WEST HAVEN, Conn. – New Haven Football celebrated the promotion of Mark Powell from interim to full-time head coach with a 41-31 win over Merrimack to close out the 2025 season. AJ Duffy (St. Augustine, Fla./Rancho Verde) threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth in New Haven's win.

Duffy's big day accounted for 381 total yards, with 311 coming through the air. On the ground, Jalen Smith (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) carried the ball seven times for 30 yards as New Haven totaled 126 yards rushing.

Jonathan Lawson's (Miami Gardens, Fla./West Broward) 114 receiving yards led all Charger pass catchers. Lawson, Kevonne Wilder (Bronx, N.Y.), and Isaac Glaudin all caught touchdowns from Duffy. In a trick play, Jayden Shwed (Hawthorne, N.J./Hawthorne) threw a 20-yard touchdown to Evan Cheica.

A dominant second half defensively allowed the offense to find its footing and put more points on the board. New Haven held Merrimack to one touchdown in the second half–that came with seven seconds remaining in the game.