WEST HAVEN, Conn. (November 5, 2022) -- Graduate student quarterback Connor Degenhardt threw for 337 yards and six touchdowns on Saturday afternoon, as New Haven dealt the Franklin Pierce University football team a 50-6 defeat in the latter's season finale. Senior Bryce Macina (Syracuse, N.Y.) threw for 121 yards for the visiting Ravens in the Northeast-10 Conference contest.

With the win, Franklin Pierce closes out its season at 2-8 (1-6 NE10), while New Haven improves to 7-2 (5-1 NE10).

New Haven opened the scoring on Saturday with a first-quarter safety, after a 55-yard punt by junior Luke Silvia pinned the Ravens at their own 5-yard line. Three plays later, Franklin Pierce faced third-and-14 at its own 1, and freshman Alex Benitez (Belle Meade, N.J.) was dropped in the end zone by sophomore David Abolarinwa and senior Khyon Fitzpatrick.

In all, it was 22 points without response in the first half for New Haven, as the Chargers found the end zone three times in the second quarter. Degenhardt was responsible for all three, as he connected with sophomore Kam Holmes for a 66-yard score, hit graduate student Zhyaire Fernandes from six yards out, and found graduate student Paul Cooper for a 10-yard touchdown.

The Chargers opened the second half with a bang, as graduate student Terrell Ford took the opening kickoff 100 yards the other way for a touchdown to run the lead to 29-0. The Chargers pushed the lead as high as 43-0 by the end of the third quarter, as Degenhardt hit seniors Kevin Foelsch and Kasi Hazzard on scoring plays of one and 29 yards, respectively.

The two teams traded fourth-quarter touchdowns to create the 50-6 final. First, the Ravens went 75 yards on seven plays, capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Benitez to senior Anthony Anderson (Stamford, Conn.). Degenhardt closed the scoring with his sixth touchdown pass of the day, a five-yard strike to Foelsch.

For Franklin Pierce, Macina went 9-for-20 for 121 yards and was intercepted once. Benitez was the team's leading rusher, with 38 yards on 17 carries (2.2 yards per rush), and also completed two passes for 22 yards, including the touchdown. Junior Chris Howard (Lakeland, Fla.) had two catches for 65 yards. Defensively, junior Tyvarius Daniels (Springfield, Mass.) and sophomore Tyquon Stokes (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had eight tackles apiece, and each contributed 1.5 tackles for loss as well.

For New Haven, it was all about Degenhardt, who went 23-for-31 through the air, for 337 yards and six scores. Sophomore Christopher Ais rushed 13 times for a game-best 66 yards (5.1 yards per rush). Holmes hauled in seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, graduate student David Onyemem led all players with nine tackles (five solo), including three for loss.