Complete Game Notes as a PDFLive StatsON THE ROAD AGAINThe Southern Connecticut State University football team is back in action on Saturday at noon when it travels to Ossining, N.Y. for a Northeast-10 Conference road game at Pace. There will be live Twitter updates available through www.southernctowls.com and the official athletic department Twitter feed.
ALL-TIME VS. PACESouthern Connecticut leads the all-time series with the Setters by a 17-0 margin.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE...Until last Saturday, Southern Connecticut had not played an overtime contest since the first week of the 2003 season against Merrimack. The Owls won that game by a 33-27 final, but had played 119 games since then without going to extra time.
AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUTFreshman quarterback
Raymond Catapano entered the Saint Anselm contest on the third offensive series and took the reins from there. In total, he completed 17-of-24 passes for 192 yards and also rushed 20 times for 55 yards with a touchdown.Â
CATAPANO RECEIVES NE-10 WEEKLY HONORSBy virtue of his performance against St. Anselm,
Raymond Catapano was named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll.
WILCOX UP TO HIS OLD TRICKSA year after registering 111 tackles to lead the club, senior linebacker
Brian Wilcox holds the team-lead with 20 tackles through the first two games of this year.
CAREER-HIGH DAY FOR TAYLORSenior captain and defensive lineman
Carlif Taylor recorded a career-high 11 tackles in the game against St. Anselm.
LAST TIME OUTA fourth quarter comeback by the Southern Connecticut State University football team set the stage for overtime, but it was a nine-yard touchdown run by Saint Anselm's Elad Covaliu in the extra frame that gave the Hawks a 23-20 win over the Owls on Saturday.
• Freshman quarterback
Raymond Catapano entered the game on the third series and put together an impressive performance in his collegiate debut. He completed 17-of-24 passes for 192 yards and also rushed 20 times for 55 yards with a touchdown. Running back
Julian Hayes had 88 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown.
Donald Thomas finished with 13 rushes for 65 yards.
• The defense was led by 11 tackles from captain
Carlif Taylor.
Brian Wilcox Â
Brandon Martin and
Kayjuan Bynum each tallied an interception for the Owls.
• Trailing 17-10 midway through the fourth quarter, the Owls assembled an 11-play, 68-yard drive to tie the game at 17-17. Catapano capped the drive with a three-yard run, a play in which he scrambled and took flight at the goal line for the score just before the ball was knocked free. Jeff Groth's PAT was partially blocked, but it had just enough to get over to tie the game.
• The Owls had the ball first in overtime and drove down to the Hawks' 1 before having to settle for a 19-yard field goal from Groth.
 • Southern was one play away from the win in the extra frame. St. Anselm faced a 4th and 15 from the 30-yard line and completed a 21-yard pass. On the next play, Covaliu found the end zone for the winning score.
• SCSU opened the scoring with a 12-play, 66-yard drive late in the first quarter that was capped by a five-yard run from Hayes. Groth added the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
• The Hawks tied the score on the first play of the second quarter on a halfback option pass from Justin Bernard to Ahkeen Williams.
• SCSU went back in front on a 23-yard field goal from Groth late in the first half, and the score stayed that way into the intermission.
• Saint Anselm scored all 10 points of the third quarter to build a 17-10 lead. The Hawks went ahead on a six-yard pass from Yianni Gavalas to Bernard, which was followed by a successful PAT. Shane Grayson added a 33-yard field goal later in the quarter to make it 17-10.
THE LAST MEETING WITH PACERunning back
John Moscatel amassed 201 all-purpose yards and scored a career-high four touchdowns to send the Southern Connecticut State University football team to a 47-18 win over Pace on Oct. 4, 2013 at Jess Dow Field.
• Moscatel had 159 rushing yards on 17 carries along with two kickoff returns for 42 yards.
Gary Williams registered six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
Vito Fornarelli posted four catches for 91 yards. Quarterback
Jacob Jablonski finished 15-of-24 for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
• The defense was led by
Jonathan Balcacer, who had 10 tackles, while
Brian Wilcox added eight tackles.
