WATERBURY, Conn. -- On an uncharacteristically warm afternoon at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, Connecticut, Post University Football looked to continue their hot streak against Southern Connecticut State University on Senior Day Saturday. However, 15 unanswered points to end the first half would be the difference maker as a stagnant second half helped push the Owls past the Eagles, 35-14. 

THE BASICS

Post University 14, Southern Connecticut State University 35 

Post University (1-7)

Southern Connecticut State University (3-6)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Junior running back E'Lijah Gray would have a monster day on the ground for the Owls, rushing for 219 yards on 21 total attempts while tallying the opening touchdown of the game in the first quarter which put Southern Connecticut ahead 6-0. Gray would play a big role in the second touchdown drive of the afternoon for the opposition, rushing for 57 total yards after back-to-back carries to get the Owls into the red zone for graduate quarterback Keith Ridley to throw a six-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Ryan Soules which would extend the Southern Connecticut lead to 13 points.

On the ensuing drive, the Eagles would respond, cutting their deficit in half after an eight-play, 73-yard drive culminated in a two-yard pass from graduate quarterback Simon Burkett to sophomore wide receiver Makhai Brown to make it a 13-7 ballgame. From there it would be all Owls for the rest of the first half as they would go on an drive lasting nearly the entire second quarter before Ridley would hook up with Soules for the second time on a six-yard touchdown grab. 

Capping off the first half, Southern Connecticut would score with all zeros on the clock after taking a timeout following a false start penalty with 10 seconds left to avoid the 10-second runoff to end the half. Ridley would throw a Hail Mary pass to the end zone which would be brought down by senior wide receiver Tylon Papallo who was surrounded by Eagle defenders for the touchdown and 21-point halftime lead.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Eagles would force sophomore punter Andreas Picarelli to run on fourth down due to a bad snap in which he would be tackled five-yards behind the line of scrimmage and Post would capitalize two plays later with a 10-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Isaiah Emmanuel to cut down the Owl lead to 14 points, 28-14. 

But the Eagle offense would remain stagnant from there while Ridley would hit Papallo with a 10-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter as the Owls would close out a 35-14 victory against Post. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Simon Burkett went 12-for-24 with 158 passing yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions for Post University
• Keith Ridley got the win in the backfield for Southern Connecticut after a 20-for-28 afternoon with 217 passing yards, four touchdowns, and an interception
• Post University finished with a season-high three sacks on the afternoon 
• Post University finishes the home regular season with an 0-3 record 

WHO'S NEXT
Post University closes out the 2023 season with a pair of road games starting next weekend on Saturday afternoon at AIC with a 12:00 PM kickoff. This will be the first time the two teams match up before playing each other annually once the Eagles join the Northeast-10 next fall.