2015 Southern Connecticut State University Football Game Notes - Game 10
Southern Connecticut (3-6, 3-5 NE-10) vs. Merrimack (5-4, 5-3 NE-10)
Nov. 7, 2015 • 12 p.m. • New Haven, Conn.

Complete Game Notes as a PDF

BACK AT HOME
Coming off a hard-fought three point loss at LIU-Post last time out, the Southern Connecticut State University football team returns home on Saturday to face Merrimack in a noon start.

ALL-TIME AGAINST MERRIMACK
The all-time series between the two schools is even at 9-9.

LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST MEETING
The Southern Connecticut State University football team lost to Merrimack College in a Northeast-10 Conference contest, 35-7, on Nov. 8, 2014.
• Brian Wilcox registered his second two interception outing of the year for the Owls and finished with 10 tackles.  Michael Cerisano added nine tackles and an interception. Zachary Williams finished with six tackles, including five for loss.
• The Warriors opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 76-yard pass from Nick Laspada to Justin Mount. The PAT made it 7-0 after the opening quarter.
• SCSU tied the game on the first play of the second quarter on a 29-yard run from Shaquan Hall. Jeff Groth added the PAT to even the score.
• Merrimack took the ensuing possession and went back ahead for good in just five plays, capped by a five-yard run from Armond McRae. Laspada then hit Mount on a 12-yard touchdown pass later in the second quarter to make it a 21-7 cushion at halftime.
• The Warriors added 14 points in the third quarter to build a 35-7 cushion.

LAST TIME OUT
A record-setting day from quarterback Robert Nittolo, a fourth straight 100-yard game from Robert Thomas and a fourth quarter rally were not enough for a win on Saturday, as the Southern Connecticut State University football team was edged 49-46 at LIU-Post.
• Trailing 49-24 in the fourth quarter, the Owls scored the final 22 points of the game. However, the Pioneers were able to run out the clock in the closing minutes to secure the win.
• Nittolo set a new SCSU single-game record with 51 attempts, breaking the old mark of 50 set by Kevin Dickinson against Stony Brook in 2000. He was 25-of-51 for 352 yards and three touchdowns. Thomas rushed 25 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns.
• Devante Jenkins tallied seven catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns, all team-highs.
• The two teams traded first quarter touchdowns. LIU-Post opened the scoring on its first possession before the Owls came back later in the quarter on a 2-yard run from Thomas. Evan Nelson added the PAT to even the score,
• The Pioneers scored three straight touchdowns in a span of 4:28 early in the second quarter to build a 28-7 lead. Nelson countered with a 30-yard field goal to close the gap to 28-10, but LIU-Post tacked on one more score before the break for a 35-10 lead.
• The clubs alternated third quarter scores as well. Thomas found the end zone from 12 yards out to make it a 35-17 game. After an LIU-Post score, Nittolo hit Jenkins on a 19-yard pass to make it 42-24. The Pioneers added one more score before the period ended for a 49-24 lead.
• LIU-Post would not score again, as the Owls put up all 22 points that went on the board in the fourth quarter. The second touchdown pass of the day from Nittolo to Jenkins, this one from a yard out, cut the gap to 49-31. Thomas' three-yard TD run later in the frame made it 49-38. The Owls weren't done yet, as Nittolo hit Ryne Griesenauer from 10 yards out. The ensuing two-point try to Terrell Price was good to get SCSU within three at 49-46. 
• The Pioneers recovered the ensuing kickoff and compiled enough first downs to run out the clock for the win.

SENIOR SENDOFF
The Owls will recognize a group of 13 seniors prior to Saturday's game against Merrimack - Delmont Araujo, Wesley Crowell, Louis DiRienzo, Mike Dunkley, Michael Eckrote, Jamie Holbrook, Michael Johnson, John Moscatel, Jamie O'Bryan, Terrell Price, Tyrell Robinson, Kameron Tedder and Robert Thomas.

IN THE MIX
With a few bounces here or there, the Owls' overall record could be a lot different this season. SCSU lost three games (Gannon, Bentley and LIU-Post) by a combined nine points. In addition, the Owls led in the fourth quarter of the loss to Assumption and were tied in the fourth quarter of the loss to New Haven.

CENTURY MARK A RARE FEAT
Southern Connecticut ran 102 plays against LIU-Post, easily a season-high, and also the third time this year that the Owls ran 90 or more plays in a game.

MOSCATEL SETS NEW SEASON-HIGH
With 193 all-purpose yards against LIU-Post, John Moscatel set a new season-high in that department. 

