PHOTO GALLERY

WEST HAVEN, Conn. The frustration level grew with each step the leaders of the proud University of New Haven defensive squad took off the blue turf at Ralph F. DellaCamera Stadium at the midway point of Saturday's homecoming game.

Visiting Saint Anselm's touchdown with three seconds left in the second quarter put many of the Chargers' defensive leaders in a bit of a surly mood as they headed to the locker room at halftime. It is safe to say that the emotions changed just a bit by the time the third quarter came to an end. 

Khyon Fitzpatrick (Union, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and Christian Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) each returned interceptions for touchdowns in the final minute of the third quarter as New Haven rolled to a 56-7 victory before a crowd of 3,746 to join Bentley as the only other team undefeated in Northeast-10 Conference play.

"We knew that they were going to come out and throw the ball a lot so we've been catching the ball in practice," said Fitzpatrick, who had a leaping interception nullified by a New Haven penalty. "We knew we had to make some plays and change the game. The D line, they were getting back there but there were so many quick passes, we knew that the game was going to be up to us today.

"They didn't count my first one so I had to make this one count. It will be good for the defense coming out of a game like this scoring touchdowns and giving the ball to our offense plenty of times for them to score so going into the next game, I think we are going to come in with a lot of confidence and keep executing the game plan."

If Fitzpatrick's other interception had counted, New Haven would have tied the Northeast-10 Conference record with seven interceptions in a game. Still, a six-interception game is nothing to apologize for especially considering that UNH (4-1, 3-0 in the NE10) came into the game with two interceptions in the first four games of the season.

Ais, a freshman from Stoughton, Mass., added another interception and was credited with a pass breakup on an interception in the end zone by Jordan Robinson (Waterbury, Conn./Cheshire Academy).

"For the first two we were all hyped up because we knew that they were going to throw the ball because from the film, they threw the ball 50-60 times a game," Ais said. "Our coaches really emphasized just being in coverage and making sure the ball didn't get deep."

The Chargers start two seniors and two juniors in the secondary but that hasn't stopped Ais from making an impact.

"They were just telling me that my time was going to come, just be patient," Ais said. "When I go out on the field, I know I can step up, I had to make my mark."

He was not alone. His twin brother Christopher took over the ball-carrying duties in the fourth quarter and led the Chargers with 74 rushing yards including a 15-yard touchdown with 5:47 left to play.

"I think they are both tremendous players'" New Haven coach Chris Pincince said. "They are learning, they are getting better. Christopher there carrying the ball, we felt he has going to have more of a role as the year went on, he got injured, came back, and is a good football player. His brother obviously scored first in the secondary. They are two wonderful kids, come from a great family and we are lucky to have them here."

New Haven quarterback Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) had a hand in the Chargers' first five scores with three touchdown passes and two short scoring runs.

Degenhardt completed four passes, two to Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy), on New Haven's first offensive possession. Degenhardt capped the drive with a 1-yard scoring run.

Degenhardt added another 1-yard scoring run on a drive set up by Ryan Dolce's (Union, N.J./Union) interception. Dolce appeared to be returning the interception for a touchdown but was whistled for a taunting penalty as he approached the end zone. Faced with a 4-and-1 at the 8, Degenhardt connected with Cole Modestow (Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug) to give the Chargers the first down at the 1. Degenhardt scored on the next play.

New Haven added one more scoring drive in the first half aided by a targeting penalty on Taylor Pawelkoski on a play when Degenhardt was being tackled behind the line of scrimmage. UNH scored when Holmes snared a pass, skipped through a tackle at the 15, and raced in for the 28-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 with 1:13 left in the first half.

Saint Anselm quarterback Drew Willoughby completed four consecutive passes to drive the Hawks to the UNH 15. Willoughby connected with Bobby Long on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 3 seconds left in the second quarter.

Any thoughts that Saint Anselm headed into the second half with momentum ended thanks to the Chargers eating up more than 10 minutes on its first drive of the third quarter. Degenhardt completed a pair of fourth-down passes, the first went to Kasi Hazzard (Hillside, N.J./Edison) for 10 yards, the second resulted in a 2-yard touchdown by Zach Mauro (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug).

"It was a great tone setter for the rest of the game," said Degenhardt, who threw for 199 yards and ran for another 21. "We've been talking a lot as an offense how we have to put long drives together and sustain drives, play catch and make easy plays and run the ball well, that is definitely what we did in that drive. I think it definitely set the tone and I didn't even know it was that long until I got into the end zone and looked up and say that there were only four minutes left in the quarter. That was a great feeling and I think our defense really appreciated it. It kept them off the field for a little bit."

The next scoring drive by the Chargers was significantly shorter in possession time. A blocked punt by Tariq Felton (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) gave the Chargers the ball in Saint Anselm territory. On the next play, Degenhardt connected with Kevin Foelsch (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) for a 38-yard touchdown. A key to the play was running back Shamar Logan (Brooklyn, N.Y./Erasmus Hall High School) throwing a key block as one of the Saint Anselm players appeared ready to unload on Degenhardt. Logan's block gave the UNH quarterback enough time to find his tight end open down the field.

"That was awesome," Degenhardt said. "That is the thing that people don't realize about Shamar, he is great running the ball and he is a super tough kid but every Sunday he shows up on the film in pass protection whether it was the one we saw today or the one against Southern Connecticut when he picks up a corner blitz. It is stuff that a lot of people aren't going to see but it is something that he takes real pride in."

Holmes led the Chargers with 79 yards on five receptions, Shawn Tafe (Bronx, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) also had an interception and Hunter Addison (Baltimore, Md./Lansdowne) had two tackles for loss for New Haven which limited the Hawks to less than 10 yards on six of their 13 offensive possessions.

The dominating win capped a memorable day for the Chargers. It started with groundbreaking on the Peterson Performance Center and ended with UNH football alumni waiting to celebrate with the current squad as they headed off the field after New Haven's third straight win.

"It is a great feeling," Degenhardt said. "We can enjoy it a lot more now that we took care of business and got the win. Something that I love about this place is how much the alumni support us coming back to the game. It is great having people show up and care about the team. It is homecoming, everybody supports us and gets behind us. I love playing on the Blue [turf], it is a great environment and I wish we could be home every week."

New Haven will play its next two games on the road before returning to DellaCamera Stadium to face Assumption, which has one lost once in conference play, on Oct. 30.