Saturday, September 1, 2007

Southern Connecticut State (1-0) 52
Kutztown (0-1)                           30
BOX SCORE 

NEW HAVEN, CT – Brandon Toles rushed for 250 yards and five touchdowns to lead Southern Connecticut State to a 52-30 season-opening win over Kutztown University Saturday afternoon at Jess Dow Field.

             The game was an offensive shootout in which the teams combined for 1,126 yards of total offense, the most ever combined total in a KU game.  The teams committed nine turnovers, including six by KU.   

            For Kutztown, wideout Elfren Quiles set a school record with 211 receiving yards on 12 catches.  He broke Terry Robertson’s 1999 record of 206 yards vs. West Chester.  Quarterback Kyle Spotts completed 30-of-55 passes for 389 yards, all career highs.           

Steve Armstrong completed 20-of-31 for 268 yards and two scores.  Ty Marshall caught six passes for 141 yards and two scores. 

            The teams were scoreless through the first quarter before trading field goals early in the second quarter.  SCSU grabbed the momentum, scoring TDs on two straight offensive plays within 1:36.   Marshall scored on a 67-yard pass and run from Armstrong.  After a KU fumble, Toles swept around the right side and scampered 78 yards to paydirt on the Owls next play, for a 17-3 lead with 5:06 left in the half. 

            Cory McFadden scored from 17 yards out to cap a 61-yard drive two minutes later, sending it to halftime at 17-10.

            The Owls opened the second half with a 59-yard drive, capped by Toles’ second score from 21 yards out.  KU’s ensuing drive was kept alive by a 3-yard fake punt run by Cory Porrino.  Ty Dinnis scored five plays later to make it 24-17.   

            Toles scored on the Owls next possession, capping a 65-yard drive with a 7-yard run.  SCSU put it away with two more scores early in the fourth quarter, both after KU turnovers, on a 33-yard pass from Armstrong to Marshall and a 18-yard run by Toles.

            Kutztown put together its longest drive of the day, going 80 yards on 10 plays.  Will Brown caught his first collegiate TD, a 31-yarder from Spotts, with 8:21.  Joe Strauss recovered the ensuing onside kick, and Spotts and Quiles hooked up from 9 yards out for a 45-30 score with 5:32 left in the game. 

            Toles capped the scoring on the Owl’s next drive, going in from 30 yards out for his fifth score of the game.