GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: October 14, 2023
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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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Each time the members of the University of New Haven football team punt return team trotted out on DellaCamera Stadium for the non-conference matchup against Lincoln University, the number 2.5 was stuck in their minds.
They saw the struggles that the Oaklanders had protecting their punter during the weekly film study sessions. Rather than set a goal of merely one blocked punt, the Chargers set the bar a little higher and put the goal at 2.5.
The first time Lincoln punted, the Chargers got a hand on the punt. Later in the game, there were two clean blocks with one of them being returned for a score by sophomore running back Kha'lil Eason (Norwalk, Conn./Brunswick School).
The Chargers would have won the game without the brilliance from the special teams, but for the second week in a row, the Chargers got a special-teams touchdown as they extended a winning streak that stands at five heading into Saturday's home game against Saint Anselm.
"One big play can change an entire game whether it is a punt return, blocking a punt, scoring on a kick return there are a lot of different factors when it comes to special teams," Eason said. "I think the more we sharpen that up, that is what is going to give us the edge over the other teams."
The Chargers almost scored twice on special teams in the win over Lincoln as Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy) threatened to bring a punt back for a touchdown for the second week in a row. He was tackled just short of the goal line. It wouldn't have mattered as the Chargers were called for an illegal block on the play.
New Haven devotes time to special teams at each practice during the week with Thursday's practice addressing every area of special teams.
Whether it is on the kickoff and punt returns, punt and kickoff coverage, punting, field goals and extra points, that extra work is evident on game days.
The five blocked punts are the most among Division II teams. New Haven also ranks in the top third in Division II in yards per kickoff return, yards on punt returns and punt return defense.
"It's always fun when you score on special teams whether it is a blocked punt or a punt return or kickoff return," New Haven linebackers and special teams coach Eric Crandall said. "It is always exciting to get an extra touchdown that way."
Eason is the top kickoff returner with Holmes handling the punt returns.
Punter Luke Silvia (Newton, Mass./Newton) has placed seven of his 21 punts inside the 20 with seven fair catches. Vincenzo DeSimone (Naples, Fla./Sparta) has kicked two field goals and is 11-for-11 extra points with Alessio Ancona (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside) handling the kickoffs.
The biggest star on special teams might be junior defensive back Chima Opara (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) as he is tied with Assumption's Joe MacDougall for the Division II lead with four blocked punts or kicks.
"We take special teams seriously," Holmes said. "It plays a crucial role in field position; we know that and it is very important to us."
Many of the top special teams players are back from last season and with the injuries that New Haven has had to contend with the number of players contributing on special teams seems to grow every week.
A missed field goal by Bentley is the difference between New Haven being 5-1 and 4-2 right now. The Chargers face a St. Anselm team that is tied for 10th in Division II with four blocked kicks so they know that opponents will attempt to do what New Haven accomplished last week.
Silvia is confident in the group blocking for him that he'll be able to get his punts off.
"We have had plenty of different guys fill roles," Silvia said. "They are doing their jobs. "It is huge, we stress it a lot and do it every day in practice. I think we have the best special teams group in the NE10 whether it is Kah'lil as a kick returner, Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy) as a punt returner and we are getting big returns or we are blocking a punt scooping and scoring."