NEAR THE TOP IN TIME OF POSSESSION
Southern Connecticut ranks No. 3 in Division II in time of  possession. The Owls hang on to the ball for an average of 34:05 a game. Brevard leads the nation with a 34:27 average total.

A BIG IMPACT ON A NATIONAL STAGE
Devante Jenkins has certainly made his presence felt in his first as an Owl. His 13 touchdown receptions are No. 2 in Division II in that category, behind only Jon Schnaars of East Stroudsburg, who has 17 touchdown catches.

SCHOOL RECORDS IN SIGHT FOR JENKINS
With two games to go in the regular season, Devante Jenkins is in sight of two SCSU single-season records.
• He is 12 catches shy of matching the single-season mark of 68 receptions, set by Raheem Duncan in 1999.
• Jenkins has already tied he second-best single-season mark in program history with 13 touchdown receptions (also accomplished by Jim Lukowiak in 2003 and Jeff Cupe in 2002). Lukowiak also holds the single-season record of 17 set in 2005.

AMONG THE NE-10 LEADERS
• Devante Jenkins is first in the league with 13 touchdown receptions.
• Jenkins also ranks second in the league with 56 receptions and in receiving yards/game.
• The Owls have two of the top 10 leaders in sacks. Kayjuan Bynum is in a tie for the league lead with seven sacks.  Kameron Tedder is tied for eighth in the league with five sacks.
• Rob Nittolo is third in the league with 17 touchdown passes.
• Robert Thomas is fifth in the league in rushing yards/game and third in rushing touchdowns.

THOMAS TOTALING UP THE YARDS
Robert Thomas now has four consecutive 100-plus yard efforts this year, including a career-high 184 yards against St. Anselm. Thomas is the first Owl to have four straight 100-yard games since John Moscatel did it from Sept. 20-Oct. 12, 2013.

DUO EARNS NE-10 WEEKLY HONORS
Robert Thomas was named to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll for the second time this year following the game at LIU-Post. In addition, Robert Nittolo was named to the weekly honor roll as well.

NELSON HITTING HIS STRIDE
Evan Nelson hit his first career field goal against LIU-Post and also has made 20-of-21 extra points since taking over placekicking duties. Furthermore, the one failed PAT was the result of a poor hold.

CAREER DAY FOR GRIESENAUER
Tight end Ryne Griesenauer had career-highs of six catches, 73 yards and a touchdown in the game against LIU-Post.

PELZER POSTS STATISTICAL BEST
Brandon Pelzer registered 10 tackles against St. Anselm, a new career-high.

JENKINS CONTINUES TO IMPRESS
Devante Jenkins recorded his fifth multiple-touchdown effort of the year in the game at LIU-Post, along with his third 100-plus yard effort.

JENKINS EARNS NE-10 HONORS...x3
Devante Jenkins has been named to the Northeast-10 Conference weekly honor roll three times so far this year - for his efforts in the season opener against Gannon, the game at Bentley and most recently, the win over St. Anselm.

RECORD SETTING NIGHT FOR NITTOLO
Robert Nittolo set two new SCSU single-game records while playing a hand in six Owls' touchdowns in the game against Assumption 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. 

MORE NUGGETS FROM THE ASSUMPTION GAME...
• It marked the 44th time in school history that Southern scored 50 or more points in a game. The Owls had been 43-0 in such contests prior to that game.
• SCSU scored 50 points in a game for the first time in since 2009, a 61-0 win over Pace.
• SCSU allowed at least 50 points in a game for the 13th time in school history. The Owls are 1-12 when allowing 50 points.
• It was the third time in school history that the Owls allowed at least 60 points in a game. SCSU is now 1-2 in those games.
• With 110 combined points, it was the fourth-highest scoring game in school history.

NITTOLO PROVES A DUAL THREAT
Robert Nittolo accomplished two feats that hadn't been achieved in a while in the game against Assumption. His three rushing touchdowns were the first for an Owl since John Moscatel did so against Pace on Oct. 4, 2013. In addition, Nittolo was the first Owl to throw for over 300 yards since Jacob Jablonski had 337 yards against Pace on Oct. 6, 2012.

NITTOLO EARNS WEEKLY HONORS
Robert Nittolo was named the Northast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week for his play against Assumption. It was the second time this year that he has earned the honor.

MOSCATEL RETURNS TO THE END ZONE
After missing all of last year due to injury, John Moscatel's touchdown against Assumption was his first since finding the end zone against AIC on Nov. 9, 2013.

