New Haven, Conn. (October 4) -- On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the Assumption College football team picked up its third straight win in the series over Southern Connecticut with a wild 13-12 victory in Northeast-10 Conference action at Jess Dow Field. Rainy conditions plagued both teams throughout the game, including in a wild ending late in the fourth on a botched punt that led to the game-winning touchdown.

After a scoreless first quarter where both offenses struggled to get going, Assumption got on the board with 4:13 left in the second as senior De'Ontray Johnson (San Diego, Calif./Hoover) scored from 17 yards out for his first touchdown of the year and the 7-0 lead. The play was set up by a 28-yard pass from junior Trevor Vasey (Cumberland, R.I./St. Raphael Academy) to freshman Ashton Grant (Manchester, Conn./Manchester) as the Hounds put together a seven-play, 80-yard drive for the lead.

Assumption appeared poised to add to the lead late in the first half after sophomore Jalon White (New Haven, Conn./North Haven) blocked an SCSU punt and freshman Chris Caraballo (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) returned it 44 yards to the Owls 21-yard line. Following an interception by SCSU on second down that was returned 50 yards into Assumption territory, the Owls fumbled the ball right back on the next play as sophomore Charles Reid (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) recovered on the play.

The Owls got on the board with 8:37 left in the third as Ray Catapano found Gary Williams from eight yards out to cut the lead down to 7-6 as SCSU capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive. The extra point attempt was blocked though as the Hounds maintained the one-point lead heading into the final quarter of play.

SCSU drove deep into Assumption territory at the 22-yard line following a 12-yard run by Catapano that brought up a fourth and one for the Owls. Catapano made it count as he scored on the 22-yard rush for the 12-7 edge, followed by a missed two-point conversion as SCSU jumped in front by five with 7:38 remaining.

With under five minutes on the clock, Owls punter Lyle Luth was set to kick from his own 15-yard line. A bad snap led to Luth being flagged for illegal kicking as it was ruled that the kick was a drop kick attempt. Reid fielded the ball on a hop near midfield and eventually fumbled, but the ball was ruled dead and returned to the spot of the kick. With the five-yard illegal kicking penalty and a five-yard sideline interference penalty on the SCSU coaches, it was first-and-goal for Assumption at the SCSU five yard line.

A four-yard run by Vasey got the Hounds down to the one, before Vasey eventually went up and over the top on a fourth-and-goal play for the 13-12 edge with 1:15 on the clock. After an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt, the Hounds tried a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff and the gamble paid off as Michael Johnson fumbled for the Owls. Recovering the botched return attempt was Assumption junior Kevin O'Connor (Leominster, Mass./Leominster), giving the Hounds possession at the 38 yard line.

Assumption was eventually forced to punt with 55 seconds left from the Owls 38-yard line as Southern Connecticut used its final timeout on the play. The Owls took over at their own four-yard line with 43 seconds left, advancing to near midfield before a sack by senior Derrick Mann (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) ended the threat.

Overall, the statistics were slanted towards the Owls as SCSU outgained the Hounds in total offense by a 409-218 margin and held a 22-10 advantage in first downs behind a 239-yard rushing attack. Vasey completed 8-of-17 passes for 105 yards, while Johnson led the Hounds with 50 yards rushing and a touchdown. Vasey also scored a touchdown for the third straight game on the ground while finishing with 36 yards.

Junior Dave Call (Springville, N.Y.) led the Hounds with three receptions for 40 yards as the rain limited the passing game for both teams as the two quarterbacks combined for just 275 yards in the air.

Catapano finished with 170 passing yards and 127 rushing yards to lead the Owls offense, along with three catches for 64 yards by wideout Seth Sheridan.

Defensively, sophomore Nick Valenti (Troy, N.Y./Troy) led the Hounds with a career-high 12 tackles, including eight solo stops. Sophomore Jarrod Casey (Milford, Mass./Bridgton Academy) continued his solid play as well, posting 10 total tackles that included two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

Carlif Taylor was the top defensive player for Southern Connecticut, finishing up with 11 tackles overall.

With the win, Assumption improves to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in Northeast-10 play, while Southern Connecticut drops to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Friday, October 10th as the Hounds host Pace University for a 7 p.m. start at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.