Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Senior running back Rashaad Slowley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, but Merrimack scored the final 14 points of the game to post a 28-27 win over the Southern Connecticut State University football team on Senior Day on Saturday.



The loss concludes the 2011 season for the Owls at 7-3, 6-2 in Northeast-10 Conference play. Merrimack moves to a final mark of 6-4, 5-3.

Chevar Rankins (Middletown, Conn.) had a team-high 16 tackles to lead the defense. Willie Epps (Norwalk, Conn.) had four catches for 81 yards, while Andre Privott (Middletown, Conn.) had four catches for 61 yards.

The Owls' defense started the scoring on the afternoon. Rankins forced a fumble deep in Merrimack territory, and Kamal Mgaresh (Medford, Mass.) scooped it up and went 16 yards for a touchdown. Christopher Hazelton (Bristol, Conn.) added the PAT to make it 7-0 just 3:07 into the contest.

Merrimack answered with a score on its next drive to tie the game following a successful PAT. However, the Owls responded when Slowley broke free around the edge for a 45-yard touchdown run that made it 14-7 after the PAT.



The Warriors tied the score with a 16-yard run in the final minute of the quarter to even the game at 15 minutes.

Southern Connecticut scored the only 10 points of the second quarter. Hazelton connected from 31 yards out just 1:03 into the frame. Slowley then busted through the middle for a 63-yard touchdown run that put the Owls ahead at halftime, 24-14.

Hazelton's second field goal of the day, this one from 33 yards, padded the SCSU advantage to 27-14 with 9:25 to play in the third quarter. However, the Warriors would cut the lead to six points before the close of the frame courtesy of a six-yard touchdown run.

Merrimack scored the only points of the fourth quarter on a 3-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-goal play.

Dion O'Joe (Waterbury, Conn.) finished with 12 tackles for the Owls, while Ikponmwosa Igbinosun (Rahway, N.J.) added 10 tackles and two sacks.