SMITH, JONES HAVE CAREER DAYS
Wide receivers Seimou Smith and Austin Jones played a key role in the prolific production against Assumption with career days. Smith (10 catches, 138 yards, two touchdowns) and Jones (seven catches, 71 yards, one touchdown) each set new career highs in all three categories in the contest.

THOMAS EARNS NE-10 WEEKLY HONORS
Thanks to his career day against Pace with 128 all-purpose yards, including 108 rushing yards, Robert Thomas was named to the Northeast-10 weekly honor roll on Oct. 12.

YOUTH HAS BEEN SERVED
Plenty of new faces have seen their first significant collegiate action this year for the Owls. Thus far, a total of 20 student-athletes who are either true freshmen or redshirt freshmen have taken to the field this fall.

RAY "CATA-PULTS" THE OWLS TO VICTORY
Sophomore quarterback Raymond Catapano engineered a fourth quarter comeback for the Owls against Pace. He tossed two touchdowns as part of the victory after coming into the game in the second quarter.

ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS FOR BYNUM
Kayjuan Bynum had one of the finest defensive performances in SCSU history in the win over Stonehill. He became the first Owl in seven years to notch at least three sacks in a game, with the last being Andrew Pratt against AIC in 2008. In addition, no Owl had forced multiple fumbles in a game since Daniel Allen accomplished the feat against Pace in 2010.

TWO OWLS CAPTURE NE-10 WEEKLY HONORS
By virtue of their efforts in the win over Stonehill, Kayjuan Bynum (Co-Defensive Player of the Week) and Robert Nittolo (Rookie of the Week) earned weekly honors from the Northeast-10 Conference.

...AND WEEKLY ECAC HONORS TOO
Kayjuan Bynum (Defensive Player of the Week) and Robert Nittolo (Rookie of the Week) were also recognized by the ECAC as Division II weekly standouts as a result of their play against Stonehill.

BYNUM ADDS ANOTHER HONOR
In addition to his NE-10 accolades, Kayjuan Bynum was also tabbed as a HERO Sports Defensive Stud of the Week.

USA COLLEGE FOOTBALL LAUDS PAIR
USA College Football named Robert Nittolo as its Division II Offensive Rookie of the Week, while Kayjuan Bynum was named to the weekly honorable mention defensive unit.

A FEW FIRSTS FOR THE OWLS...
• Evan Nelson made his debut against Stonehill and was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points.
• Delmont Araujo blocked his first punt as an Owl against Stonehill. It was the third blocked punt for the Owls in the last two seasons.
• Seimou Smith and Austin Jones each had their first touchdown receptions as Owls against Stonehill.
• Jared Moorer and David Spears each had their first career sacks, while Brandon Pelzer had his first career fumble recovery.
• The seven team sacks for the Owls against Stonehill were the most since 2008, when SCSU had eight in a game against Bentley.

OWLS SPREADING IT AROUND
Twelve different receivers have recorded a reception for the Owls this year.

MOSCATEL MAKES A STRONG RETURN
Prior to Sept. 25, John Moscatel's last appearance as an Owl came in the second-to-last game of the 2013 season against AIC. After being sidelined due to injury since then, he returned for the New Haven game and picked up right where he left off. In total, he registered 173 all-purpose yards (40 rushing, 17 receiving, 116 return) on the evening.

TURNOVERS MADE IT TOUGH
SCSU could have easily been 2-1 through its first three games if not for some trouble with turnovers. The Owls had eight giveaways (five fumbles, three interceptions) in those games. Two fumbles in the opener against Gannon directly led to 13 points for the visitors. Two more fumbles, including an errant snap that resulted in a safety, led to all 15 Bentley points in the game on Sept. 19.

A FORMER OWL MAKING GOOD
Jerome Cunningham registered his first catch with the New York Giants in the Sept. 20 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

JENKINS NARROWLY MISSES SCHOOL MARK
Wide receiver Devante Jenkins hauled in 11 receptions against Bentley, one shy of the school record. He finished with 110 yards, including a touchdown.

MAKING A QUICK IMPACT
A quick look at the final stats from the 2015 season opener reveals plenty of new faces who fared well in their Owls' debuts.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback Rob Nittolo, a transfer from James Madison, completed 24-of-38 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns.
• Junior Devante Jenkins, a transfer from El Camino College, hauled in a team-high seven catches, along with three touchdowns. He led the Owls with 84 receiving yards.
• Sophomore linebacker Vasilios Grigorakos, a transfer from Maine, had a team-high seven tackles along with  half a sack.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...
The Owls accomplished several feats that hadn't taken place in several years in the opener against Gannon.
• With three touchdown receptions, Devante Jenkins became the first Owls' player to catch three touchdowns in a game since Willie Epps did it against West Liberty in 2010.  
• The three touchdown passes from Robert Nittolo marked the first time an Owls' quarterback tossed three touchdown passes in a game since Jacob Jablonski did so against Pace in 2012.
• The blocked extra point by Ahmed Hourani was the first for an Owl since 2011, when Gavin Nelson did it against Stonehill.

