Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A fourth straight trip to the NCAA Playoffs seems extremely likely for the Southern Connecticut State University football team after it closed the regular season with a 27-17 win over No. 16 nationally ranked American International on Saturday. The Owls have now won seven straight games and completed the regular season with an 8-2 mark (8-1 against Division II opponents). Southern Connecticut trailed 17-6 in the first quarter but scored the final 20 points of the contest. The Owls will officially learn if they are in the playoffs on Sunday at 3 p.m. when the NCAA Division II selection show takes place live on ESPNNews.

SCSU was No. 7 in the region in this week's poll, but three teams ranked ahead of the Owls lost this week – including AIC, who was undefeated and ranked No. 2 in Super Region One. Both AIC and SCSU finished the regular season with 8-1 records against Division II teams.

The Owls struck immediately on their opening drive. Quarterback Chris Roberts (New Britain, Conn.) found wide receiver Ty Marshall (College Park, Ga.) on a 63-yard pass play on the first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Jarom Freeman (Peekskill, N.Y.) scored from one yard out. The PAT was blocked, which put the Owls up 6-0.

AIC went in front at 7-6 after a 52-yard touchdown reception and a made PAT. Marek Prezbylek added a 32-yard field goal on the next AIC possession to go up 10-6. Then, after an Owls turnover, the Yellow Jackets punched another score in on a 40-yard run to pad their lead to 17-6.

However, the Owls were able to chip away just before halftime. This time, Roberts hit redshirt freshman Andre Privott (Middletown, Conn.) on a 39-yard strike with only 1:31 left in the half to climb within 17-12. The Owls went for two, but missed the conversion.

The SCSU defense took over for good after the intermission. The Owls forced turnovers on the first two AIC possessions of the third quarter. Then, later in the frame, SCSU put together a brilliant 13-play, 77-yard drive that culminated in a 5-yard pass from Roberts to Marshall. Roberts then hit Chris Bergeski (Mountainside, N.J.) on the two-point try to put the Owls back in front at 20-17.

Southern Connecticut created some breathing room early in the fourth quarter. This time, Roberts threw a 13-yard pass to John Wiechman (Buxton, Maine) to pad the lead to 27-17 after a made PAT by Christopher Hazelton (Bristol, Conn.).

The Owls defense was exceptional in the second half, as they allowed only 89 yards of total offense for AIC and kept the Yellow Jackets off of the scoreboard.

Junior linebacker Andrew Pratt (West Haven, Conn.) had a monster day with a team-high nine tackles (eight solo) and three sacks. The Owls had five sacks as a team.

Roberts finished 22-of-35 for a career-high 312 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall had eight catches for 162 yards and one score.