Game Notes as a PDF

DIFFERENT WEEK, SAME STORY
The approach is the same for the Southern Connecticut State University football team this week as it prepares for the final game of the regular season. Facing another must-win scenario in order to have an opportunity to qualify for the NCAA playoffs, the Owls travel to No. 16 nationally ranked American International for a noon start. The Yellow Jackets won an earlier meeting between the two schools back on Sept. 12 by a 13-12 final. It should be a thrilling affair from John Homer Miller Field, and Don Boyle will have all of the action live on www.sportingnewsct.com beginning at 11:30 a.m.

EXPLAIN THIS ONE...
The Owls easily downed Assumption last time out by a 28-12 final, yet dropped two spots in this week's NCAA Super Region One rankings. SCSU had moved up in each of the first four weeks before dropping this week to No. 7. The top six teams from each region move on to the NCAA playoffs.

ONE STREAK OR ANOTHER IS GOING TO END
While AIC comes into the weekend on a school-record 15-game winning streak, the Owls enter with an impressive streak of their own. Southern Connecticut has won its last 24 regular season games on or after Oct. 1. The last loss took place on Oct. 15, 2004, a 14-7 loss to C.W. Post. Otherwise, the only three losses for the Owls after Oct. 1 the last three years have been in the NCAA playoffs.

OWLS CLINCH ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
Thanks to the win over Pace on Oct. 25, the Owls have clinched a winning season once again. It's the eighth straight winning campaign for SCSU and 13th in the last 14 seasons.

CAVANAUGH STANDS ALONE FOR WINNING SEASONS
SCSU coach Rich Cavanaugh has moved past the legendary Jess Dow as the program's all-time leader in winning seasons. The win over Pace on Oct. 25 clinched another winning campaign this year, Cavanaugh now has 16 winning seasons in his 24 seasons as head coach. Dow posted 15 winning seasons in his career at SCSU that spanned from 1948-65.

ROBERTS ON A NICE RUN
Chris Roberts has been received weekly honors from the Northeast-10 Conference in five of the six weeks he has been the team's starting quarterback. Included in that mix are his Conference and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week laurels on the week of Oct. 27.

WIECHMAN CLOSES IN ON A GRAND
Sophomore tailback John Wiechman needs just 85 yards in order to reach the 1,000 yard mark for the season.

THREE EARN CONFERENCE HONORS
Chris Roberts, Chris Bergeski and Jarom Freeman were all named to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll on Monday. Roberts threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Assumption. More than half of those passing yards - 143 to be exact - went to Bergeski, along with two touchdown passes. Freeman finished with 140 yards and a rushing touchdown in the win.

DEFENSE HOLDS DOWN THE FORT
The SCSU defense allowed the fewest points of any Northeast-10 Conference team during league play - a mere 96 (13.7 per game).

STEPPING UP FROM A YEAR AGO
The Owls are allowing just 17.3 points per game this year, which is more than eight points better than a year ago. SCSU merited 25.6 points per game in 2007.

ESTABLISHING A WIDE MARGIN
Southern Connecticut has outscored its opponents by more than a 2-to-1 margin in 2008. The Owls have scored 313 points while allowing just 156.

FREEMAN BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS
Jarom Freeman broke the century mark for the first time since returning from injury last time out against Assumption. He finished with 140 yards.

ALMOST TWO HUNDRED YARD RUSHERS
Jarom Freeman and John Wiechman were the last two Owls to both rush for 100 yards in a game. The duo almost did it again at Pace on Oct. 25. Wiechman finished with 120 yards on 22 carries. Freeman was up to 106 yards late in the fourth quarter before a late negative rush pushed him under the century mark.

OWLS HOLD PUT IN ECAC LAMBERT MEADOWLANDS POLL
SCSU remains at No. 8 in the ECAC Lambert Meadowlands Division II poll for the third straight week. Established in 1936 as the Lambert Trophy to recognize supremacy in Eastern college football, the award has since grown to recognize the best team in the East.

NEW HAVEN SACK EXCHANGE
The Owls have totaled 19 sacks in the past four games. After a nine sack effort in the win over Bentley, SCSU had four sacks in the win over St. Anselm and three more against Pace and Assumption.

SLOW STARTS, STRONG FINISHES
In each of the past three seasons, the Owls have had to rally late in order to qualify for the post-season. SCSU started the 2005 season with a 1-2 mark before rolling off seven straight wins. In 2006, the Owls were 2-3 before winning the final five games of the regular season. Last year, the Owls were also 2-3 before winning the final six games of the regular season.

EFFECTIVE WHEN IN THE LINEUP
Senior wide receiver Chris Bergeski returned to the Owls' rotation against Merrimack after missing two straight games and three of the first four. Bergeski has tallied 37 catches for 553 yards and five touchdowns so far this season.

THE MARSHALL DID IT
Senior wide receiver Ty Marshall leads the Owls with 45 catches and 796 receiving yards. He ranks fourth in the conference in total receiving yards and in receiving yards/game.

ROBERTS ANSWERING THE BELL
Senior Chris Roberts has enjoyed a nearly seamless transition since taking over as the starter at quarterback. In his last three outings, both starts, Roberts is 98-of-162 (60.5%) for 1,160 yards and 11 touchdowns. For his efforts, Roberts was named to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll on Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 20 and Nov. 3 and was Northeast-10 and ECAC Player of the Week on Oct. 27.

LESS THAN A TOUCHDOWN AWAY FROM PERFECTION
The Owls have lost their two games by a combined four points so far this season.

A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE
The back-to-back losses earlier this year marked just the second time in program history that the Owls have lost consecutive games by three points or less. The other occurrence took place back in 1969, when SCSU dropped back-to-back games to Bridgeport (17-16) and Glassboro State (19-17).

ON DECK
The Owls will learn on Sunday if they have qualified for the fourth straight season. If they qualify, then first round action takes place on Nov. 15.