NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven offense came up big on fourth down against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State University, converting all three of their fourth down attempts into scoring plays as the Chargers posted their ninth straight victory over the Owls, 31-17. Overall, the Blue and Gold has secured the Elm City Cup for eight straight seasons.

Leading the Chargers on the night was sophomore running back Ryan McCarthy (Montclair, N.J./Bergen Catholic) who finished with a career-high 140 yards on 24 carries. He also rushed for one of the Chargers touchdowns. Joining him in the running game was graduate transfer Greg Orekoya (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) who gained 70 yards on 16 carries.

Senior quarterback Ajee Patterson (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) finished his night with 137 yards, completing 13 of his 23 pass attempts. He would throw a pair of TD passes, while also scoring on a keeper. All three of Patterson's touchdowns came on fourth down plays. Patterson's primary target downfield was senior Devin Martin (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) who pulled in six catches for 67 yards and a TD. Justin White (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) secure the other touchdown catch for the Blue and Gold.

Defensively, the Chargers were led for the second straight game by freshman Javeon Ensley (Plainfield, N.J./Hudson Catholic) who upped his career-high to 10 tackles, including six solo stops. Nicholas Sutton (Pennsville, N.J.) and CJ Fitzpatrick followed with nine and eight tackles respectively, while Jordan Franckllin and Stefano Bicknese (Somers, N.Y./Somers / USMAPS) each chipped in seven tackles. Bicknese also added his first pick of the season, returning it 15 yards to set the Chargers offense up inside of Owls territory. New Haven would turn that interception into a Chargers touchdown.

HOW THE CHARGERS SCORED

·        New Haven marched the opening drive of the game 73 yards to score the first touchdown of the night as Patterson capped off the drive with a fourth-and-goal completion to the corner of the end zone, finding Justin White (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) for the score. JoJo Robinson (Edgewater, N.J./Leonia) put the Chargers in great position to start the drive running back the opening kickoff 25 yards. Following that runback, the New Haven offense split the 73 yards evenly with 32 yards coming in the running game, 25 of which from Ryan McCarthy (Montclair, N.J./Bergen Catholic). After a two-yard gain from McCarthy put the Blue and Gold on the one yard line on fourth down, Patterson converted the attempt, finding white in the corner. Overall, the scoring drive lasted 15 plays, a season-high for New Haven.

·        On the Chargers final drive of the half, the Blue and Gold mustered three more points to take a 10-3 lead into the locker room at the break. Devin Martin (Staten Island, N.Y./Tottenville) gave the Chargers great field position when he returned the Owls punt 11 yards to the Southern 41 yard line. Just four plays later, the Chargers were inside the red zone before Danny Stock (North Massapequa, N.Y./Plainedge / Buffalo State) was called into action. The senior kicker drilled the 31-yard straight down the middle, setting a new season-long distance.

·        After the Owls tied the game at 10 on their second drive of the third quarter, New Haven answered with their second fourth-and-goal touchdown of the night, this time with Patterson converting on the quarterback keeper. The story of the drive for New Haven was long yardage as the Blue and Gold converted three plays for 20 or more yards. The first of those plays was the only that came in the air as Patterson found Rodgers for a 26-yard pickup. The final two big pickups for the Chargers came from McCarthy as he ran 29 and 24 yards on the drive.

·        On the very next drive it was the Chargers defense that came up big as Bicknese picked off an Owls pass, returning it 15 yards to set up New Haven in SCSU territory. The Chargers offense quickly turned that pick into a touchdown, with the first two plays of the drive a 13 yard rush for McCarthy and a 17-yard reception from Martin. Those two plays led to back-to-back carries from McCarthy with the second a five-yard touchdown run, straight up the middle of the line.

·        The Chargers would put one more touchdown on the board, again scoring on a fourth down attempt. This time, New Haven needed six yards to extend the drive, but Patterson had a better idea as he found Martin in the middle of the field. He broke free from the tackle and ran straight up the middle to give the Chargers a 31-17 margin.

UP NEXT
For the first time in NE10 play, all teams will enjoy a uniform bye week on October 7 as the Chargers will not return to the gridiron until October 14 when they host the Stonehill Skyhawks for Homecoming at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium. Kickoff against the Skyhawks is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.