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Will Twadell
28
Southern Conn. St. SCS 1-3 , 0-2
31
Winner Saint Anselm STA 2-2 , 2-0
Southern Conn. St. SCS
1-3 , 0-2
28
Final
31
Saint Anselm STA
2-2 , 2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SCS Southern Conn. St. 14 0 0 14 28
STA Saint Anselm 0 17 0 14 31

Game Recap: Football |

Football Overcomes Early Deficit for Second Win of Season

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College football team overcame an early two-touchdown deficit to pick up a 31-28 win over Southern Connecticut State on Saturday afternoon and remain unbeaten in Northeast-10 Conference play. Senior wide receiver Will Twadell (Marblehead, Mass.) led the team with new career-highs in catches (eight) and receiving yards (126) to go along with his second touchdown reception of the season.
 

UP NEXT:

  • Saint Anselm is back home on Saturday, October 5th to host Post at 1:00 p.m. from Grappone Stadium on Homecoming Weekend.

Score: Saint Anselm 31, Southern Connecticut State 28
Records: Saint Anselm (2-2; 2-0 NE10); Southern Connecticut State (1-3; 0-2 NE10)
Location: Manchester, N.H. (Grappone Stadium)
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Attendance: 1,227

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • After Southern Connecticut State received the opening kickoff, both teams exchanged punts to get the game started.
  • On the second offensive possession of the game for the Owls, quarterback Keith Ridley Jr. led an eight-play, 53-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown. Ridley passed for over 50 yards on the drive and rushed for a score from three yards out to make it 7-0.
  • Southern Connecticut State forced another punt from Saint Anselm and got the ball back late in the first quarter. Running back Elijah Gray helped the Owls cross midfield with 45 scrimmage yards, but on second down at the Hawks 38-yard line, Gray fumbled after an eight-yard carry. However, his fumble was recovered at the 25-yard line by teammate Seth Westover, who ran it the rest of the way and made it 14-0.
  • On the ensuing drive, sophomore quarterback Drew Forkner (Plano, Texas) helped Saint Anselm reach the red zone for the first time after a series of completions along with a 16-yard rush. The drive carried into the second quarter and on second-and-goal at the Southern Connecticut State one-yard line, Forkner finished it off with a quarterback sneak for a touchdown to make it 14-7.
  • On the next possession for the Owls, Ridley helped generate another drive that looked to be threatening into Hawks territory, but on a huge third down and long, fifth-year linebacker Alejandro Santiago (Woodbridge, N.J.) forced a fumble on Ridley. Sophomore linebacker Tanner Wolfe (Bradenton, Fla.) jumped on the loose ball to give the Hawks the ball back at their own 39-yard line.
  • Forkner got Saint Anselm into striking distance once again after four straight completions, including an 18-yard pass to Twadell that got the Hawks down to the one-yard line once again. Another quarterback sneak resulted in Forkner crossing the goal line to even the score at 14-14 with 6:34 left in the first half.
  • The Hawks defense started to find its rhythm in the closing minutes of the half and forced three consecutive three-and-outs for the Owls. The hosts forced another punt with 46 seconds left in the half and got the ball back at the Owls 38-yard line.
  • Three completions by Forkner, including a pair to sophomore running back Jaidin Haynes (Sayreville, N.J.), set the Hawks up in field goal range, where junior kicker Sean Hurley (Bayville, N.J.) converted from 31 yards out to give Saint Anselm a 17-14 lead at halftime.
  • Like in the first half, the two sides exchanged punts to begin the third quarter. Saint Anselm got the ball back midway through the third and went on a nine-play, 57-yard drive, but a 41-yard field goal attempt from Hurley missed to the left.
  • On just the second play of the next Southern Connecticut State possession, Gray looked to have a long gain on the ground for the Owls, but senior defensive back Najei Snyder (Deltona, Fla.) punched the ball out for Saint Anselm. Santiago pounced on the loose ball and the Hawks offense took over at midfield.
  • Despite the momentum being in the Hawks favor, the Owls defense stepped up to force a three-and-out and got the ball back after another punt.
  • Towards the end of the third quarter, Owls running back John Amaning shot through a hole on a carry up the middle for a 45-yard gain that set Southern Connecticut State up past midfield. Three plays later, Ridley hit Jaylon Tucker on a 36-yard pass to put them all the way down at the four-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter.
  • On the first play of the final period, Ridley faked a handoff and connected with Mike Strachan for a four-yard touchdown pass, giving the Owls a 21-17 lead.
  • Forkner attempted to spark the Saint Anselm offense after that, leading the team across midfield with four more completions including two to fifth-year wide receiver Blaine Burkhalter (Burnet, Texas) for a combined 31 yards. However, the Hawks failed to convert on fourth down and turned the ball over at the Owls 26-yard line still trailing by four.
  • The Saint Anselm defense then came through with a clutch three-and-out and forced another punt by Southern Connecticut State.
  • Three plays later on third down and long at their own 35-yard line, the Hawks pulled out a trick play with Forkner tossing a backwards pass to his running back, freshman Jake Croce (Point Pleasant, N.J.). The defense collapsed on Croce, allowing a receiver to break loose downfield. Before being tackled, Croce aired out a pass to Twadell, who caught it on the run and went untouched into the end zone. The play got the crowd on its feet and gave the home team a 24-21 lead with 8:45 remaining.
  • Another three-and-out was caused by the Saint Anselm defense after that and Southern Connecticut State was forced to punt. Despite a fair catch signal made by the Hawks near midfield, the Owls were penalized 15 yards after a personal foul for interfering on the play, which gave Saint Anselm starting field position at the Southern Connecticut State 32-yard line.
  • The Hawks marched it all the way down to the Owls one-yard line for the third time of the game. This time, Forkner was stopped on third and goal, but on fourth down, Croce found pay dirt from a yard out to give Saint Anselm a ten-point cushion with the score at 31-21 and just 3:10 remaining.
  • Ridley and the Owls quickly marched down the field and made it a one-possession game after a touchdown was caught by Luke Gadson from five yards out, which capped off a nine-play, 66-yard drive.
  • Down 31-28 with only 30 seconds left and no timeouts remaining, Southern Connecticut State attempted an onside kick, but the ball bounced out of bounds. Saint Anselm took a knee to run out the clock and earned their second win of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

