NEW HAVEN, Conn. – In what proved to be a defensive slugfest, the Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) Owls scored their only points with 1:20 remaining in the game and held on to defeat the Saint Anselm Collegefootball team 6-3 in a waterlogged Northeast-10 conference football matchup from Jess Dow Field on Saturday afternoon. The win was the first of the season for the Owls. The loss drops Saint Anselm to 2-3 and 1-1 in NE10 play.
 

UP NEXT:

• Saint Anselm returns home to face Bentley University on Saturday, Oct. 7. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. from Grappone Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• SCSU received the opening kickoff and strung together a 10-play drive on their first possession, but turned the ball over on downs near the midfield stripe after a failed fourth down attempt. Saint Anselm countered with a seven play drive of its own, but gained just 22 yards before the Owls forced a turnover on downs. The remainder of the opening quarter saw each team's defense in control, forcing several 3-and-out drives. 
• The Hawks' first scoring opportunity came at the start of the second quarter, when freshman quarterback Drew Forkner (Plano, Texas) connected with junior tight end Carson Goda (Bradenton, Fla.) for a big 36-yard play across the middle, positioning Saint Anselm inside the 10-yard line. The drive stalled out from there and junior Patrick Carroll (Stafford, Va.) came on to attempt the 17-yard field goal, but failed to split the uprights and the contest remained scoreless.
• Carroll would get redemption after a SCSU three-and-out gave the Hawks excellent starting field position. Forkner and company marched down the field on an 11-play, 46-yard drive and Carroll connected on a 24-yard kick to give the Hawks the 3-0 lead.
• SCSU flew down the field on their ensuing possession, but a 32-yard field goal attempt by SCSU's Orlin Lopez was blocked by fifth year Ryan Raybuck (Flower Mound, Texas), preserving the 3-0 edge for Saint Anselm heading into halftime. 
• Eight punts and a turnover on downs marked the next two quarters of play as the defenses for both teams took control. The Hawks would cling to the three-point advantage until 1:20 remaining in the fourth quarter when the Owls capped a five play, 53-yard drive with a Keith Ridley Jr. 21-yard toss to Taylon Papallo into the left corner of the end zone. The extra point was no good.
• Saint Anselm attempted a comeback drive with just 1:16 remaining, but the Owls defense turned the Hawks away, sacking Forkner on fourth down to seal their first victory of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• SCSU held a 141 to 59 advantage on the ground, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt. The Owls also held a slight 161 to 152 edge in the passing game. Both teams completed 17 passes on the afternoon.
• Graduate Student Devin Williams (Cliffwood, N.J.) led the Hawks with eight total tackles and one tackle for loss. Seniors Alejandro Santiago (Woodbridge, N.J.) and Will Klein (Abington, Mass.) each added six total tackles on the afternoon. Klein has tallied 34 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks on the season.
• Forkner finished with 152 yards on 17-34 passing and was sacked four times. Goda finished with seven receptions for 82 yards while junior Colin Kniffen (South Windsor, Conn.) added four catches for 32 yards. Junior Bowen Lewis (Austin, Texas) carried the ball 14 times for 43 yards for the Hawks.
• After holding opponents to less than 100 yards rushing on their previous two outings, the Hawks surrendered 141 yards, but the defense held SCSU without a trip in the red-zone on the afternoon, with the game's only touchdown coming from the 21-yard line.

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