Southern Connecticut State University Football Notes
Game 2
Southern Connecticut (1-0) vs. Bentley (0-1)
Sept. 6, 2018 • 6 p.m.  • New Haven, Conn.
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Week 2 Game Notes | SCSU Roster | SCSU Schedule | Offensive/Combined Stats | Defensive Stats

THE HOME OPENER
Coming off a thrilling season-opening victory at Gannon, the Southern Connecticut State University football team kicks off NE10 Conference play on Thursday evening for its home opener against Bentley. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Senior tailback Eli Parks registered his fourth touchdown of the game with 55 seconds remaining to give the Southern Connecticut State University football team the lead for good in a 35-32 triumph at Gannon on Aug 30.
• Parks' seven-yard run gave the Owls a 26-25 lead and was followed by a successful two-point run from Vochan Fowler. Gannon got the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead, but David Campbell stepped in front for an interception and 40-yard pick six to put the game out of reach.
• Parks finished with 127 yards on 17 carries and a career-high four touchdowns. He became the first Owl since John Moscatel in 2013 to rush for four scores in a game.
• Quarterback Matt Sanzaro completed 18-of-32 passes for 195 yards in his first start as an Owl.
• Izaiah Sanders recorded six catches for 96 yards, while Hunter Fluegel had a career-high five catches for 48 yards.
• Campbell also blocked a field goal for the Owls in addition to his pick six.
• Kyle Armour notched 10 tackles to lead the defense in that category. Jhaaron Wallace posted nine stops.

PARKS, CAMPBELL EARN NE10 RECOGNITION
Following their play in the opener against Gannon, Eli Parks and David Campbell were both lauded by the NE10. Parks was selected as the league's Offensive Player of the Week, while Campbell earned a spot on the weekly honor roll.

ALL-TIME VS. BENTLEY
The Falcons lead the all-time series with the Owls by a 12-8 margin.

THE LAST MEETING WITH BENTLEY
Behind a dominating ground attack that amassed 454 yards, the Southern Connecticut State University football team posted a 45-42 win at Bentley on Oct. 28, 2017. 
• The 454 yards fell just 23 yards shy of the Owls' single-game team rushing record. SCSU totaled 477 rushing yards in a win over LIU-Post back during the 1984 season.
• Vochan Fowler had a career-high 152 yards on 23 carries, along with two touchdowns. Fellow running back Eli Parks recorded 149 yards on 21 carries, and also found the end zone twice.
• Raymond Catapano finished with 82 yards on 15 carries and one rushing touchdown, while also completing 5-of-11 passes for 83 yards and another score.

BLOCK THAT KICK
After going more than two seasons without blocking a field goal, the Owls have now accomplished the feat in consecutive games dating back to last year. Matt Weiss blocked a field goal in the 2017 finale against Pace, while David Campbell did it last time out against Gannon.

THE CAPTAINS
Southern Connecticut State University football coach Tom Godek has announced team captains for the 2018 season. Brandon Pelzer, Jhaaron Wallace, Earl Myers and Matt Sanzaro will lead the Owls this fall. It's the second straight year that Pelzer will serve as a team captain.

IN SEASON OPENERS
The Owls are now 36-34-1 all-time in season openers. The 2018 season was the 71st in program history. The triumph over Gannon this year was the first season-opening win for the Owls since 2008 at West Virginia Wesleyan.

PLENTY OF NEW FACES IN THE MIX
The Owls have welcomed 50 newcomers to the squad since the conclusion of the 2017 regular season.

IN THE NE-10 PRESEASON POLL
SCSU was selected fifth in the Northeast-10 preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches.

ELM CITY TROPHY GOES NATIONAL
The September 15 football contest between the Southern Connecticut State University and the University of New Haven football teams has been selected as one of 22 games as a part of the 2018 NCAA Division II Football Showcase. Half of those contests will be aired live on ESPN3, with the other half as a part of a hybrid production, including the Owls/Chargers contest.

SEVEN EARN CONFERENCE HONORS
Seven members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team were recognized with year-end honors from the NE10 Conference.
• Three Owls – Joe Buissereth, Ryne Griesenauer and Matt Weiss – were tabbed for the First-Team. 
• Michael Cerisano, Vasilios Grigorakos and Shaquan Hall all collected Second-Team honors, while Zhyaire Fernandes earned All-Rookie Team laurels.

THREE OWLS LAUDED BY ECAC
Three members of the Southern Connecticut State University football team - Joe Buissereth, Ryne Griesenauer and Matt Weiss – were recognized with year-end honors from the ECAC. Buissereth and Griesenauer were named First-Team, while Weiss earned Honorable Mention accolades.

PAIR NAMED TO NE10 FOOTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Seniors Ryne Griesenauer and Vasilios Grigorakos were named to the NE10 Football All-Academic Team for their work on and off the field in 2017. To be eligible for selection to the academic all-conference teams, a student-athlete must have met and /or exceeded the following minimum requirements: 1) participated in at least half of the team's competitions and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); and 3) completed at least one academic year at his/her current institution. The Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference teams are chosen by a vote of a committee of athletic administrators and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FAR).

DID YOU KNOW?
Southern Connecticut players hold the Division II records for the most rushing yards gained in a quarter, in a half and in a game.
• Vaughn Magee rushed for 187 yards (of his 297) in the fourth quarter of the win over St. Anselm on Sept. 29, 2012.
• Jarom Freeman set a new single-game record with 418 yards in a win over Bryant on Nov. 2, 2007, and also set a new record for yards in a half with 251.

ON DECK
The Owls travel to West Haven, Conn. on Sept. 15 for the annual Elm City Trophy rivalry game against the University of New Haven.