• Pace opened the scoring on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Washington to Cameron Davis with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter. The Owls went in front for good on their next possession, as Moscatel broke free through the middle of the line, sidestepped a defender and went the distance on a 52-yard run.
Devin Silverman added the PAT to make it 7-6 in favor of the Owls.
• SCSU extended its lead to 14-6 early in the second quarter when Moscatel capped a 10-play, 61-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. Silverman added the PAT for an eight-point lead.
• Pace trimmed the lead to two points on its next drive when Washington found Tunde Faitiregun on a 4-yard touchdown pass.
• The Owls responded with a six-play, 70-yard drive that culminated on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Jablonski to Williams to make it 20-12. SCSU carried the eight-point lead into halftime.
• The hosts put the game out of reach by scoring three third quarter touchdowns. The Owls took the opening kickoff of the second half and went 57 yards in five plays, capped by a five-yard touchdown pass from Jablonski to Williams. Silverman's PAT made it 27-12.
• Later in the quarter, Moscatel ended a 50-yard, six-play drive with a three-yard run to pad the lead to 34-12 after the successful PAT. Moscatel added one more touchdown run, another three-yard scamper, in the final 90 seconds of the third quarter to push the lead to 41-12 after the PAT.
• Pace stopped the Owls' 27 point run with a two-yard touchdown run from Delaney Wallace midway through the fourth quarter.
• De'Vaghn Millington then closed out the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run to make it a 47-18 final.
BYNUM NAMED TO NE-10 WEEKLY HONOR ROLLSophomore linebacker
Kayjuan Bynum was selected to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll for his play in the Owls' season opening contest at Gannon.
IN SEASON OPENERSThe Owls are 35-31-1 all-time in season openers. The 2014 season was the 67th in program history.
THREE OWLS EARN PRESEASON HONORSThree members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team – seniors
John Moscatel,
Carlif Taylor and
Brian Wilcox – were recognized with preseason All-America honors from USA College Football and preseason All-Conference honors from the Beyond Sports Network.
IN THE NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLLThe Southern Connecticut State University football team has been selected No. 7 in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches.
1. American Int'l – 81 (9)
2. New Haven – 68
3. Stonehill – 67 (1)
4-tie. Assumption - 47
4-tie. Merrimack - 47
6. LIU Post - 44
7. So. Connecticut - 378. Bentley - 31
9. Saint Anselm - 19
10. Pace – 9
( ) – indicates first-place votes
TAYLOR SELECTED AS OWLS' CAPTAINSenior defensive lineman
Carlif Taylor will serve as the Owls' captain during the 2014 season.
TWO OWLS ON CURRENT NFL ROSTERSFormer Owls' standouts Ike Igbinosun and Jerome Cunningham were both in NFL training camps this summer with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants, respectively. Igbinosun was signed by the Bills to their practice squad at the conclusion of training camp. This will mark his second year in a row with the Bills after also serving as a part of their practice squad last year. Cunningham also signed with the Giants' practice squad during the first week of September.
THE 2014 SCHEDULEThe Owls have 11 games scheduled for the 2014 campaign. The year opens with a road game at Gannon on Sept. 6. In total, the opponents have been set for the first 10 dates of the year, with SCSU playing five home and five road games. In addition, the Northeast-10 Conference will once again host its championship weekend on Nov. 15.
TWO WITH OWLS' TIES EARN WALSH FELLOWSHIPSCurrent Owls' defensive coordinator
Jon Shelton and former Owls' All-American and nine-year NFL veteran Jacques Cesaire were among the individuals who earned Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship this summer. The annual program is administered by the NFL Management Council and NFL Player Engagement. Shelton was on the sidelines with the Philadelphia Eagles, of whom former Owls' captain Jeff Stoutland is now an assistant coach, while Cesaire joined the staff of his former club, the Chargers.
A FAMILIAR FACE TAKES THE REINSTom Godek '88, a former Owls' captain and the team's offensive coordinator for the last 13 seasons, was formally named as the sixth head football coach in the history of the Southern Connecticut State University program on April 4.
