GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: October 8, 2022
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LOCATION: 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
New Haven returns to West Haven for the first time in October and the first of back-to-back home games as they put their unbeaten NE10 record on the line when they welcome the Pace Setters to the Blue & Gold turf of DellaCamera Stadium. The Chargers three wins in NE10 play so far this season extend their current win streak against conference opponents to 16-straight games.
SERIES RECORD VS PACE
New Haven and Pace meet for the 13th time in a series that dates back to October 24, 2009. New Haven looks to remain unbeaten in the all-time series which includes back-to-back shutouts in 2013 (65-0) and 2014 (40-0). In the previous 11 meetings, New Haven has outscored Pace 514-151 or an average of 30.3 points per game, including a 28-14 decision last season in Pleasantville.Â
SCOUTING THE NEW HAVEN CHARGERS
Defense has been the name of the game the last two weekends on the road as it was David Onyemem (Dracut, Mass./Central Catholic) with a scoop and score that provided the final margin of victory under the lights at Bentley and the whole defensive unit that forced four fumbles and a pair of interceptions last weekend at Saint Anselm. Onyemem was also a big piece of last week's win against the Hawks as he led the team with 13 tackles while adding one of those forced fumbles. Offensively, it has been sophomore running back Christopher Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) who has put up three 100+ yard games this season, including back-to-back career high afternoons in the last two weekend. For the season, Ais leads all NE10 running back with an average of 104.6 yards per game which ranks 21st in all of NCAA Division II, while his 523 rushing yards is the 18th most in the nation. The man marshalling all of that offense for the Chargers is graduate quarterback Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) who enters the weekend against Pace with 893 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, while adding two more touchdowns in the ground game. Joining Onyemem in leading the New Haven defense is graduate linebacker Damon Burton, Jr. with 34 tackles, while senior defensive lineman Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot) leads the Blue and Gold with 5.5 sacks, part of 15.5 total for the Chargers.
SCOUTING THE SETTERS
Pace enters today's game with a 1-1 record in Northeast-10 conference play with the win coming against Southern Connecticut (27-7) and the loss against Assumption (14-26). The Setters are coming off of a commanding 45-6 non-conference win over Post this past weekend as five different players each found the endzone as the Setters broke out to a 45-0 lead before allowing Post to score. For the season, Pace is being outscored by just over eight points per game as they split their offense evenly with an average of 159.8 passing yards per game and 164 rushing yards per contest. In the run game, Pace is led by quarterback Carlton Aiken who has 326 net yards to add to his 813 passing yards and a combined 12 touchdowns (four rushing, eight passing).
RINSE & REPEAT
For the second-straight week sophomore running back Christopher Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) was named the Northeast-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Ais is coming off of a second-straight week with a career-high rushing performance, this time with 183 net yards, opening up the game with a 73-yard sprint to the house on the very first play of the afternoon as he found a hole in the middle of the line and broke free down the right side. Overall, he would carry the ball 21 times and lost just three yards total on the day. The game-opening touchdown was his first of two on the afternoon, the second being a receiving score as he hauled in pass for a 13-yard touchdown, his only reception of the afternoon. For the season, Ais leads all NE10 running back with an average of 104.6 yards per game, the only player in the league to average more than 100 yards on the season. His 104.6 yards per game also ranks as the 21st best in all of NCAA Division II, while his 523 rushing yards is the 18th most in the nation.
HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
Hall of Fame weekend in West Haven as the Chargers inducted the 36th Class of inductees to the New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night, including head football Coach Tom Bell (1976-82). Be sure to look out during the first quarter intermission as the Chargers will honor all five members of the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022; Tom Bell (FB Head Coach), Niketa Smith (WBB), Evan Okon (BSB), Ada Udaya (WT&F) and Brian Smith (MBB).Â
NEXT ON TAP
New Haven will continue a two-game homestand next weekend with their final non-conference game of the season when they welcome the Post Eagles to DellaCamera Stadium for a first ever meeting between the two squads. Kickoff in the Chargers Pink Game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with all of the action available on the Charger Sports Network on NE10 NOW.
