WATERBURY, Conn. – Sophomore linebacker Michael Gabettie recorded 17 tackles, the second-most for a single game in program history for Post University Football on Saturday, but a few offensive miscues down the stretch for Southern Connecticut State University allowed the Owls to come back from a three-point fourth-quarter deficit, stealing a 31-27 win away from the Eagles on Homecoming Weekend at Municipal Stadium.

THE BASICS

Post University 27, Southern Connecticut State University 31

Post University (1-5, 0-4 NE10)

Southern Connecticut State University (2-4, 1-3 NE10)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Four of the first five drives of the entire game would result in touchdowns for both sides, leading to a 14-14 tie before the first quarter even ended. Senior running back Elijah Gray paced the offense for the Owls with 204 rushing yards and the first touchdown of the game just 4:40 into it. Marching right back down the field would be the Eagles on just four plays which concluded with junior quarterback Malakai Taylor hitting junior wide receiver Josh Tracey with the 32-yard touchdown pass tying the game back up.

Responding in kind, the Southern Connecticut offense took just four plays itself on the next drive and junior John Amaning punched it in from four yards out to give the Owls the lead once more by seven. Going four-and-out on the next drive, the Eagles punted away but would get the ball back when junior wide receiver Jayden Colon muffed the punt from graduate wide receiver Anthony Gambino and sophomore tight end Jayquan Bromell, who was the long snapper in the game, recovered the ball down at the 21-yard line of the Owls.

Set up in prime field position, senior running back Isaiah Emmanuel scored on the first play of the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run in just seven seconds, the fastest scoring drive in program history, to tie the game up at 14 all. Late in the second, Emmanuel gave Post their first lead of the game, 21-14, on the back end of a nine-play scoring drive for the Eagles towards the end of the second quarter.

But heading into the break, it would be Southern Connecticut in front when graduate wide receiver Tarik Heymyer caught a 15-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-seven from graduate quarterback Keith Ridley to tie the game with just over two minutes left. Forcing a quick three-and-out, the Owls got the ball back once more and drove it into the red zone where they would get a 37-yard field goal from freshman kicker Daniel Benzi to lead by three, 24-21, at halftime.

Both offenses would be rather tame in the second half, but just 1:20 into the third quarter the Eagles jumped back in front as Taylor hit junior wide receiver Jermaine Tillery with a 40-yard touchdown pass that gave Post a three-point lead, 27-24. However, a low snap would prevent junior linebacker Evan Hatten, who was filling in for sophomore kicker Aden Caine, from getting the extra point off, keeping the score the same.

With the third quarter winding down, momentum looked to swing in favor of Post who forced a turnover on downs in the red zone, but a mishandled snap by Taylor on their own 20-yard line led to a fumble recovered by senior outside linebacker Joe DiGello in the same spot and the eventual game-winning score. Right out of the gate in the fourth, Ridley hooked up on a 19-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Kyle Villani making it a four-point lead, 31-27, for the Owls.

The Eagles would have just two possessions in the fourth, both of which would end inside the 30-yard line of Southern Connecticut while the Owls were able to bleed out the clock on their two possessions of the frame, leaving Municipal Stadium with a 31-27 win over Post who has now lost five consecutive games.

BY THE NUMBERS

• With 17 tackles today, Michael Gabettie is third all-time for most tackles in a game behind his own mark set against Saint Anselm College last week when he had 21 total tackles in that game
• For the second time this season, Antwan Walden has tied the program for most pass breakups in a single game with two more on Saturday
• Joshua Tracey finished the game with seven receptions which is tied for the second-most for a single game in program history – Tracey also had seven against AIC last November – Jermaine Tillery owns the all-time record at nine against Wagner last November
• Isaiah Emmanuel finished with 99 rushing yards which is the third-most for a single game in program history – Emmanuel owns the record with 160 rushing yards against Franklin Pierce University last October
• Manufacturing a one-play, 21-yard touchdown drive in just seven seconds, the 21-yard touchdown run was the fastest scoring drive in program history, surpassing the Simon Burkett to Josh Tracey 63-yard touchdown pass last October against Franklin Pierce which took 10 seconds

 
WHO'S NEXT
Post University goes up to Franklin Pierce University where they got their first win in program history last October, 16-13, on a rainy day in Rindge, New Hampshire. The previous matchup before that in 2022 saw the Eagles fall 42-19 against the Ravens at Municipal Stadium on October 29th.