Dynamic pass rushers, run-stuffing interior lineman, hard-hitting linebackers and rangy safeties were all returning for the 2021 season but the one question and potential roadblock standing between the University of New Haven's place as one of the top defenses in the Northeast-10 was going to rest on the play of the cornerbacks.

Ryan Dolce (Union, N.J./Union) came to New Haven as safety while Isaac Etienne (Winterhaven, Fla./Auburndale) transferred in from Florida Atlantic. It wasn't known who quickly freshmen Christian Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) and Giye Jenkins (West Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) would adapt to the speed of the game at the college level.

Ten wins, countless huge defensive plays later and there are no more questions about the cornerback position except how many hands they will get their hands on when the Chargers head down to play Kutztown in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

"Both of those kids, all four of our guys who are playing corners are great examples of getting better every single week," New Haven coach Chris Pincince said. "We didn't know what we had with those four guys when we walked in the door during camp. Ryan and Isaac have certainly set themselves apart as being great players, Chris will come along and be very good."

Some defenses will protect cornerbacks with a variety of zone defenses asking safeties or linebackers to help out in coverage. That doesn't happen very often with the Chargers. Make no mistake, the rapid development of the cornerbacks has played a pivotal role in the Chargers' success this season.

"It lets our interior guys up front, then our linebackers and safeties really concentrate on trying to make teams one dimensional," Pincince said. "When they throw the football Ryan, Ike and Chris have certainly done a great job when the ball has been thrown on them this year."

Dolce and Etienne knew very little about each other when fall camp started.

Dolce, who hails from Union, N.J. and started his collegiate career at Gannon, and Etienne, who grew up in Winter Haven, Florida, quickly discovered that they shared more than just a position and a love for locking down game-breaking receivers.

"We really got close when we found out we both were Haitian, that was when we linked up and we became like brothers," said Etienne, who was born in Haiti. "We worked with each other, worked to get each other better and motivated each other."

Dolce wasn't born in Haiti but many of his family members were. It didn't take long for him to become fast friends with his fellow starting cornerback.

"Once you find out somebody is Haitian, the same type of culture that you are, it is just really big," Dolce said. "We kind of bleed differently and have different mentalities.

"I think being Haitian and being a corner, that just brings the dog [mentality] and that confidence. I didn't know too much about him, he was actually in the second practice [group] and he just moved up. He's a quiet guy, real humble and we play the same position so we became close "

New Haven is tied for fifth among Division II teams with 18 interceptions.

The Chargers didn't have an interception in the first two games of the season but have five games with at least two including six in a win over Saint Anselm.

"I think Coach [Defensive Coordinator Matt} Scott at the beginning of the season, the first game we didn't have any turnovers and Coach Scott was like, 'come on.' He pushed us and told us that we could really have turnovers and we could make it happen and after that, the ball started rolling and everybody started getting one. Every game it seemed like turnover, turnover, turnover and that is just the mentality now."

Etienne has two interceptions and Dolce one and they have also combined for five pass breakups.

Kutztown (10-1, ranked 12th in the American Football Coaches Association) runs the ball twice as often as it throws it. Quarterback Eric Nickel leads the team with 97 rushing attempts and 11 touchdown runs so one of the challenges for the ball-hawking secondary is to not peek into the backfield and abandon their coverage responsibilities.

"We have to concentrate so much on the running game with the two running backs and the quarterback that we are going to leave those corners out there a little bit and they are going to do their jobs," Pincince said. "They know that they have to be perfect. Defensive backs and corners in particular, every single play could be the most important play of the game so hopefully they are preparing that way and we will see on Saturday.

"It is probably the toughest position to play on the football field, physically it is the most demanding, I am going to play 1 on 1, I am going to be a tackler on the perimeter, I am going to make plays in the pass game and having a short memory too. You can make 50-60 great plays over the course of a game but if we screw one of those things up, that is what the people are going to remember. It takes a special kid to be able to line up there. I think both of those guys have gotten better over the course of the season, we are lucky to have them now and lucky to have them in the future as well."

New Haven (10-1, No. 18 in the AFCA poll) is one of three New England teams in the college playoffs. Sacred Heart and Holy Cross will meet on Saturday in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

"It was my first game on Thanksgiving," Dolce said. "I am embracing the moment and feeling good still working out on the field and still playing football."

This will not be an easy test for the Chargers but with a spot in the Division II quarterfinals, the Chargers plan on doing their due diligence to give themselves every chance to win.

"Going into the playoffs, every team is worthy of it so we can't be going in underestimating anybody but stopping the run is the first thing and the big plays go through us so our job as corners or safeties, we have some of the best players in the league," Etienne said. "If we stop that, contain that, hopefully we can come out with a win."

The Kutztown/New Haven winner will play the winner of the Shepherd/Notre Dame (Ohio) game in the Division II quarterfinals.

"We are certainly not ready for it to end," Pincince said. "It was exciting to make the postseason, it was exciting to get one [postseason] win, we just want to keep playing football. I keep telling these guys to take advantage of every single opportunity and I think we are going to do that this weekend."