RUNNING AT A HIGH TEMPO
Southern Connecticut ran 90 offensive plays in the opener, the first time that the Owls hit that number since a 2006 contest against Central Connecticut.

THE CAPTAINS
Southern Connecticut State University football coach Tom Godek has announced team captains for the 2015 season. Wesley Crowell and Kameron Tedder will serve as captains, with Vasilios Grigorakos, Louis DiRienzo and Devante Jenkins serving as alternate captains. 

IN SEASON OPENERS
The Owls are now 35-32-1 all-time in season openers. The 2015 season was the 68th in program history.

IN THE NORTHEAST-10 PRESEASON POLL
The Southern Connecticut State University football team has been selected No. 9 in the Northeast-10 Conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches.
1. LIU Post - 74 (4)
2. AIC - 74 (2)
3. Assumption - 65 (2)
4. New Haven - 62 (2)
t-5. Saint Anselm - 41
t-5. Stonehill - 41
7. Bentley - 38
8. Merrimack - 29
9. So. Connecticut - 20
10. Pace - 10

OWLS WELL-REPRESENTED IN NFL RANKS
Southern Connecticut continues to figure prominently within the National Football League. With regards to current players, Jerome Cunningham (New York Giants) is on the team's 53-man roster, while Carlif Taylor (Dallas) and Ike Igbinosun (Jacksonville) were both in preseason camps this summer. In addition, three former Owls are currently serving as coaches – Chris Palmer (Senior Offensive Assistant, Buffalo Bills), Jeff Stoutland (Offensive Line Coach, Philadelphia Eagles) and Tim Holt (Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Oakland Raiders).

THE 2015 SCHEDULE
The Owls currently have 11 games scheduled for the 2015 campaign. The year opens with a home game against Gannon on Sept. 5. 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. 14.

WILLIAMS NAMED ALL-ECAC
Defensive lineman Zachary Williams named All-ECAC for his play during the 2014 season. Previously an All-Northeast-10 Conference selection, Williams registered a career-high 51 tackles in his final season as an Owl and lead the team in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (19). He ranked second in the Northeast-10 in tackles for loss and third in sacks.

FIVE EARN CONFERENCE HONORS
Five members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team – senior Carlif Taylor, Zachary Wiliams, Brian Wilcox and freshmen Raymond Catapano and Shaquan Hall were awarded with year-end honors from the Northeast-10 Conference, as selected by the league's coaches. Taylor, Williams and Wilcox were named All-Conference, while Catapano and Hall were tabbed for the All-Rookie Team.

FOUR OWLS SELECTED TO NATIONAL BOWL GAME
Kyle Empey, A.J. Marsiglia, Carlif Taylor and Brian Wilcox were selected to play in the National Bowl Game on December 7 in Miami. 

HALL NAMED FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
Shaquan Hall was named a Freshman All-American by USA College Football for his performance on the gridiron this past fall. Previously named a Northeast-10 Conference All-Rookie Team selection, Hall made an impact on special teams and at wide receiver. He had 13 receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns, along with eight rushes for 77 yards and a rushing touchdown. As a return man, he had 25 total returns for 512 yards.

AMONG THE KEY OFFENSIVE RETURNERS
The Owls will mix old and new faces when looking to find the end zone. At the quarterback position, Raymond Catapano and Michael Eckrote both have seen significant time in their careers thus far, but will be pushed for time by redshirt freshman Rob Nittolo, a transfer from James Madison. Donald Thomas is the leading returning rusher, as his 4.8 yards per carry last year was tops among running backs. Shaquan Hall (13 catches) and Robert Thomas (12) catches are the top returning receivers.

AMONG THE KEY DEFENSIVE RETURNERS
Southern's leading tackler a year ago, Michael Cerisano (98 tackles) returns as a key part of the Owls' defense. The defensive line remains strong with the return of Jamie Holbrook and Kameron Tedder. In addition, key secondary returners include Gavin Harley (38 tackles), Justin Potts (33 tackles) and Brandon Martin (27 tackles).

ON DECK
The Owls will play their final scheduled game of the regular season on Nov. 14 against a Northeast-10 opponent at a site and time to be determined based on results this weekend.