New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
SCSU pass falls incomplete on final play as Owls drop season opener
NEW HAVEN — There were no thoughts of the countless missed opportunities as the members of the Southern Connecticut State offense trotted onto the field in the final seconds in yet another frantic finish against Gannon.
The firstgame miscues could be erased with one more pass completion but there was no magical ending for the Owls this time as Matt Sanzaro’s fourthdown pass fell incomplete on the final play of the game to give visiting Gannon the 147 victory on Thursday night at Jess Dow Field.
“We kind of put ourselves in that situation,” Sanzaro said. “It was a game when we had a lot of opportunities, a lot of missed opportunities. I’ll put that on myself.”
The Owls were twice stopped on fourth and short in the red zone and three Gannon interceptions kept the Owls from taking control of the season opener.
Despite the errors, the defense came up with one final stop to give the offense one last opportunity to get the tying touchdown.
Gannon had its issues at times in the fourth quarter but came up with a strong effort on the final play as Sanzaro admitted he didn’t have a good place to go with the ball.
“He (Gannon defensive back A.J. Satcher) played it well,,” Sanzaro said. “I tried to squeeze one but I couldn’t get it there.”
The Owls outgained Gannon 322198 but only managed the one touchdown. It was a huge difference from the 2018 season opener when SCSU scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to return home with the 3532 victory.
“Credit to Gannon’s defense, we knew they were going to be a physical defense, we made some plays and had some good movement,” Southern Connecticut State coach Tom Godek said. “When it came to make a play, we just didn’t make enough of them tonight, we left a lot of opportunities on the field.”
Gannon was pinned back in its own territory after freshman punter John Amadeo was able to eventually control a bad snap and get the punt off. Gannon had to jump on a loose ball at its own 16 to avoid setting up the Owls with glorious field position.
Melvin Blanks provided
SCSU the first big play of the drive with a 28yard run on second down and the final one with a 32yard touchdown reception. Two SCSU defenders had a chance to drop Gannon quarterback Jimmy Keefe in the backfield. Blanks caught the ball in the middle of the field, broke one tackle and raced in for the score with 5:20 remaining in the third quarter.
Gannon linebacker Keith Thompson came up with his second interception of the game, both off balls originally tipped by a teammate leading to a 7yard scoring pass from Keefe to Joey Cox with 1:31 to play in the third quarter.
After squandering some scoring opportunities in the first half, the Owls came up empty in the red zone once again early in the fourth quarter when the officials ruled that Sanzaro was stopped short on 4th and 1 inside the 5.
Gannon was unable to move the ball on the next possession and an exchange of punts gave the Owls the ball at the 40. A 39yard pass from Sanzaro to Sanders set up Sanzaro’s 1yard scoring run to make it a 147 game.
Southern Connecticut was threatening to tie the game after a fourthdown completion from Sanzaro to Julian Chung but three plays later the Golden Knights came up with their third interception of the game, all on tipped balls to hold off the Owls for the moment.
The Owls had the chance to score first thanks to a pair of Gannon personal foul penalties. Southern Connecticut converted on fourth down inside the 10 but when the Owls lined up, one of the eligible receivers was covered up by his teammate. Instead of having 1st and goal early in the second quarter, it was time for a field goal attempt which was was no good.
Gannon would get the ball near midfield later in the quarter when Thompson snared a deflected pass.
The Golden Knights had a first down at the SCSU 39 but on second down former Bunnell High star Rich Souffrant came through with his second sack of the game as the 16yard loss short circuited a promising drive.
Southern Connecticut drove to the Gannon 20 on its final drive of the half but after a pair of penalties, the Owls were stopped short on fourth down as the game was scoreless after the opening half.
Sanzaro was 16 of 36 for 156 yards with seven of the completions going to Sanders.
JayChar Howell led the Owls with nine tackles.
Aaron Webb had 13 tackles for Gannon while Cox had 87 yards on eight receptions.