GAME DAY INFORMATION |
DATE: November 4, 2023
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LOCATION: Pace Stadium
Pleasantville, N.Y. |
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GAME DAY LINKS |
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO |
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Before Joe Vitale (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) and Davon Colon (Cromwell, Conn./Xavier) began to make an impact on the University of New Haven football team, there were some heated Southern Connecticut Conference showdowns between Vitale's North Haven High School team and Colon's Xavier squad.
When they were roommates as freshmen at New Haven, there were plenty of stories going back and forth between the new teammates.
Over the last few years, more memories have been created as Vitale and Colon have been a member of a pair of NCAA playoff teams at New Haven.
They are hoping that the best is yet to come.
In last week's win over Assumption that gave the Chargers control of the Northeast-10 Conference race, it was hard to miss the former high school rivals when the New Haven defense was on the field.
Colon had four tackles with two of them being behind the line of scrimmage while Vitale finishing with three tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss. They are hoping for more of the same when New Haven plays Pace at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the final regular-season game on the road this season.
Vitale was the first one of the duo to work his way into a key role on defense. Colon earned the start against Assumption with the hope that he could be a disruptive force as a pass rusher at nose guard as well as in the run game. It is safe to say that he did just that.
"Davon has a motor like nobody else," Vitale said. "He works harder, he is ready to challenge everyone and he is not satisfied until he empties his tank out there. He was moving faster than all the linemen, he was getting through almost every time and playing his heart out."
New Haven joins Harding and Virginia Union as the only Division II team to rank in the top 10 nationally in total defense, scoring defense and turnovers forced.
It is hard to miss the Connecticut flavor on the defense that ranks in the top 30 in Division II in interceptions, defensive touchdowns, passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed and third down defense.
Vitale leads the Chargers with four sacks, he is second with 41 tackles and four tackles for loss.
Colon has 16 tackles with three tackles for loss and a sack with Cheshire's Chisom Okoro (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) adding six tackles. Southington's Ryan Montalvo (Southington, Conn./Southington) has eight tackles, Stamford's Juan Rosario (Stamford, Conn./St. Luke's) has two of the Chargers' 17 interceptions and Norwich's Nazariah Paul has made three stops.
"I think we get the rap that we are grad transfer central and we are going to take this transfer and take that transfer but I think we have done a great job over the last couple of years of really making sure we are looking in our back yard," New Haven defensive coordinator Matt Scott said. "I think kids are looking at our school profile and some of the [academic] programs that they really like."
Bringing in local players also diminishes the possibility of losing potential producers before they earn a spot in the defensive rotation.
It took some time for Colon and Okoro to earn playing time and now they are among the players in the defensive front seven being called upon on a weekly basis.
"All the hard work I have put in this season, I kept my head up,"
Colon said. "I am blessed to have this opportunity and I am going to make the most of it."
The UNH defense has plenty of New Jersey natives playing key roles, the defensive captain Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot) hails from Virginia, Rhode Island's Devin O'Malley (Pawtucket, R.I./St. Rafael Academy) led the Chargers with 12 tackles in the Assumption win while Massachusetts products Christian Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) and Dev Williams are key playmakers.
There is still room for the local products to shine.
"There is a home here for local guys," Vitale said. "I am sure about that. Anybody who comes in here is going to work hard. I promise you, the CT guys, they are local and know the area, they are ready to play and happy and they are going to grind their tails off."
Connecticut football was in the news thanks to Madison native and former Xavier High School quarterback Will Levis throwing for four touchdowns as he led the Tennessee Titans to victory over the Atlanta Falcons in his NFL debut.
Colon was thrilled to see his former high school teammate thrive.
"I knew he was going to be amazing from when I saw him in high school," Colon said. "His IQ was next level. He really knew football and how to lead the team. I am proud of him and this is just the start for him because he is going to be a great NFL quarterback."
Now the focus for Colon and the Chargers is the game at Pace.
The Setters are coming off a win over Saint Anselm in a game that gave New Haven control of the NE10 race. Saint Anselm would have been considered the conference champion if the Hawks and Chargers finished tied for the NE10 title.
Pace plays a physical style of football not always seen in the age of the spread offenses.
"You have to get used to something that is not as traditional in today's football, a lot of 22 personnel (two tight ends and two running backs), 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends, getting a bunch of tight ends and running backs up on the ball,"
Vitale said. "They want to show you how tough they are. You don't see a lot of that anymore, you see a lot of spread offenses. It is going to be a great challenge for us. It is going to be a great week to see how tough we are as a defense collectively."
Both Colon and Vitale have another season of eligibility and plan to be back. His teammates and coaches have been known to playfully refer to Vitale as Dr. Joe alluding to the bright future ahead when his football-playing days are over while Colon is already operating his own business selling shoes through an Instagram account.
He had 200 followers in early February and now that number has jumped to more than 2000 followers. Even when he is busy as a member of the football team, a shot putter on the track and field team and as a decorated student-athlete, he can often sell shoes in a day or two.
He won't be focused on that on Saturday afternoon.
With New Haven 10th in the Division II Super Region One rankings, the Chargers still have a chance to secure a playoff spot. First, they need to beat Pace and then win against Bentley at home.
The defense looks to lead the way.
"We might bend but we will never break," Colon said. "We are always going to fight and have each other's backs. Regardless of what is going on, you could put a football down anywhere in the parking lot, we are going to fight and we are going to play hard."
Colon is one of the players who has benefitted from New Haven rotating in more players on the defensive line and at linebacker than in years past.
New Haven has 15 players with at least 10 tackles this season and that number could grow on Saturday afternoon.
"This group of guys is one of the most tight-knit and closest families that I have ever played with," Vitale said. "We have known each other for so long and you see guys who have been here for so long. I haven't seen a time when you have a ton of guys who have been here for so long, you are best friends with them and you are playing together so I think it is fantastic."
