Box Score
Buckhannon, W.V. – Junior Jarom Freeman (Peekskill, N.Y) rushed for 242 yards and touchdowns of 2 and 80 yards to lead the SCSU football team to a victory in the season opener against West Virginia Wesleyan at Cebe Ross Field on Saturday afternoon.
Freeman led an offense that gained 241 total rushing yards and a total offense that amassed 465 yards. The Owls held the Bobcats to seven points in the second half after posting a 20-14 lead at halftime. Defensive tackle Desmond Lymon (West Haven, Conn.) led the Owls with nine tackles and free safety Kyle Sandberg (Toms River, N.J.) posted six tackles, with three interceptions and one fumble return for Southern.
For the Bobcats, senior quarterback Harry Lorusso led the way with 179 total yards and two touchdown passes on the day. Linebacker Donovan Pearson and defensive lineman Keith Branch led the defense with 7 solo tackles and 8 overall. Junior running back Reggie Taylor posted 21 carries for 80 yards rushing and three receptions for 32 yards.
Freeman gave SCSU a 7-0 lead at the 2:07 mark of the first quarter breaking through with an 80 yard scoring run. Freeman then scored his second touchdown of the game five minutes into the second quarter with a two-yard run giving the Owls a 13-0 lead.
The Bobcats found their first points of the game at the 4:32 mark in the second quarter when Bryan Overton caught an 11-yard touchdown reception from Harry Lorusso. Derek Moore's kick was good to cut into the Owl lead to 13-7.
The Owls wasted little time responding when Steve Armstrong (Nutley, N.J.) connected with Chris Roberts (New Britain, Conn.) with 1:08 left in the half, giving the Owls a 20-7 lead.
However, Wesleyan put together a two-play, 17 second drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Lorusso to senior tightend William Schiefelbein. At the end of the first half, the Owls held a 20-14 lead.
Wesleyan took the lead when Matt Edwards fought his way in from the three yard line with five minutes gone by the third quarter to cap off a 61-yard, five-play drive. Moore split the uprights with the extra point, giving the Bobcats a 21-20 lead.
The Owls regained the lead for good on a 13 play drive that covered 67 yards when back-up quarterback Kevin Lynch (Medfield, Mass.) found Johnny Lee (Norwalk, Conn.) with an eight-yard touchdown pass with 7:33 left in the game.
SCSU is back in action on Saturday, Sept. 6 for a 1 p.m. away contest against the Bryant University Bulldogs.
