WEST HAVEN, Conn. (September 4, 2021) -- Back on the field for the first time in nearly two years, the Franklin Pierce University football team opened its second season on Saturday, with a  trip to DellaCamera Stadium for a non-conference clash with New Haven. Sophomore Drew Campanale (Shrewsbury, Mass.) threw for 268 yards and junior EJ Burgess (Pearland, Texas) found the end zone twice, but the Ravens dropped a 30-14 decision to the host Chargers. Graduate student Dev Holmes caught a pair of touchdown passes in the win for New Haven.

New Haven opened up a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. An early six-play, 75-yard drive was capped by a 26-yard touchdown rush from graduate student Connor Degenhardt just 3:24 into the game. At the other end of the quarter, Degenhardt capped a six-play, 80-yard drive by finding Holmes with a 33-yard touchdown pass with 1:25 left in the quarter.

Franklin Pierce answered quickly, with a seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive that took just 2:07. Burgess capped the drive and found the Ravens' first points of the seasons with a 22-yard rush 47 seconds into the second stanza.

New Haven pushed the lead out to 20-7 before the intermission, when Degenhardt found graduate student Paul Cooper for a 29-yard touchdown pass. On the other side of halftime, Degenhardt fired his third touchdown pass of the day, this one a 48-yard strike to Holmes to make it a 27-7 game.

Later in the third, Burgess featured on both plays of a quick, 54-yard scoring drive, as the Ravens cut the gap to 27-14. Burgess rushed for 11 yards, and then got on the other end of a 43-yard pass from Campanale, with 4:39 to play in the third.

New Haven capped the scoring with the fourth quarter's only points, on a 24-yard field goal from senior Briant DeFelice.

Campanale finished 19-for-29 for 268 yards and a touchdown, while Burgess was the team's leading rusher and receiver. Burgess rushed 17 times for 66 yards and a touchdown and also caught six passes for 132 yards and another score.

On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Luke Winslow (Lansing, N.Y.) and freshman Trey Sejour (Everett, Mass.) chalked up nine tackles apiece, including seven solo stops for Winslow. Sejour added an interception as well.

For New Haven, Degenhardt went 20-for-33 for 308 yards and three touchdowns, against one interception. His favorite target was Holmes, who hauled in eight catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Shamar Logan carried the ball 18 times for a game-best 95 yards.

Defensively for the Chargers, senior Ryan Hodgins led the way with eight tackles (three solo) and broke up a pass along the way.

The Ravens return to action next week for their home opener, as they host Lake Erie in a non-conference contest on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.