FULL NORTHEAST-10 RELEASE

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Fresh off of securing its second-straight Northeast-10 Championship, the New Haven football team racked up a total of 20 honors as announced by the league office, with three major awards highlighting the group, graduates Justin Cesaire (Orange, N.J./Orange) and Jack Quander (Gainsville, Va./Patriot) earning Offensive and Defensive Lineman of the Year, respectively, and 10th year head coach Chris Pincince selected as the Northeast-10 Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

Pincince led the Blue and Gold to an 8-2 overall record and their third NE10 title under his tutelage. The 2023 and 2024 titles are the first time a team has repeated as NE10 Champions since the Chargers did so in three consecutive seasons (2010, 2011 and 2012). The all-time winningest coach in program history (76-34, .691) has led the Chargers to their fourth consecutive berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs, one of only five teams to earn a bid in each of the last four year and the only private school among that group.

Cesaire and Quander each lead a respective group that are among the best in the nation. Cesaire, who was also named to the All-Conference First Team Offense, is an anchor on an offensive line that has led to a top-10 national ranking in rushing offense with an average of 238.1 yards per game and leads all Division II teams in the country in tackles for loss allowed (2.5) per game and is second in sacks allowed (0.4) per game.

Defensively, Quander, who also earned a spot on the First Team All-Conference Defense, and the defensive line have been incredible in stopping the run game, limiting the final nine teams of the season to under 100 rushing yards, including a season-low of 29 against crosstown rival Southern Connecticut State and a 31 yard total against Pace in the final game of the regular season to secure the Northeast-10 title. That rushing defense, which has allowed just 65.0 yards per game, is currently second in the country while the Blue and Gold defense is also seventh in the country in first down defense and is No. 1 in the nation in total sacks per game (4.2).

Cesaire and Quander were part of nine different players to earn First Team All-Conference honors with running back Christopher Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton), o-lineman John Thomas (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) and return specialist Kha'lil Eason (Norwalk, Conn./Brunswick School) joining Cesaire on the offensive side of the ball. Ais wrapped up the regular season with his second 1,000+ rushing yard campaign while Eason finds himself at the top of the national rankings in kickoff returns with an average of 40.6 yards per game and kickoff return touchdowns with three, all of which came against Pace.

Joining Quander on the defensive side of the ball was linebackers Devin O'Malley (Pawtucket, R.I./St. Raphael Academy) and Joseph Vitale and defensive backs Christian Ais (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) and Jalen Fisher (Pasadena, Calif./Chaminade College Prep). Among that quad, Fisher and O'Malley currently lead the team in tackles with 61 and 60, respectively, with the two also combining for 15.5 tackles for loss and seven total sacks. Vitale and Quander each lead the team in total tackles for loss with 8.5 to their credit, while Quander is tied for the most sacks on the team with 6.5. Ais rounds out the honors with 17 tackles on the season to go along with four pass breakups.

Complimenting the first team recognitions were five players who earned Second Team All-Conference distinction with wide receiver Mike Caines and o-lineman Neil Brown (Woodbridge, Conn./Amity Regional) on offense and defensive lineman Davon Colon (Cromwell, Conn./Xavier) and defensive back Giye Jenkins (West Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) on defense. Joining those four was senior kicker Josh Hamel (New Hartford, Conn./NW Region 7) who earned a pair of second team honors on both offense as a place kicker and defense as a punter.

Rounding out the conference accolades were a pair of All-Rookie selections with tight end Evan Chieca (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) and defensive lineman Lucas Young (North Arlington,N.J./DePaul Catholic) securing the first-year distinction.

Pincince and the Chargers will return to work in a cold blustery Slippery Rock, Pa. on Saturday when they face The Rock for a second time this season, this time around in the opening game of the NCAA Division II playoffs. Kickoff from Mihalik-Thompson Stadium is slated for 1:00 p.m. with all of the action carried live on ESPN+.