UNH: The Return
The University of New Haven resurrects its football program on Saturday.
The Chargers travel to Lincoln-Pa. for its first game in six years. It may be a good spot for the Chargers. Lincoln was just 1-9 last year.
You really don’t know what to expect from UNH this year. How long will it take Peter Rossomando to rebuild the storied franchise? UNH was picked last in the NE-10 because the other coaches don’t know what to expect either.
Surely expectations are high for quarterback Ryan Osiecki. The transfer from Louisville has a big arm but his receivers are green and his line, as a matter of facts both lines, are untested.
As they say, line play is the most important element of football and no one knows to expect from either side of the ball.
UNH does have skill players but if Osiecki doesn’t have the time to throw the ball it could be a long year.
Don’t expect much from the Chargers against the heavyweights of the NE-10 like SCSU and AIC but this week could be fun.
It will surely be interesting
SCSU: Game 2 ahead
As for the Owls, last week’s loss to Indiana-Pa. proved they are certainly among the nation’s elite teams but to join the top echelon Southern has to prove it can beat them.
SCSU has certainly come a long way from its loss at California, Pa. a few years ago but the Owls gave up three big plays in last week’s loss.
Southern watched an NFL prospect return the opening kick of the second half for a touchdown which proved to be the back-breaker. Quarterback Chris Roberts also threw back across the field trying for a score late in the first half. Had SCSU scored then it would have taken a 21-0 lead into the half.
But Roberts’ pass was picked off and returned for a touchdown. That gave IUP plenty of momentum heading into the intermission.
Couple that with the kickoff return to start the second half and the game was tied and Southern was deflated.
SCSU also blew coverage on IUP’s game-winning touchdown pass but it is really hard to complain about the defense which was flat out impressive most of the game.
SCSU also missed a short field goal in the game and that hurt.
Still, Southern is solid but gets another one of those tests this week at Bryant.
SCSU just has to show it can beat the really good teams.
As for Roberts, he has been nothing short of remarkable since claiming the job of starting QB. Once again he was named to the NE-10 weekly honor roll and led SCSU to 21 points despite working with a whole set of new receivers.
Roberts was battered around so much during a stint in the third quarter that his contact lenses were falling out. But he missed just one snap. He is a true warrior on the field.