Complete Game Notes as a PDF

A NEW SEASON BEGINS
The Southern Connecticut State University football team will open the 2012 campaign on the road against Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 1 at 1 p.m.  Fans who can't make it to the game can follow the Owls with live audio at www.sportingnewsct.com.

IN SEASON OPENERS
The Owls are 35-28-1 all-time in season openers. The 2012 season is the 65th in program history.

CAVANAUGH RANKS AMONG NCAA'S BEST
Head coach Rich Cavanaugh enters the 2012 season ranked No. 5 among all Division II active football coaches with 164 victories.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB
The Owls have welcomed 40 newcomers to the squad since the end of last season.

IN THE NE-10 PRESEASON POLL
SCSU was selected second in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason poll, as voted by the league's coaches.

TWO NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
Seniors William Chaffin and Willie Epps were both named preseason All-Americans by USA Football News and the CDFL/D2 vs. NAIA Senior Bowl. 

IN THE PRESEASON AFCA POLL
The Owls recieved six votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Preseason Coaches Poll. 

IGBINOSUN INKS WITH STEELERS
Ike Igbinosun was signed as an undrafted free agent after the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Igbinosun has been attending training camp with the Steelers in hopes of making the final roster.

ALUMS CARRYING THE CHAMPIONSHIP FLAG
Two former SCSU football student-athletes captured championships as coaches this past winter. Kevin Gilbride, offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, won his second Super Bowl title in the past four years as the Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. In addition, Jeff Stoutland, offensive line coach for the University of Alabama, helped the Crimson Tide win the 2012 BCS National Championship.

AMONG THE KEY DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Linebacker Jack Cooper is the top returning tackler from a year ago. He made 48 stops a year ago. Classmate Steven Teague posted 40 tackles last season and tied for the team-high with three interceptions. Teague also broke up five passes.

OWLS CLINCH 11TH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON
Southern Connecticut clinched its 11th straight winning season with a victory over AIC on Oct. 22. The Owls have now posted 18 consecutive seasons with a final record at or above the .500 mark. In all, head coach Rich Cavanaugh has posted 19 winning seasons with the Owls.

ALL-TIME VERSUS IUP
Indiana (Pa.) holds a 6-0 lead all-time against SCSU.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON IN THE BOOKS
The Owls enjoyed a 2011 campaign in which they posted their 11th consecutive winning season and finished with a 7-3 overall mark.

FOUR OWLS NAMED ALL-ECAC
The Owls had four student-athletes - Michael Escobar, Christopher Hazelton, Ike Igbinosun and Rashaad Slowley -  recognized with year-end honors from the Eastern College Athletic Conference as Division II Football All-Stars.

TWO NAMED ALL-REGION
Defensive lineman Ike Igbinosun and running back Rashaad Slowley were named to both the All-Region and All-New England teams for their play during the 2011 season.

EVERYBODY'S ALL-AMERICANS
Sam-uel Johnson, Andre Privott and Rashaad Slowley were named All-Americans for their play in 2011. The trio was all recognized by www.d2proday.com. In addition, Slowley was also selected an All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette, the Beyond College Sports Network and www.d2football.com.

OWLS NAMED 2011 ECAC TEAM OF THE YEAR
Southern Connecticut was selected as the 2011 ECAC Team of the Year for their play during the season.

NINE NAMED ALL-CONFERENCE
Nine members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team - William Chaffin, Willie Epps, Michael Escobar, Christopher Hazelton, Ike Igbinosun, Sam-uel Johnson, Andre Privott , Chevar Rankins and Rashaad Slowley - were tabbed for the All-Northeast-10 Conference team at the conclusion of the season. Chaffin and Epps both return this fall.

EPPS MOVING UP THE CAREER CHARTS
Wide receiver Willie Epps enters his final collegiate season ranked among the all-time leaders at SCSU in several categories. He is currently fifth all-time in both receiving yards (2,289) and touchdown receptions (22) and is seventh in receptions (110).

HOLT STEPS UP
Wide receiver Jayson Holt enjoyed a breakout year in 2011. He finished third on the club with 25 receptions for 197 receiving yards for the Owls.

SLOWLEY A HARLON HILL AWARD FINALIST
Rashaad Slowley was named a finalist for the 2011 Harlon Hill Award, given annually to the top Division II football player in the nation.

SLOWLEY STANDS ALONE
Thanks to a four touchdown showing against AIC, Rashaad Slowley moved into first place on the SCSU all-time single-season touchdown and scoring charts. Rashaad Dumas had 25 touchdowns and 150 total points in 1998. Slowley finished with 29 scores on the year (27 rushing).

MR. 3000
Rashaad Slowley moved into second place on the school's all-time career rushing list with 3,460 yards. He also finished second all-time in career touchdowns with 45 and total points with 272.

ROAD TRIP
In 2011 Southern Connecticut concluded the road portion of its schedule with a 5-1 mark, including five straight wins to close out the slate.

LYNCH BESTS OWN TOTAL OFFENSE MARK
Senior quarterback Kevin Lynch broke his own total offense mark set in 2010 against Merrimack in the game against AIC on Oct. 22. Lynch had 432 yards in 2010 against the Warriors and registered 438 yards (430 passing, eight rushing) against AIC. Lynch has the two of the top three single-game passing efforts in school history - 443 yards against Merrimack in 2010 and 430 against AIC in 2011. Steve Armstrong finished with 436 yards in a 2005 game against Bryant.

NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE
The 61 point margin of victory in the shutout over Pace was the largest margin in any Owls' shutout in school history. SCSU defeated Geneva, 60-0, in 1961, for the old mark.

SLOWLEY JUST MISSES NCAA DIVISION II RECORD
The 236 yard effort in the second half of the win over Assumption by senior running back Rashaad Slowley was the second-highest single-half total in NCAA Division II history. Jarom Freeman rushed for 251 of his 418 yards in the first half of the 2007 game against Bryant.

SLOWLEY SETS NEW SINGLE-GAME TD MARK
Senior running back Rashaad Slowley etched his name in the SCSU record book with a school single-game record six touchdowns in the win at St. Anselm. He scored on runs of 11, 7, 4, 12, 5 and 3 yards. Five different individuals - Larry Kane, Rashaan Dumas (twice), Darrin Davis, Brandon Toles and Jarom Freeman - had all previously scored five times in a game. Slowley finished with 205 yards on a career-high 35 carries.

ON DECK 
Southern Connecticut is back in action on Sept. 8 at Stonehill for the Northeast-10 opener.