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TWO-GAME HOMESTAND KICKS OFF
Following a 32-10 win over Pace last time out, the Southern Connecticut State University football team returns to the gridiron on Saturday at noon for a home game against AIC. Fans who can't make it to Jess Dow Field can follow the action with live video on www.sportingnewsct.com with Don Boyle on the call. In addition, there will be live stats available through www.southernctowls.com and live Twitter updates the official SCSU athletic department feed.



ALL-TIME VS. AIC
Southern Connecticut leads the all-time series with the Yellow Jackets by a 31-23-3 margin. The Owls have faced AIC more than any other opponent in program history.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...
The Owls accomplished several feats that hadn't taken place in several years last time out against Pace.
• Justin Potts' blocked punt was the first for the Owls since Josh McWilliams did so in the 2009 season opener against Indiana, Pa. - a stretch of 53 games.
• Jonathan Balcacer's punt return touchdown was the first for the Owls since Andre Privott returned a punt for a score during the 2011 Homecoming Nor'easter game against Stonehill - a stretch of 25 games.
• Southern's two punt return touchdowns against Pace marked the first time since November 5, 2005. In that game, Jim Lukowiak returned two punts for scores (81 and 91 yards). It had been 90 games since the Owls had returned two punts for touchdowns.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...TAKE TWO
Until the Saint Anselm game, 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.

CAREER DAYS FOR CERISANO, THOMAS
Sophomore linebacker Michael Cerisano posted a career-high 16 tackles along with two sacks in the win over Pace. Running back Donald Thomas accumulated 124 yards on the ground on 13 carries, a career-high total. For their efforts, both were named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll.

RUNNING INTO A FLOCK OF OWLS
Southern Connecticut held Pace to just 16 yards rushing on 32 carries last time out. The Owls rushed for 269 yards.

WIN NO. 1 FOR GODEK
Head coach Tom Godek collected his first win in that capacity last time out against Pace after 82 victories while serving as the team's offensive coordinator during the previous 13 seasons.

LAST TIME OUT
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.
• Senior Jonathan Balcacer collected the first Owls' touchdown of the day with an 80-yard punt return score. 
• Later in the game, redshirt freshman Justin Potts recorded a blocked punt and then scooped up the loose ball for a two-yard touchdown return.
 • Running back Donald Thomas finished with 13 rushes for 124 yards for his first effort over the century mark as an Owl. Quarterback Raymond Catapano completed 12-of-18 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown and also rushed eight times for 69 yards.
 • Michael Cerisano had a career-high 16 tackles to pace the defense, while Zachary Williams, Jaime Holbrook and Cerisano all finished with a pair of sacks.
 • A 17-yard field goal by Jeff Groth 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 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 scampered 18 yards along the near sideline for a touchdown that put the Owls ahead 32-3. Pace added a late touchdown to make it 32-10.
 
THE LAST MEETING WITH AIC
The Southern Connecticut State University football team dropped a 33-14 decision at American International College in the final game of the 2013 regular season for both teams last November 9.
• The Owls turned the ball over on its opening possession. AIC quickly turned that into seven points on a two-yard touchdown run from Kevin Arduino. The PAT made it 7-0.
• The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 14-0 lead later in the first quarter on a 20-yard run from Maurice Easterling.
• Southern Connecticut cut the lead in half with 9:05 remaining in the half when John Moscatel found the end zone on a four-yard run. Devin Silverman added the PAT.
• Arduino's second touchdown run of the day, this one from a yard out, pushed the AIC advantage to 21-7 after a PAT.
• However, the Owls capitalized on their final drive of the first half. The series concluded when Brandon Basil connected with Dwayne Ellis on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Silverman's PAT made it 21-14 at the break.
• AIC outscored the Owls by a 9-0 margin in the third quarter to pad its lead to 30-14. A field goal early in the fourth quarter pushed the score to 33-14.

AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
Freshman 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. 

CATAPANO RECEIVES NE-10 WEEKLY HONORS
By virtue of his performance against St. Anselm, Raymond Catapano was named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll.

WILCOX UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS
A year after registering 111 tackles to lead the club, senior linebacker Brian Wilcox holds the team-lead with 27 tackles through the first two games of this year.

CAREER-HIGH DAY FOR TAYLOR
Senior captain and defensive lineman Carlif Taylor recorded a career-high 11 tackles in the game against St. Anselm.

BYNUM NAMED TO NE-10 WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Sophomore 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 OPENERS
The Owls are 35-31-1 all-time in season openers. The 2014 season was the 67th in program history.

THREE OWLS EARN PRESEASON HONORS
Three 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.

TAYLOR SELECTED AS OWLS' CAPTAIN
Senior defensive lineman Carlif Taylor will serve as the Owls' captain during the 2014 season.

TWO OWLS ON CURRENT NFL ROSTERS
Former 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.

IN THE NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLL
The 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 - 37
8. Bentley - 31
9. Saint Anselm - 19
10. Pace – 9
( ) – indicates first-place votes

THE 2014 SCHEDULE
The 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 FELLOWSHIPS
Current 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 REINS
Tom 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 HONORS
Three 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 LEADERS
The 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-ECAC
Linebacker 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. 

FOUR EARN CONFERENCE HONORS
Four 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 GAME
For 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 RETURNERS
Five 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  A.J. Marsiglia (37 tackles) are also back.

ON DECK
The Owls are back in action on Oct. 4 for a home game against Assumption.