NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Southern Connecticut State University football never trailed in its Home Opener, using a workhorse day from John Amaning and a big-play performance from Seth Westover to beat American International College 30-19 in front of 2,674 fans at Jess Dow Field. Southern moves to 1-1 on the year while AIC was dealt their first loss and drop to 2-1.
Amaning rushed 22 times for 158 yards, averaging 7.2 yards per carry with a long run of 52 yards. Westover caught six passes for 137 yards and a touchdown as Southern Connecticut State (1-2, 1-1 Northeast-10) picked up its first win of the season. Quarterback Brandon Jorgensen finished 15-of-25 for 215 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, with Westover accounting for 137 of those yards.
The Owls scored on their first possession. After American International won the toss and deferred, SCSU went 65 yards in four plays. Jorgensen hit Westover for 15 yards on the opening snap, Amaning broke off a 12-yard run for a first down, and Jorgensen found Westover deep down the right sideline for a 37-yard touchdown with 13:46 left in the first quarter.
After an AIC punt, SCSU drove 72 yards in 15 plays over 6:39. Amaning had runs of 18 and 11 yards on the drive, and Jorgensen converted a fourth-and-4 with an 8-yard completion to Westover to the AIC 15. Daniel Benzi's 34-yard field goal made it 10-0 with 2:11 left in the first.
AIC got on the board in the second quarter on Bo Catherwood's 5-yard run with 3:43 left before halftime, capping a seven-play, 77-yard drive to make it 10-7. That was the halftime score.
Southern came out of halftime and regained momentum. Starting at its own 31, SCSU went 68 yards in five plays. Jorgensen hit Kyle Villani and Isaac Lynch to move the chains before Amaning broke free, and the drive ended with a one-yard touchdown pass from Jorgensen to Brody Tooker, who's touchdown catch was also his first career reception, to push the lead to 17-7 with 11:11 left in the third quarter.
AIC answered with its longest drive of the day — 15 plays, 92 yards over 6:39 — finished by Daron Bryden's 5-yard touchdown pass to Hardley Gilmore with 6 seconds left in the third. The extra point was no good, leaving Southern ahead 17-13. The box score officially lists the third-quarter score as 17-13 for Southern.
The fourth quarter saw Southern create separation. Alex Perez had the play of the game when he blocked a punt at the AIC 14 with 11:40 left, and Kelvin McKnight recovered at the 7 and returned it 7 yards for a touchdown to make it 23-13.
Two plays later, Emeka Yearwood intercepted Bryden at the AIC 38. SCSU turned the takeaway into points with a seven-play, 38-yard drive. Jorgensen hit Westover for 23 yards on third-and-16 to extend the drive, and Anthony Rudiman finished it with a 2-yard run with 7:28 remaining to make it 30-13. Rudiman finished with 18 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Amaning accounted for the bulk of the ground game, with SCSU finishing with 132 net rushing yards and 347 total yards, averaging 5.4 yards per play. Southern's defense held AIC to 3-of-16 on third down and recorded two sacks. Yearwood had an interception and a forced fumble, while Tyler Coard and RJ Faessler each had two pass breakups.
Southern is back in action on Saturday, Sept. 26 when it opens Northeast 10 Conference play at Post.
