Final Stats

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Junior running back Vaughn Magee (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) set a new NCAA Division II single-quarter record with 187 of his 297 yards in the fourth quarter to lead the Southern Connecticut State University football team to a 45-34 win over Saint Anselm on Saturday afternoon.

The old mark of 184 yards in a quarter was set by Stefan Logan of South Dakota in a game against Truman on Sept. 3, 2005.

The Owls improved to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in Northeast-10 Conference play with the win. Saint Anselm is 0-5, 0-3.



Thanks to Magee's performance, Southern Connecticut now holds the Division II single-quarter, single-half and single-game rushing yards. Jarom Freeman rushed for 246 yards in the first half of a Nov. 2, 2007 game against Bryant in which he finished with 418 yards to set new Division II marks in both categories.

In all, Magee totaled 312 all-purpose yards and 30 carries. His totals for carries, all-purpose yards, rushing yards and touchdowns were all single-game highs.

Quarterback Jacob Jablonski (Gales Ferry, Conn.) finished 21-of-36 for 292 yards and two touchdowns. Willie Epps (Norwalk, Conn.) had five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown reception. Jerome Cunningham (Waterbury, Conn.), Jayson Holt (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) and Carlton Staggars (West Haven, Conn.) all four catches, with Holt also hauling in a touchdown.

Trailing 34-23 early in the fourth quarter, the SCSU comeback began with a 10-play, 83-yard drive that was capped by a 25-yard scoring run by Magee. Jablonski then hit Cunningham on a two-point conversion to cut the gap to 34-31.



The Owls' defense came through with a stop on the next possession and SCSU took over at its own 19 yard line. The offense needed only 80 seconds to go in front for good. Magee capped the drive with a 44-yard run to give SCSU a 38-34 lead.

The Hawks had a chance to regain the lead in the closing minutes, but the Owls defense again held tall. However, the offense was pinned back at its own 1 yard line on the ensuing punt. SCSU followed with a 12-play, 99-yard drive that Magee closed with a 26-yard run to put an exclamation mark on a record-breaking performance.

St. Anselm opened the scoring with a six-play, 63-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead only 3:28 into the game. The Owls countered with five-play, 60-yard march that ended when Magee scored from 11 yards out.

The hosts took a 9-7 lead just 34 seconds into the second quarter when the Hawks batted an errant snap out of their own end zone for a safety.

The Hawks went back in front, 14-9, midway through the second frame with an eight-play, 70 yard march. SCSU briefly regained the lead when Jablonski hit Holt on a 25-yard pass and run into the end zone for a 16-14 advantage. St. Anselm kicked a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the half to carry a one-point lead into the break at 17-16.



The seesaw affair continued into the second half. Jablonski found Epps on a 27-yard touchdown to put the Owls in front at 23-17. However, St. Anselm scored the next 17 points to build an 11-point lead with 14:53 remaining.


That's when Magee and the Owls offense took control to propel the team to victory.

Dion O'Joe (Waterbury, Conn.) led the defense with 10 tackles, while Sebron Woodley (Linden, N.J.) had eight stops.

SCSU is back in action on Oct. 6 for a road game at Pace.