Charleston, W. Va – For the first time in eight years, the Golden Eagles would find themselves in the post season with a chance to fight for a National Championship. They would face the New Haven Chargers at home for the first round of the NCAA Super Region One Playoffs. The Chargers had established themselves as the top-rated defense in NE10 Conference and one of the best defenses in the United States. They would have a tough test against one of the highest-powered offenses in the country in the Golden Eagles. 
 
The Basics
Location: University of Charleston Stadium
Score: UC 52, UNH 44
Records: UC 10-1 (8-1 MEC), UNH 8-3 (6-1 NE10)
 
How it Happened
For the first time all season, the Golden Eagles would start the game with the offense on the field after the Chargers differed on the coin toss. Charleston would waste no time marching down the field on their first possession and cashing in for a 28-yard field goal from Tim McCutchen to open up the scoring. On New Haven's first offensive possession, the Charleston defense would stall the Chargers at their own 43-yard line and force a touchback out of Charger punter Luke Silvia. 
 
Starting at the 20-yard line, the Golden Eagles would send out their punt unit after stalling deep in their own territory. On a very courageous play call, Josh Brown would rumble for 39 yards down the field on a fake punt call and give Charleston phenomenal real-estate. The offense would capitalize on their second chance as Chavon Wright would punch his way into the endzone from a yard out to take a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. 
 
In the second quarter, Charleston continued to dominate with a touchdown on the second play of the quarter that would be run in by Wright once again to extend the lead to 17-0. With 5:53 remaining in the half, Wright would score yet again from close-range to give the Golden Eagles a dominant 24-0 lead in front of a great Charleston crowd. The Chargers would put together a very lengthy drive just before the half that would be capped off with a 15-yard receiving touchdown from Daelen Menard to Dev Holmes to cut the lead to 24-7 just before halftime. 
 
New Haven would pick up right where they left off and find themselves in the endzone on their opening possession of the half on a 9-yard rushing score from Christopher Ais to trim the lead to 24-14. The Golden Eagles would match the score with one of their own from the man himself, Chavon Wright, finding his fourth rushing score of the day from 11 yards away to give Charleston a 17-point lead. It appeared to be an offensive battle from both sides as the Chargers would score on a short pass from Menard to Dante DeLorenzo that was almost knocked away by Aden Miller on an incredibly difficult play to make, but the Chargers remained in the game down by 10. That was until Tae Marrero would run around defenders and sprint 85 yards on the ensuing kickoff for his second kick-return touchdown of the year to retake the 17-point lead. Just before the end of the quarter, Chavon Wright would run for his fifth rushing touchdown of the game for the 45-21 lead going into quarter number four. 
 
The Chargers, in do-or-die mode, would put together a quick drive after a long kickoff return and cash in for six with a connection through the air from Menard to Holmes to cut the lead to 45-28. Wright would find Charleston's final score of the day and his sixth rushing score to extend the lead to 52-28. New Haven's comeback attempt would come up short, although their valiant efforts would get them all the way to within a score of the Golden Eagles. After an onside kick recovered by Damon Mouzon, the first round of the playoffs would be put to rest with a Charleston victory, their first playoff win in school history. 
 
Up Next
Charleston will advance to the second round of the Super Region One Playoffs and face the PSAC Champions, the Kutztown Bears. With Charleston being the second seed in Super Region One, the game will take place once again at University of Charleston Stadium. Kickoff is set for Saturday on November 25^th with time yet to be determined.