:41 – Score 3-15

·         6:04 2nd – LIU – Pierre 32-yd pass from Kidd (Tolgyesi kick) – Drive: 3 plays, 74 yards, 1:06 – Score: 3-22

·         2:18 2nd – UNH – Harris 7-yd pass from Patterson (Stock kick) – Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:46 – Score: 10-22

·         0:00 2nd – UNH – Adegunle 45-yd pass from Patterson (Stock kick) – Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 0:23 – Score: 17-22

·         11:01 3rd – UNH – Stock 25-yd field goal – Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 3:59 – Score 20-22

·         6:45 3rd – LIU – Kidd 1-yd run (Tolgyesi kick) – Drive: 9 play, 66 yards, 4:10 – Score 20-29

·         0:03 3rd – LIU – Hubbard 14-yd pass from Kidd (Tolgyesi kick) – Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 3:24 – Score: 20-36

·         7:59 4th – LIU – White 15-yd run (Tolgyesi kick) – Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 4:14 – Score: 20-43

STATISTICAL LEADERS

·         Senior quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) led the Chargers offense completing 17-of-30 passes for 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

·         For Patterson's two TD passes he connected with Henry Adegunle (Rockaway, N.Y./Channel View) and Rishawn Harris (Springfield, Mass./Putnam Vocational Technical Academy). Overall Adegunle finished with 57 yards on four catches, including a 45-yard completion as time expired at the end of the first half. Harris finished with 18 yards on two catches.  

·         Senior captain Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History) led the Chargers receiving corps making six catches for 87 total yards.

·         The ground attack was led by senior Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) who finished with 74 yards on 14 attempts. Lemar Thomas (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack) finished just behind him with 64 yards on 11 carries.

·         Freshman Ryan McCarthy (Montclair, N.J./Bergen Catholic) closed out his first collegiate game with 21 yards which came on seven attempts.

·         Defensively, Nigel Davis (Williamsville, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute) led the Chargers with 13 total tackles, seven solo stops and six assisted tackles. He was joined in double figures by Stefano Bickenese who finished with 12 tackles, including seven solo stops.

·         Bicknese also led the Chargers with two, of nine total for the team, tackles for loss, while Ari Nwobi (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty / Temple) added a sack that resulted in eight yards lost.

HIGHLIGHTS

·         Junior Danny Stock (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge / Buffalo State) opened the scoring for the Chargers with a 28-yard field goal on UNH's first drive of the afternoon. The field goal for Stock was his first of the season.

·         The Chargers would then score twice in the final 2:18, both thanks to Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) passes. The first of those came on a 10 play drive that took up 3:46 as the Blue and Gold marched 75 yards with Patterson connecting with Rishawn Harris (Springfield, Mass./Putnam Vocational Technical Academy) for a seven yard completion to cap it off.

·         Getting the ball back with 28 seconds remaining in the half, the Chargers converted a pair of quick first downs to set up a third and two situation with six seconds remaining. With plenty of time to work with, Patterson aired out a pass to the left corner of the end zone where Henry Adegunle (Rockaway, N.Y./Channel View) made a leaping catch as time expired.

·         The Chargers would open up the second half with Stock's second field goal of the day, a 25 yarder that made it a two point game.

·         LIU Post answered by scoring the final 21 points of the game and holding the Chargers scoreless over the final 26 minutes.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

·         With his 74 yards on the ground against LIU Post, Andre Anderson (New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) moved into sixth place on the all-time rushing yards list, passing Don Highsmith. Anderson now needs 144 yards to pass Dawud Hanif to move into fifth all-time.

·         Ty Headen (Newark, N.J./American History)'s 87 yards in the air pull him closer to passing Greg Ortman for 11th on the all-time receiving yards list. He will enter week three needing just 21 yards to move up the list.

·         With his two field goals against the Pioneers, junior kicker Danny Stock (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge / Buffalo State) is now tied for 10th on the career field goals list with nine total.

·         Stock also inched closer to the career PAT made top 10 with the two against LIU Post giving him 43 for his career, one shy of tying Anthony Greenfield and Lars Anderson for 10th all-time.

NEXT ON TAP
The Chargers make their first appearance at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium on Saturday, September 17 when they host the Saint Anselm Hawks. Kick off in the home opener is slated for 1:00 p.m. The game also serves as Football Alumni Day.