Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass. – A second half rally came up short for the Southern Connecticut State University football team on Saturday, as the Owls fell to Bentley by a 24-19 final in Northeast-10 Conference action.

The Owls dropped to 3-6 overall and 3-5 in Northeast-10 play. Bentley improved to 5-4, 4-4 in league action.

John Moscatel (Lexington, Mass.) had 190 all-purpose yards for the Owls. He had 17 rushes for 95 yards and added another 95 yards on returns. Vaughn Magee (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) rushed 17 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Brandon Basil (Northford, Conn.) was 15-of-30 for 172 yards and his first collegiate touchdown. Vito Fornarelli (Colchester, Conn.) totaled 60 yards on the ground along with a team-high five receptions for 45 yards.

Bentley opened the scoring just 51 seconds into the game on a 73-yard touchdown pass from Danny Guadagnoli to Jeff Hill. The Owls answered on their next drive with a 36-yard field goal from Devin Silverman (Berlin, Conn.) to cut the gap to 7-3.

A 28-yard field goal from Bentley's Michael Baron extended the lead to 10-3 later in the first quarter. Guadagnoli found Hill on a 21-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to pad the lead to 17-3 after a made PAT.

The Owls closed the gap to seven points at the break. Basil capped a 13-play, 62-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Travis Cusson (Westfield, Mass.). It was Cusson's first collegiate touchdown reception and Basil's first collegiate touchdown pass.



The only scoring of the third quarter was a 22-yard field goal from Silverman that cut the gap to 17-13 with just 70 seconds left in the frame.



Bentley pushed the lead to 24-13 early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run from Guadagnoli. The Owls countered with a 46-yard drive that was punctuated by a one-yard run from Magee.



Brian Wilcox (Jericho, Vt.) led the Owls with seven tackles, while Zachary Williams (Wolcott, Conn.) added five tackles and two sacks.

The Owls are back in action on Nov. 9 for a road game at AIC.