SEASON OPENER
Southern Connecticut State University Owls (0-0)
at Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils (0-0)
Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, 6 PM
Arute Field (New Britain, Conn.)

Live Video | Live Stats | Ticket Information | Game Notes vs. CCSU

Southern Connecticut football renews its rivalry with in-state foe Central Connecticut for its 2021 season opener on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at 6 p.m. at Arute Field in New Britain, Conn. The Owls' first game of the season will signal the first time since Nov. 15, 2019 when Southern stepped on the turf last.

Follow The Action
Live video and live statistics will be available for Friday night's matchup courtesy of Central Connecticut athletics. Links to watch the Owls take on the Blue Devils are available above and on the Owls' schedule at SCSUOwls.com.

Rivalry Renewed
The Owls lead the all-time series between the two teams with a record of 37-16 in the previous 53 meetings dating back to 1949. The Owls won 19 of the first 20 games in the all-time series, and also won seven of 10 games throughout the 1990's. The NCAA Division I Blue Devils have won four-straight in the all-time series, including their last meeting in 2011.

A Look Back
Neither team suited up for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Southern posted a record of 2-8 while the Blue Devils were 11-2 including a 7-0 record against the Northeast Conference in securing their sixth league title and qualifying for the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs. 

Home Sweet Home
Following the Owls tilt at Stonehill on Sept. 11 – a non-conference matchup for the two Northeast 10 Conference schools – the Owls will open their home schedule against Saint Anselm on Friday, Sept. 17 for the first of four home games at Jess Dow Field in 2021.

The Owls In The NE10
The Owls were tabbed seventh, tied with American International, in the 2021 Northeast 10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the NE10 on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. New Haven was chosen as the favorite and received six first-place votes, followed by Bentley with the remaining three votes. Stonehill, Assumption, Pace and Saint Anselm slotted in ahead of the Owls, respectively, while Franklin Pierce was picked to finish ninth.

So…Who's Back?
The Owls bring back 64 players from its 2019 team and will return to the field for the first time since that season after the 2020 schedule was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Under Center
Sophomore quarterback Jackson Ostrowsky (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.), an NE10 All-Rookie selection as a freshman in 2019, will return to lead the Owls' offense. The second-year signal caller threw for 2,185 yards and 17 touchdowns in six games played in his first season. Ostrowsky's 2,185 passing yards were the most in a season since Kevin Lynch totaled 2,222 in 2011 while his 17 touchdown passes were the most since Lynch threw for 24 in 2010. He was also one of five freshman quarterbacks in NCAA Division II football to pass for over 2,000 yards, and the only one to do so in fewer than nine games. He is the only Southern quarterback in program history to throw for 400 yards in two games in the same season.

O-Line
2019 All-NE10 Third Team lineman Bobby Valeri (Shelton, Conn.) also returns for the Owls at center, joined by veterans Donovan Harris (Rocky Point, N.Y.), Jimmy Starr (Southington, Conn.), Rich Christie (Howell, N.J.) and Christian Minaya (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to give the Owls a veteran core up front. In 2019, the Owls' offense averaged 109.5 yards-per-game on the ground and were second in the NE10 with 268.5 yards per game in the passing game while leading the conference with a 13.6 yards-per-completion percentage.

Pass Catchers
Izaiah Sanders (Stamford, Conn.) is the Owls' top returning receiver after ranking eighth in the conference with 630 yards on 36 catches. Sanders also led all NE10 receivers with a 17.5 yard-per-catch average. Jaylynn Cundiff (Brockton, Mass.) also amassed 319 yards on 25 catches. The duo will be joined by UNH transfer Austin Mosley (Woodbridge, Conn.) who brings NE10 experience to the Owls' lineup.

The Backfield
The Owls will feature Alex Ward (Waterbury, Conn.) and UConn transfer Tim O'Shea (Southington, Conn.) along with T.J. Gardner (Windsor, Conn.) in the Owls' backfield. Gardner was an All-State running back at Windsor (Conn.) High School before converting to linebacker at UConn. Anthony Ligi (Wolcott, Conn.) will also see time out of the Owls' backfield.

The Secondary
Kwadir Delgado-McIntyre (Hamden, Conn.) returns and will slot in at safety and cornerback. His last time out, Delgado-McIntyre totaled 19 tackles as well as forced fumble and fumble recovery. As a junior the previous season, Delgado-McIntyre ranked among the NE10 leaders in passes defended and interceptions (3). Navaughn Austin (Bridgeport, Conn.) tallied 31 tackles in 2019 while also leading the team with two interceptions, while Ben Eichman and Josh Martinotti will also see time at safety. Ja'Kai Young (Stamford, Conn.) and Jaylen Lewis (Manchester, Conn.) will be the Owls' starting corners while Elijah Alexandre (Stratford, Conn.) and Quinton Haughton (East Hartford, Conn.) add depth to the Owls' secondary. The Owls will also welcome a pair of transfers in Nas Richardson (New Haven, Conn.) from Buffalo State and Aaron Kelly (Washington, D.C.) from UMass.

The Front 7
Up front, the Owls will feature several experienced defensive linemen highlighted by graduate student Sidney Jones (Hartford, Conn.), Mitch McDunnah (Columbia, Conn.) and Cameron Belton (Baltic, Conn.) as well as newcomer Joe DiGello (Orange, Conn.). McDunnah totaled 20 tackles and two sacks in 2019, while Jones last saw action in 2018. The Owls' defensive line will also feature Cameron Kelly (Norwalk, Conn.), Nataneal Barbosa-Torres (Willimantic, Conn.), Harrison Smith (Rochester, Mass.) and Marcel Walker (Paterson, N.J.). Smith finished with 23 tackles as a sophomore in 2019, with one sack.

Hard Knocks
Hasan Dominick (Jersey City, N.J.) will anchor the Owls' linebacker corps. The Owls' top returning tackler, Dominick had a breakout season in 2019 with 37 tackles with one sack. Robert Nunez (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Richard Williams, Jr. (Wethersfield, Conn.) will roam the middle with Dominick, as well as Malik Hamilton (Rolesville, N.C.), Jahlil Watson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Joel Kashila (Lynn, Mass.).