FULL NORTHEAST-10 WEEKLY RELEASE

MANSFIELD, Mass. – After clinching the Northeast-10 Conference Championship on Saturday against Bentley, a pair of New Haven football players secure two of the final NE10 weekly accolades on Monday with receiver Dev Holmes (Troy, N.Y./Troy) earning Player of the Week and defensive back Christian Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) tabbed Defensive Player of the Week.

Holmes finished his final game on the blue turf with 99 yards on five catches and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Chargers to their fifth NE10 title and second in the last three seasons. His two touchdowns came in the second half, erasing deficits in both instances. His first went for 25-yard down the left hashmarks, while his second was a 53-yard touchdown, catching the long ball at the five yard line and completing the score to go ahead for good in the fourth quarter.

In addition to his 99 receiving yards, he also finished with 26 yards on a pair of punt returns, while his two TDs against Bentley give him 26 total for his career, moving him into a tie for third place all-time in program history.

Defensively, Ais was all over the field for the Chargers, finishing the game with 10 total tackles, five solo and five assisted. Included in those numbers was a half tackle for loss, but arguably his biggest impact came with his third interception of the season. This one came late in the fourth quarter and he returned it 17 yards to the Bentley eight yard line where he helped set up a 25-yard field goal that put the margin of victory at its final for the day, 24-17, which would have forced Bentley into needing a TD to extend the game.

Holmes, Ais and the Chargers earned one of 28 spots in the upcoming NCAA Division II National Championship tournament and will open up their quest for a national title on Saturday when they travel to the University of Charleston. Opening kick off from West Virginia is set for 1:00 p.m.