The Chestnut Hill College Sprint Football team was handed their first loss of the season Saturday night at Bonnel Field in West Caldwell, New Jersey as the Caldwell University Cougars defeated the Griffins 26-16.

The Griffins fall to 1-1 on the season while the cougars improve to 2-0.

Chestnut Hill's first offensive score came midway through the second quarter when Kindrik Branch caught a 14 yard pass from Anthony Cancellare to pull CHC within one score at the time 14-7.  Lawrence Howard scored the Griffins' second touchdown early in the fourth quarter for the final points in the game.

The Griffins' special teams unit scored CHC's remaining points as Myron Brooks blocked and caught a Cougar PAT attempt and ran it all the way for a two-point defensive PAT.

Cancellare would go on to complete 14 of 31 passes on the night for 185 yards but also threw three interceptions.  Kyree Griffin caught five of those passes for 56 yards while Nick Ocampo gained 58 yards on four receptions.  Howard led the ground game with 37 yards rushing.

On the defensive end, Lex Williams and Larry Fonville led the team with seven tackles apiece.  Colin Circello recorded an interception and Jerry Clark had the Griffins only sack on the night.

The Cougars scored on their first possession of the game on a 19-yard catch by Jeremy Colon from Frank DeMaio, the first of DeMaio's four touchdown passes on the night.  Caldwell took a 14-0 lead on a five play-65-yard drive on their first possession on the second quarter with DeMaio's second touchdown pass of the game.

The Griffins followed with a six-play 65 yard drive to put their first points on the board.  Cancellare was a perfect 4-for-44 on the drive with two completions to Ocampo and another to Connor Rohrbach before connecting with Branch for the score.

Caldwell scored their third touchdown of the half with just 40 seconds remaining to take a 20-7 lead.  CU's George Escobar's PAT attempt was blocked by Brooks who caught it on the fly and ran it all the way back to put two more points on the board for the Griffins.

In the second half, the Cougars struck again, scoring on their opening possession as Colon and DeMaio connected again for the touchdown and a 26-9 Caldwell lead.  Escobar's kick was again blocked but no return was made.  

Chestnut Hill's final score came on an 11-play 75 yard drive which saw Howard carry the ball seven times for 34 yards including the touchdown from seven yards out.  Cancellare had three pass completions, including his longest one of the game a 23-yard toss to  Branch,  totaling 51 yards.

The Chestnut Hill College Sprint football team has a bye week this week and will return to action on Friday, October 6, 2023 for a game at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.