PHOTO GALLERY
There were some new faces and new names taking center stage as football returned to the Blue and Gold turf at DellaCamera Stadium for Saturday's spring game at the University of New Haven.
Stony Brook transfer Josh Zamot (Millville, N.J./) ran for three scores and threw for another to Bryce Robinson (Massapegua, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) as the White team defeated the Blue 35-7.
"I am dying to get out here and play some ball," Zamot said. "My teammates, I just got here, so I am building that chemistry with the guys and doing the best I can to help the team win and be successful at it."
Some of Zamot's best runs came when he was pressured in the pocket and used his escapability to make something happen.
He was one of four quarterbacks to see action. Jack Chandler (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty) has been in the program the longest, sophomore Brady Lafferty (Southington, Conn./Southington) threw a touchdown pass to Sacred Heart transfer Troy Holland (Philadelphia, Pa./) while freshman Paul Hammond (Boston, Mass./Arlington) also got some work in.
The quarterback competition will continue in the fall as the Chargers look to replace two-year starter Connor Degenhardt (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy). Degenhardt, who was in attendance at the spring game, has been drawing interest from multiple NFL teams.
The offense could look different, especially if Zamot wins the job.
"He is a good athlete," New Haven coach Chris Pincince said. "We will try to utilize that in the future. He did a nice job making some people miss out there and that looks like something that can help us out.
"If Josh were the quarterback, we probably would have to change what we do a lot from what we've done in the past."
Zamot was aided by good field position courtesy of two early interceptions from linebacker Dev O'Malley.
The junior has been drawing praise from Pincince for his work in the spring as he seems destined for a larger role in the upcoming season.
"It is just showing up every day with the same intensity and taking every day like it is my last and that is it," O'Malley said. "You have to work for everything here and that is why I like it."
Linebacker Damon Burton and defensive end Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot), two of the top returning players on defense for the Chargers, were held out of the spring game and that gave others a chance to shine.
There were plenty of sacks from both teams with Chris Campbell (Staten Island, N.Y./) leading the way with two sacks.
David Matabula (Waterbury, Conn./Waterbury Career Academy) accounted for the Blue team's points on a scoop and score touchdown after a sack.
The defense has been a key reason why the Chargers reached the NCAA Division II playoffs in each of the last two seasons and there is the potential to have another elite unit in the fall.
"We have a long way to go, but I think we are going to be great just like last year," O'Malley said.
The coaching staff got a chance to get some young players into game situations and will have time to evaluate what they saw.
"I thought the energy was good," Pincince said. "A couple of different players got opportunities to make plays and run around. It was good to see some life and some energy."