• The 2010 Division II/III Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, Godek took the Owls' offensive attack to new heights during his tenure as offensive coordinator. A total of 68 players on the offensive side of the ball have been recognized with All-Northeast-10 honors since Godek joined the staff in 2001.
• In addition, the Owls have shattered numerous offensive marks along the way. Since his arrival, the club accumulated new season highs for total yards, rushing yards, passing yards, touchdowns scored and points scored, along with a new program record for total offense in one game.
• As a student-athlete, Godek suited up for the Owls from 1984-87 and was a two-time All-New England selection. As a senior, he served as team captain and was an All-ECAC pick.
• Prior to joining the staff at his alma mater, Godek coached for seven seasons (1994-2000) at American International. While with the Yellow Jackets, Godek helped the club win four division titles en route to four consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Championship appearances. AIC claimed the conference title on two occasions. He also coached two NE-10 Offensive Linemen of the Year, along with 1999 Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up Kavin Gaillaird.
• He replaces Rich Cavanaugh, who retired at the conclusion of the 2013 season. The succession of Owls' coaches includes: Jess Dow (1948-65; 108-40-6), Harry Shay (1966-75; 47-44), George DeLeone (1976-79; 15-24), Kevin Gilbride (1980-84; 35-14-2) and Cavanaugh (1985-2013; 170-131-1)
THREE EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORSThree members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team – juniors
John Moscatel,
Carlif Taylor and
Brian Wilcox – were recognized with All-America honors from USA College Football at the conclusion of the season. Wilcox was named to the First-Team, while Moscatel was a Third-Team pick. Taylor earned Honorable Mention laurels.
OWLS RANK AMONG FINAL NCAA STAT LEADERSThe Owls finished the 2013 season ranked among the NCAA statistics leaders in several categories, while two members of the team also ranked individually.
• On the individual front,
John Moscatel closed the year ranked No. 8 for all-purpose yards per game, while
Brian Wilcox was No. 15 in solo tackles
• As a team, the Owls closed the year in the top 25 in Division II in six categories. They were No. 14 for time of possession and No. 20 in pass sacks allowed, They also ranked No. 22 in fewest penalty yards per game, rushing defense and fumbles lost and were No. 24 in tackles for loss allowed.
WILCOX NAMED ALL-ECACLinebacker
Brian Wilcox named All-ECAC for his play during the 2013 season. Previously an All-Northeast-10 Conference selection, Wilcox became just the third player in school history to amass more than 100 tackles in a season and the first since 1996. In total, the middle linebacker recorded 111 stops, which was third in the Northeast-10.Â
FOUR EARN CONFERENCE HONORSFour members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team – senior
Dominick Diglio and  juniors
John Moscatel,
Carlif Taylor and
Brian Wilcox - were awarded with year-end honors from the Northeast-10 Conference, as selected by the league's coaches. All four were selected to the Second-Team.
EPPS SELECTED TO NATIONAL BOWL GAMEFor the second year in a row, Willie Epps was selected to play in the National Bowl Game on December 8 in Miami. Epps capped his career in 2012 by earning All-Conference accolades for the third consecutive year after leading the Owls' wide receivers in catches (39), receiving yards (665) and touchdowns (four). He finished his career ranked second all-time at Southern Connecticut in receiving yards (2,868), third in touchdown receptions (26) and fourth in receptions (147). Epps was also named a preseason All-American as well as an All-ECAC pick during his career with the Owls.
AMONG THE KEY DEFENSIVE RETURNERSFive of the top six tacklers from 2013 are back for the Owls this fall.
Brian Wilcox is the top returning tackler from a year ago. He made 111 stops a year ago.
Carlif Taylor (54 tackles),
Mike Dunkley (42 tackles),
Jonathan Balcacer (38 tackles) and Â
A.J. Marsiglia (37 tackles) are also back.
ON DECKThe Owls are back in action on Sept. 27 for a home game against AIC.