Box Score Photo GalleryOSSINING, N.Y. – A pair of special teams touchdowns, combined with a strong defensive effort and more than 400 yards of total offense was a recipe for success for the Southern Connecticut State University football team in its 32-10 win over Pace on Saturday.
The Owls improved to 1-2, 1-1 in Northeast-10 Conference play with the win, while Pace is 0-3 and 0-2.
Senior
Jonathan Balcacer (Peabody, Mass.) collected the first Owls' touchdown of the day with an 80-yard punt return score. It was the first punt return score for SCSU since October, 2011, when Andre Privott accomplished the feat against Stonehill.
Later in the game, redshirt freshman
Justin Potts (Meriden, Conn.) recorded the first Owls' blocked punt since August, 2009 and scooped up the loose ball for a touchdown.
Running back
Donald Thomas (Bronx, N.Y.) finished with 13 rushes for 124 yards for his first effort over the century mark as an Owl. Quarterback
Raymond Catapano (Franklin Square, N.Y.) completed 12-of-18 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown and also rushed eight times for 69 yards.
Michael Cerisano (Newburgh, N.Y.) had a career-high 16 tackles to pace the defense, while
Zachary Williams (Wolcott, Conn.) finished with a pair of sacks.
A 17-yard field goal by Jeff Groth (Shelton, Conn.) provided the only points of the opening quarter for either team. In the second frame, Balcacer retreated for a punt and had it tip off his hands. He picked up the ball, followed a series of blocks and went the final 80 yards for a touchdown. Groth added the PAT for a 10-0 lead.
Pace put three points up on the board in the final minutes of the first half on a 25-yard field goal from Jake Armstrong. A 32-yard field goal by Groth was the only scoring of the third quarter.
The Owls put the game away by erupting for 19 fourth quarter points. The first offensive touchdown of the day came courtesy of a 25-yard touchdown pass from Catapano to
Isaiah Dockett (Bloomfield, N.J.) to push the lead to 19-3.
Southern's defense promptly forced Pace into another punting situation, and Potts broke through to block the kick and return it the final two yards for the score. Groth's PAT pushed the lead to 26-3.
On its next offensive possession,
Julian Hayes (Middletown, Conn.) scampered 18 yards along the near sideline for a touchdown that put the Owls ahead 32-3.
Pace would add a late touchdown to make it a 32-10 final.
The Owls are back in action next Saturday for a home game against AIC.
