GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: November 6, 2021
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LOCATION:Â Ralph. F. DellaCamera Stadium
West Haven, Conn. |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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TODAY'S MATCHUP
This one is for all the marbles! Two undefeated Northeast-10 teams meet today with the winner the presumed Northeast-10 Conference champion as both teams head into the final week of the regular season next weekend. The showdown also pits a pair of nationally ranked programs as Bentley entered the Top-10 for the first time in program history, while the Blue and Gold entered the weekly coaches poll as the No. 24 team in the nation on Monday.Â
SCOUTING THE NEW HAVEN CHARGERS
There wasn't very much defense to get the crowd cheering, but the Charges defense proved they were up to the task on a rainy Saturday last weekend at DellaCamera Stadium as the Chargers continued their undefeated NE10 season with a 16-10 win over Assumption. The highlight of the offense came in the form of 133 yards and a TD from graduate RB Zach Mauro (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug), while the defensive star power came by way of a pair of INT and five tackles from junior DB Khyon Fitzpatrick (Union, N.J./Paramus Catholic). Without rain in the forecast this weekend, it is very likely that the Chargers will look to put its passing game back on the forefront this weekend against Bentley with graduate transfer QB Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) looking to add to his 1,641 passing yards and 14 touchdowns. Degenhardt is also no stranger to the running game as he currently leads the team with nine rushing touchdowns. In addition to his primary target of Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy) (33 catches for 651 yards), Degenhardt has begun to create a rapport with tight end Kevin Foelsh who at 6'4" stands well above much of oppositions defense. Against Stonehill, Degenhardt and Foelsch connected on a pair of TD's, with the duo now partnering up on four total scores. Defensively, New Haven is led by Ryan Hodgins (Flanders, N.J./Mount Olive) and Fitzpatrick with 59 and 45 tackles, respectively. As a team, New Haven has racked up 57 tackles for loss, accumulating 241 loss yards, with the Chargers defense ranked 35th in the nation in tackles for loss (7.1 per game) and 13th in the nation in scoring defense (14.4 points per game allowed).
SCOUTING THE BENTLEY FALCONS
Slowly inching up the national rankings, Bentley entered the top-10 in the AFCA Coaches poll for the first time in the history of its program this week, entering today's game as the ninth ranked team in the nation. Entering the week as one of only four undefeated teams in the nation with an 8-0 record, including a week-one win over West Chester, the Falcons are averaging just shy of 400 total yards on offense. Much of the Falcons offense comes in its running game where they are currently 15th in the nation averaging 220.6 yard per game, while they are also passing for 175.3 yards per outing. They have also split their scores pretty evenly, with 15 rushing TD's and 17 passing TD's, the latter coming from senior QB Stephen Sturm who has connected on 106-of-179 pass attempts. In the run game, a pair of Falcons have amassed more than 500 yards with Nathaniel Larkins (531) and Andrew Brazicki (521) leading the way.
HONOR ROLL
For the second straight week and the fourth time this season, a Charger took home an NE10 weekly honor with graduate running back Zach Mauro (Woodbury, Conn./Nonnewaug) earning Offensive Player of the Week distinction. Mauro led the Chargers on a rainy Saturday at DellaCamera Stadium, racking up 133 rushing yards on 25 carries, including a seven yard touchdown haul that put the Chargers ahead 14-3 early in the third quarter. His longest run of the day went for 15 yards while his offensive line assisted in providing an extra yard or two on a number of occasions. He also played a key role late in the game with the Chargers running the clock down, including securing a couple of late first downs to extend the drive for New Haven.
NATIONALLY NOTICED
For the first time since the final poll following the 2018 season, the New Haven football team is a nationally ranked program, coming in the week nine AFCA Coaches poll 24th, one of two unranked teams to enter the this week's edition. The Chargers joined West Alabama who comes in 23rd after defeating North Greenville (S.C.) as the two newest teams to the poll, with both facing ranked opponents this weekend.
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
If you haven't visited North Campus recently you haven't seen the construction taking place adjacent to Charger Gymnasium. The site is the future home of the Peterson Performance Center, a state of the art facility that will house strength and condition, sports medicine, a new football locker room and meetings space with the ability to be tailored for the many different needs of all 18 varsity Charger athletic teams. The entire facility will measure 7,000 square feet and house 20 Olympic style weightlifting racks and a 60-yard turf agility and conditioning area. To learn more visit ChargerAthleticsFund.com.
NEXT ON TAP
The Chargers will close out the regular season on the road when they travel to Franklin Pierce for a rematch of an earlier season meeting that fell in favor of the Blue and Gold 30-14. Kickoff from Rindge, N.H. is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with all of the action available live on NE10 NOW.
