FULL NORTHEAST-10 ALL-CONFERENCE RELEASE

When Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) heard of his impressive individual accolade, the first thing the University of New Haven quarterback did after learning that he was named the Northeast-10 Conference's Offensive Player of the Year was to take the time to sing the virtues of the rest of the offense.

"It means a lot," Degenhardt said. "It is a great team award, I think it says a lot about what we are able to accomplish on offense, scoring O-line holding up, the receivers playing well, running backs doing well so it is a good overall reflection of what we did as an offense."

Degenhardt led the conference with a passer rating of 162.6 and 28 touchdown passes. He was one of six New Haven players to make the first team on offense. Overall, there were 12 first-team selections from New Haven.

Degenhardt was joined on the first team offense by running back Christopher Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton), receiver Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy), tight end Kevin Foelsch (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) as well as offensive linemen William Ayers (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) and Xavier Bryson (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover / Fork Union Military Acad.).

Ais led the Northeast-10 with 1,028 yards as he finished more than 300 yards ahead of the next closest player in the conference.

Holmes came on strong to finish as the conference leader with 765 yards and nine touchdown catches.

"Great weapons all around," Degenhardt said. "Chris did a great job coming on and taking over that role as the premier back and he was great out of the backfield. Dev, we all knew what Dev was going to be coming into the year and he did a great job living up to expectations and playing through injuries. He has done a great job and all the guys have done a great job. We spread the ball around and we trust everyone."

Defensive end Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot), linebackers David Onyemem (Dracut, Mass./Central Catholic) and Damon Burton Jr. (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) and defensive backs Khyon Fitzpatrick (Union, N.J./Paramus Catholic) and Devonte Myles (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) were named to the first-team defense.

Quander led the Chargers with 6.5 sacks, Onyemem was second in the conference with 13 tackles for loss, Burton had a conference-best six interceptions while Myles and Fitzpatrick combined for 90 tackles, four interceptions and 15 pass breakups.

Terrell Ford (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore West), who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, was named the return specialist.

Offensive lineman John Tyrrell (Bronx, N.Y./Iona Prep) was a second-team selection while fellow O-lineman Justin Cesaire (Orange, N.J./Orange) was selected to the all-rookie team.

New Haven finished 8-2 overall during the regular season and 6-1 in the conference. The best reward came when the Chargers were given a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs. They will play at Shepherd University on Saturday at noon.

"It is going to be a good challenge, they have a good team and they have a great offense and a very solid defense," Degenhardt said of Shepherd. "They are a team that all season we have known that with our goal to make a run in the playoffs and win the region, we are going to have to play them at some point so we might as well play them in the first round."

Degenhardt spent the last two seasons as New Haven's starting quarterback after transferring in from Holy Cross. He needs 54 yards to break into the top 10 in career passing yards for the Chargers. His

46 career touchdown passes is eighth all-time. His 20 touchdown runs are tied for the sixth most in program history.

The Chargers have made the postseason in both of his seasons at New Haven. Degenhardt will remember more than the exciting wins when his time with the Chargers comes to an end.

"It was a special two years," Degenhardt said. "I really had no idea of what I was stepping into when I came here. I visited campus for an hour before I said I was going to come and it has been the best two seasons I could have ever asked for. I have loved every second of being up here and playing for this team, all the coaches have treated me great, and I have built great relationships. All the guys I played with last year and this year are relationships that will last forever.

It truly is a very special place."