  • Saint Anselm held a slight 429-413 advantage in total yards of offense in what turned out to be an offensive slugfest. The Hawks gained 21 first downs in the game, while the Owls moved the chains 18 times.
  • Southern Connecticut State excelled on the ground and led the rushing yards battle, 196-92. Saint Anselm held a huge advantage through the air and outgained their opponent 337-217 in passing yards.
  • There were two total turnovers in the game, both committed on fumbles by Southern Connecticut State.
  • The Owls punted seven times for 234 yards (33.4 average), while the Hawks punted six times for 229 yards (38.2 average) including four inside the 20-yard line.
  • Southern Connecticut State committed six penalties and lost 63 yards on the day, while Saint Anselm committed five penalties for a loss of 45 yards.
  • Time of possession was relatively even with the visitors controlling the ball for 30:58 and the hosts having it for 29:02.
  • Both teams struggled on third down as the Owls went just 3-for-12 and the Hawks went 3-for-13. Each team had success in the red zone with Southern Connecticut State scoring three times in three trips and Saint Anselm scoring four times in four trips. 
  • Defensively, the Hawks totaled two sacks on the afternoon compared to just one made by the Owls.
  • Forkner completed 29 of his 41 pass attempts (70.7 percent) for 272 yards. Croce completed his lone pass for 65 yards and a touchdown. Ridley went 22 of 32 through the air (68.8 percent) and threw two touchdown passes.
  • Gray led the Owls with a game-high 124 rushing yards on 23 carries. Amaning also contributed in the rushing attack for Southern Connecticut State with three carries for 50 yards.
  • On the ground for the Hawks, Forkner finished with 11 carries for 31 yards and two touchdowns that came on quarterback sneaks. Croce had 13 carries for 29 yards and a rushing score as well.
  • Twadell was the standout pass catcher for Saint Anselm on the afternoon with eight catches for a game-high 126 yards and a touchdown. Haynes and junior Patrick Yesinko (Marshfield, Mass.) each caught six passes. Haynes racked up 75 receiving yards, while Yesinko set a new career-best with 58 receiving yards.
  • Gadson led Southern Connecticut State with six catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.
  • Santiago led the defensive effort for the Hawks with a game-high 10 total tackles to go along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a sack.
  • Snyder and senior defensive back Brandon Potts (Bowie, Md.) also had huge performances for Saint Anselm. Potts ended his day with five total tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup, while Snyder had four total tackles including a tackle for loss as well as a forced fumble and three pass breakups.
  • Hurley made all four of his extra point attempts and also made his first career field goal from 31-yards out.
  • This game marked the 25th all-time meeting between Saint Anselm and Southern Connecticut State. The Hawks improve to 6-19 all-time against the Owls and have won three of the last five meetings.

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