Southern Connecticut stops Greyhound football with late touchdown, 26-24

October 6, 2006

HOUNDS JAKE BEERS GOES OVER 1,000 YARDS RECEIVING

Late TD Keys Southern Connecticut Past Assumption, 26-24

NEW HAVEN, Conn. --- Sophomore quarterback STEVE ARMSTRONG (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) threw a touchdown pass---his second of the game---to sophomore wide receiver CHRIS BERGESKI (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston)---his second of the game---with 23 seconds left as Southern Connecticut State University rallied to defeat Assumption College, 26-24, in a wild Northeast-10 Conference game FRIDAY night at Jess Dow Field.

Highlights for the Greyhounds included freshman running back JAREL CAPERS (Bridgeport, CT/Notre Dame) (PICTURED RIGHT) first two collegiate touchdowns and 75 yards on 14 carries . . . a career-best 12 catches (third-best in Hounds' history) by junior JAKE BEERS (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) who now has 89 for his career (tying Kyle Yermalovich '03 for third-place on the career list) and became the the sixth Greyhound receiver to reach 1,000 yards for a career (1,040 to date).

Highlights for Southern Connecticut included a superb performance by Armstrong as he completed 19-of-26 passes for 185 yards . . . sophomore wide out TYRON MARSHALL (Ellenwood, GA/J.F. Kennedy), who caught six passes for 108 yards . . . and junior running back BRANDON TOLES (Washington, MD/Friendly), who rushed 26 times for 121 yards.

The Greyhounds who trailed 14-2 entering the fourth period scored three touchdowns to move to a 24-20 lead with 3:33 left.

After freshman wide out DAVID CANNEY (Templeton, MA/Narragansett) made a sensational grab for a five-year TD to put the Greyhounds ahead he made a thundering tackle on the ensuing kickoff at the 20. However the Owls would drive 80 yards in 12 plays to retake the lead.

Armstrong connected with Marshall for 17 yards and then found freshman tight end TOM CERNY (Mahweh, NJ/Mahweh) for 17 more to highlight the drive. Bergeski caught the game-winner on a touch pass over-the-top in the back corner of the end zone. The conversion kick failed leaving the Owls in front by two.

Southern Connecticut led 7-2 at the half as Bergeski caught a 24-yard touchdown strike from sophomore quarterback CHRIS ROBERTS (New Britain, CT/New Britain) with 11:52 left in the half. Roberts' conversion made it 7-0.

The first half was frustrating for the Greyhounds as they did not capitalize on three scoring chances in the red zone. They drove to the Owls 21 only to have two passes go incomplete and surrender on downs . . . they drove inside the Owls one, only to turn it over on downs after sophomore DAN HICKEY (Auburn, MA/Auburn) and senior STEVE PRATT (Braintree, MA/Braintree) had blocked a punt at the 11 . . . and, finally, they blocked a second punt---by freshman JORDAN BELLIVEAU (Millbury, MA/Millbury)---into the end zone only to have the ball squirt out of the end zone for a safety.

The Ownl would score the only touchdown in the third period driving 49 yards in eight plays after sophomore tailback MARLON THORNTON (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) returned the kickoff 36 yards to the Assumption 49.

Armstrong connected with Marshall for 19 yards to the 16 on pass over-the middle to highlight the drive. He then found senior wide receiver MARCUS GANTHIER (Bridgeport, CT/Bassick) over-the-middle again for the score from five yards out. Junior MARTIN GERRETY (Hewitt, NJ/West Milford) kicked the conversion for a 14-2 lead.

The Greyhounds drove 85 yards in 12 plays --- freshman quarterback MARSHALL THARPE (Irvine, CA/Santa Magarita) completed five passes to Beers on the drive for 22, six, five, five and 21 yards --- before Capers darted around right end for the score unscathed. Senior MIKE TOBIN (Woburn, MA/Woburn) kicked the conversion to make it 14-9.

On the ensuing kickoff senior linebacker MARK CINAR (Watertown, MA/Watertown) forced and then recovered a fumble at the Southern 29. Capers scampered the final 18 yards for the score and then Tharpe hit Beers for a two-point conversion and 17-14 Assumption advantage.

The Owls however came right back driving 69 yards in 15 plays as sophomore fullback CRAIG TOULOUSE (Whitefield, ME/Gardiner Area) rambled the final six yard. Gerety's conversion failed leaving it 20-17 Owls in command.

Then it was the Greyhounds turn as Tharpe fired a five-yard touchdown strike to Canney---all three Greyhound touchdowns were scored by freshmen---to cap a 73-yard drive in six plays. Tobin kicked the conversion for a 24-20 lead.

Assumption is now 3-3 overall and 3-3 in the conference, while Southern Connecticut is also 3-3 and 3-2. The Greyhounds will host Northeast-10 Conference rival American International College SATURDAY (October 14) at 1 p.m. as part of Fall Homecoming, while Southern Connecticut travels to conference rival Pace SATURDAY (October 14) at 1 p.m.

CLICK HERE for complete scoring summary