RINDGE, N.H. (November 13, 2021) -- The Franklin Pierce University football team closed out its second season on Saturday afternoon, on its home turf at Sodexo Field, against nationally-ranked opposition. The Ravens were able to score 20 points against Northeast-10 Conference champion and No. 19 New Haven, which matched the most points the Chargers had given up all season. In the end though, New Haven would come away with a 34-20 victory to finish off its perfect NE10 season.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce wraps up the season at 0-10 (0-8 NE10), while New Haven improves to 9-1 (8-0 NE10). The Ravens honored their 20-player senior class prior to the start of the game.

The Ravens began the day with freshman Cole Alexander (Anderson, Ind.) under center. Playing the first half, he would go 5-for-12 for 73 yards and threw an interception as well. Junior Bryce Macina (Syracuse, N.Y.) would take over to start the second half. Macina went 15-for-22 for 246 yards and a touchdown, to go with an interception.

The Chargers went with graduate student Connor Degenhardt at quarterback. He had a day as well, as he went 15-for-22, and recorded 158 yards passing, with two touchdowns and one interception.

Both teams would trade field goals on their opening drives, before New Haven senior Shawn Tafe would earn an interception that would set up an eight-play, 25-yard scoring drive to give the Chargers a 10-3 lead they would never relinquish.

The game was a very run-heavy affair, with New Haven junior Jake Conlan leading all players with 107 yards on 17 rushes (6.3 yards per rush) and a pair of touchdowns. Junior EJ Burgess (Pearland, Texas), his Ravens' counterpart, would record 50 yards on 15 attempts, and scored a touchdown as well.

Conlan's two touchdown rushes would both come in the first half. He earned the Chargers' opener on a four-yard rush, and a second late in the second quarter on a six-yard run. The latter gave the Chargers a 20-6 lead at the half.

New Haven would receive to open the second half, and made quick work of the Ravens' defense on the way to a six-play touchdown drive, capped off by a 28-yard pass from Degenhardt to junior Kasi Hazzard. The score gave New Haven a 27-6 lead, the largest margin of the day.

Franklin Pierce would find some steam offensively after Macina took over under center. Burgess would find the end zone twice in the third quarter, once on a 44-yard pass from Macina, and later on a three-yard touchdown plunge on the ground. The third frame would see four scores in total, to round out the 34-20 score line, which would hold through a scoreless fourth.

The Ravens had three receivers finish north of 70 yards on the day, as sophomore Tyvarius Daniels (Springfield, Mass.) caught four passes for 77 yards, Burgess went for 74 yards and a score on three catches, and sophomore Conner Baldasaro (South Yarmouth, Mass.) hauled in four passes for 72 yards. Defensively, freshman Tyquon Stokes (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led all players with 11 tackles, while junior Qudair Sims (Mount Holly, N.J.) recorded an interception and broke up a pair of passes.

For New Haven, Conlan was backed up by 91 more yards on the ground from freshman Christopher Ais over 18 rushes ( 5.1 yards per rush), as the Chargers ran for 269 yards on the day. Defensively, senior Devonte Myles led New Haven with nine tackles (five solo).