NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Southern Connecticut State University football team has qualified for the 2007 NCAA Division II playoffs and will host a first round game on Saturday, November 17 at 12 p.m. at Jess Dow Field. The Owls (8-3) will take on fellow Northeast-10 foe Bryant (8-2) for the second time in just 15 days. Tickets for the game will be sold in advance of the game on Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the main lobby of Moore Fieldhouse. Tickets can also be purchased at the main gate on game day.

Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $5 for students (with a valid ID) and seniors, and $3 for children under 12.
This marks the third consecutive season that Southern Connecticut State University has reached the NCAA playoffs.

“Our selection to the NCAA playoffs mean a great deal to our program,” head coach Rich Cavanaugh. “This is the third year in a row that we've qualified for the NCAA's and that's certainly a credit to our administration, coaching staff and players. There are a lot of good people from top to bottom who have worked very hard to achieve what we have achieved.”

Saturday's game will mark the first time in program history that the Owls will host a post-season NCAA football contest.

“It's a huge thing for Southern Connecticut State University and for the city of New Haven to host a NCAA playoff game,” Cavanaugh said.

In the only meeting of the season between the two schools back on Nov. 2, sophomore tailback Jarom Freeman rushed for a NCAA Division II single-game record of 418 yards as the Owls cruised to a 56-28 win over the Bulldogs.

“We know that we're playing an excellent football team,” Cavanaugh said. “They've had an excellent season. It was a great game the first time around and I'm sure that it will be along the same lines this time around.” 

Six teams selected per region make up the field of 24 teams. Eight first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, two teams per region have earned first-round byes. 

An Owls' victory will put it into the second round against California (Pa.) on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. 

The Owls have won six consecutive games heading into the NCAA playoffs.