WALTHAM, Mass. – The University of New Haven football team gained over 500 yards in total offense, but dropped a 27-24 overtime decision in its final road game of the 2017 season at Bentley. Leading the Chargers on the day was junior wide receiver Justin White (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) who finished his fifth game of the season with 100-plus yards.

White was one of six targets for senior quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) who completed 70 percent of his 35 pass attempts. Overall, Patterson finished with 319 passing yards, 138 of which fell to White who completed 10 passes on the day. Joining White on the receiving end was Damon Rodgers (Charlotte, N.C./Cheshire Academy) and Collin Hill (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) who each hauled in five passes for 93 and 39 yards, respectively.

On the ground, freshman Zach Mauro (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug) earned the start in the backfield, closing out the day with 53 yards on 16 attempts, not losing a single yard in the ground game. Leading the Chargers ground assault all together was the QB Patterson who finished with 68 net yards on 17 attempts. Greg Orekoya (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) joined the leaders with 59 yards on nine carries, also without losing a yard.

All three of the Chargers touchdowns came in the running game with Patterson, Orekoya and Devin Martin (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) all scoring. Senior kicker Danny Stock (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge / Buffalo State) finished his day with a season-long field goal of 39 yards which sent the Blue and Gold into the locker room at the intermission tied at 17.

Defensively, New Haven was led by junior defensive back Jordan Francklin (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross) who finished with 10 tackles, eight of which were solo stops. Included in his 10 total tackles were three that resulted in 19 yards lost for the Falcons, with one of those TFL a sack that drove the Bentley line of scrimmage back 11 yards.

Joining Francklin in leading the Chargers defensively was Nicholas Sutton (Pennsville, N.J.) with eight tackles and Nigel Davis (Williamsville, N.Y./Saint Joseph's Collegiate Institute) and Scott Lavelle (West Milford, N.J./DePaul Catholic) who each finished with seven. Overall, New Haven combined for six sacks, the second week in a row with six or more. Those six sacks resulted in 43 yards lost by Bentley.

HOW THE CHARGERS SCORED

·         New Haven got on the board first in the final few minutes of the opening quarter when Patterson capped off the first trip in the Red Zone with a 16-yard run that capped off a 96-yard drive. Mile Pease set up the scoring drive for the Chargers when he intercepted a Falcons pass at the four yard line as Bentley looked poised to put a tally on the board. Overall, Patterson was the bulk of the drive for New Haven as he completed three passes and rushed five times, including two for 10-plus yards.

·         After back-to-back scores by the Falcons, New haven answered with just under six minutes to play in the opening half as Orekoya capped off a seven-play, 83-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown, his third of the season. After forcing the Falcons into a three-and-out, New Haven started at its own 17 yard line with Patterson picking up the bulk of the yardage in the air with a pair of completions to White for 30 and 22 yards. The second of those passes set New Haven up inside the 10-yard line where Orekoya capped off the drive with back-to-back rushes.

·         The Chargers closed out the opening half by matching a Bentley field goal with one from Stock, which came from a season-high distance of 39-yards. With less than 60 seconds remaining before the end of the half, New Haven cleared 44 yards before Stock's attempt. The drive started with CJ Anderson (Media, PA/Pencrest) returning the Falcons kickoff 25 yards, putting the Chargers at their own 34 yard line. Prior to Stock's drive, Patterson completed three passes, the most important of which was a 27-yard connection with Rodgers that put the Blue and Gold at the Falcons 22 yard line.

·         Following a scoreless third quarter by either team, New Haven broke the stalemate in with 10 minutes left in the fourth when Martin capped off a 45-yard drive with a one-yard run that resulted in a 24-17 lead. The Chargers began the drive with great field position after the Falcons punt traveled just 28 yards, setting New Haven up at the Bentley 45 yard line. This time around, Mauro would be the workhorse for New Haven, gaining 22 yards on four carries. The other big play in the drive was a 22-yard completion to Rodgers, which initially set the Chargers up inside the Red Zone.

UP NEXT
The Chargers return to West Haven as they close out the 2017 season hosting Merrimack for Senior Day at DellaCamera Stadium. Be sure to arrive early as prior to the scheduled 1:00 p.m. kickoff, the Chargers will honors 10 players who will play their final game with the Blue and Gold.