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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Southern Connecticut State University football team won its first NCAA Division II playoff game in program history on Saturday afternoon with a convincing 45-28 triumph over Bryant University at Jess Dow Field. The Owls will now take on California (Pa.) on Nov. 24 at noon.
The Owls (9-3) matched a school single-season record with their ninth win of the season. Bryant concluded its season at 8-3.
In addition, junior quarterback Steve Armstrong (Nutley, N.J.) set new program single-season records for passing yards and touchdown passes. The Harlon Hill Award finalist now has 3,134 yards and 31 touchdowns on the year.
Southern Connecticut took the opening kickoff and promptly marched down the field on a four play, 58-yard drive that spanned just over a minute. Armstrong hit fullback Craig Toulouse (Whitefield, Maine) on a 15-yard touchdown strike to give the Owls an early 7-0 lead after the PAT from Charles Gallagher (Hartford, Conn.).
After forcing Bryant to punt, the Owls took the ball back and put together a brisk three play, 93-yard drive. Tailback Jarom Freeman (Peekskill, N.Y.) went the final 65 yards after catching a screen pass from Armstrong and taking it all the way into the end zone.
Bryant answered with a seven play drive that covered 75 yards and ended on a five-yard run from Jerell Smith.
SCSU went back up by two scores with just 1:26 left in the first quarter when tailback Brandon Toles (Fort Washington, Md.) scampered 21 yards up the middle for a touchdown.
The Bulldogs scored the next two touchdowns of the game. Smith found the end zone from 12 yards out with 8:01 remaining in the second quarter before Lindsey Gamble broke a 40-yard run up the middle to close the gap to within 21-20. However, the PAT was missed, and Bryant would get no closer the rest of the way.
The Owls took the ball off the ensuing kick and marched 58 yards in 10 plays. Armstrong finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Chris Bergeski (Mountainside, N.J.) over the middle.
SCSU tacked on a field goal from Gallagher with just two seconds left in the opening half to extend its lead to 31-20 at the break.
Freeman added onto the Owls' lead with two touchdown runs in the second half. He closed a six play, 46-yard drive with a 12-yard run midway through the third quarter. Then, with just less than nine minutes gone in the final frame, he found paydirt from one yard out.
Chris Peaks added a touchdown for Bryant with 39 seconds left to close out the scoring.
Armstrong finished 17-of-31 for 284 yards on the day. Freeman rushed for 146 yards on 25 carries and totaled 211 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns. Toles also ran for 90 yards on 12 carries.
Bergeski led the Owls' receivers with seven catches for 68 yards. Johnny Lee (Norwalk, Conn.) totaled 79 receiving yards for the Owls.
