Box Score NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Despite a powerful offensive performance that included 99 plays and 623 yards of total offense, the Southern Connecticut State University football team lost a 60-50 decision to Assumption on Saturday in the annual Homecoming game.
The Owls held a 35-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Assumption outscored the Owls by a 29-15 margin over the final 15 minutes to claim the 10-point win.
SCSU dropped to 2-5 overall and 2-4 in Northeast-10 play with the loss. Assumption improved to 6-1 and 5-1.
Quarterback
Robert Nittolo (Hillsborough, N.J.) set two new SCSU single-game records while playing a hand in six Owls' touchdowns in the game. He set a new single-game record for total offense plays with 65, breaking the old mark of 60 set by Jason Hawes in 1990. Nittolo also set a new single-game record for most total offense yards with 442 yards, eclipsing the old mark of 438 set by Kevin Lynch in 2011. He rushed for three touchdowns and threw for three more, completing 28-of-49 passes for 357 yards, while rushing 16 times for 85 yards.
Seimou Smith (Concord, N.H.) hauled in 10 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns to lead the wide receivers.
Austin Jones (Hartsdale, N.Y.) had seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Devante Jenkins (Carson, Calif.) tallied five catches for 91 yards.
Robert Thomas (Bronx, N.Y.) rushed for 108 yards on 21 carries.
John Moscatel (Lexington, Mass.) finished with 161 all-purpose yards (69 rushing, 92 return) and a touchdown.
Southern Connecticut led the contest for the vast majority of the evening. The Owls went 58 yards in 10 plays on their opening drive, capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Nittolo to Smith.
Evan Nelson (Madison, Conn.) added the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
Assumption tied the game later in the first quarter on a 14-yard pass from Brendan Tobey to Deonte Harris, with the PAT evening it at 7-7. Nittolo closed an eight-play, 78-yard drive on Southern's next possession with a five-yard run to put the Owls back ahead, 14-7.
The first play of the second quarter resulted in Southern's third touchdown as Nittolo found Smith from 13 yards out on a successful fourth down attempt. Nelson's PAT made it 21-7.
The Greyhounds used a 29-yard field goal from Cole Tracy to get within 21-10 and then successfully recovered an onside kick after that. The ensuing drive concluded with a six-yard run from Tobey that cut the gap to just four at 21-17.
The Owls restored their 11-point lead when Nittolo found the end zone with his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one also from five yards out for a 28-17 cushion. The final score of the first half then went to the visitors as Alex Shain broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run. SCSU held a 28-24 lead at the half.
Each team scored a touchdown in the third quarter. Moscatel ended the opening drive of the second half with a four-yard touchdown run to end a six-play, 80-yard drive. Tobey then hit Ashton Grant on a 29-yard touchdown pass to make it a four-point game again at 35-31 only 46 seconds later.
Trailing by four entering the fourth quarter, the Greyhounds took the lead on a 19-yard run from Shain, followed by a successful PAT for a 38-35 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the Owls fumbled, but recovered in their own end zone for a safety. James Ward then broke off a 79-yard touchdown run for a 46-35 advantage early in the fourth quarter.
SCSU hung around and got back within three on its next drive, one that closed with a nine-yard pass from Nittolo to Jones. Nittolo then hit Jenkins on the two-point attempt to trim the Assumption lead to 46-43.
The Greyhounds scored the next two touchdowns to build a 17-point lead before Nittolo ran it in from seven yards out in the final minute.
Southern Connecticut is back in action next Saturday for a road game at St. Anselm.
