NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Despite building a 14-point lead on three separate occasions, the Monroe University football team suffered a heartbreaking 35-28 setback to Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday afternoon.
The Mustangs (1-4) totaled 396 yards of offense, including 240 on the ground, but could not hold off a second-half comeback by the Owls (4-1), who scored 21 unanswered points to secure the victory.
Quarterback Zavry Ward accounted for four touchdowns, throwing for three scores and rushing for another, while Libaan Aden hauled in two touchdown receptions. Running back Lasean Sharp led the ground attack with 120 rushing yards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Monroe wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, opening the scoring with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Ward to Aden with 11:09 remaining in the first quarter. Dimitri Grieb converted the extra point to give the Mustangs a 7-0 advantage.
The Mustangs doubled their lead late in the opening quarter when Ward connected with Aden again, this time for a 23-yard touchdown with 1:29 remaining, putting Monroe ahead 14-0.
Southern Connecticut State responded early in the second quarter on a 14-yard touchdown run by John Amaning, cutting the Mustangs' advantage to 14-7.
Monroe answered with a lengthy 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive that consumed 9:23 off the clock. Ward capped the possession with a three-yard touchdown pass to Tristan West, sending the Mustangs into halftime with a 21-7 lead.
The Owls opened the second-half scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run from Amaning, trimming Monroe's lead to 21-14 with 10:05 remaining in the third quarter.
The Mustangs responded with another 75-yard scoring drive, highlighted by Ward's two-yard touchdown run with 5:27 left in the period to restore the 14-point advantage at 28-14.
However, Southern Connecticut State answered with three consecutive touchdowns to complete the comeback. Amaning scored his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon on a two-yard run with 1:03 remaining in the third quarter, bringing the Owls within seven.
Southern Connecticut State tied the contest at 28-28 with 6:38 remaining in regulation when Brandon Jorgensen connected with Andres Perez for a 31-yard touchdown pass.
The Owls then took their first lead of the afternoon with 2:57 remaining when Jorgensen scored on a one-yard quarterback run, putting Southern Connecticut State ahead 35-28.
Monroe could not answer in the closing minutes as the Owls completed the comeback victory.
STATS & NOTES
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Monroe finished with 396 yards of total offense, out gaining Southern Connecticut State, which recorded 334 yards.
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The Mustangs rushed for 240 yards on 40 carries, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt.
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Ward completed 12-of-19 passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns while adding 84 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
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Sharp led Monroe with 120 rushing yards on 19 attempts, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
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Aden recorded two receptions for 67 yards, with both catches resulting in touchdowns.
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West caught three passes for 14 yards, including a three-yard touchdown reception.
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Jamal Abdal-Khallaq added three receptions for 29 yards.
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Monroe converted 7-of-13 third-down opportunities and its lone fourth-down attempt.
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Defensively, Brandon Wilson led the Mustangs with seven tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
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Jarius Davis added four tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack.
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Gavin Rembert, Davon Sawyer and Deon McKinnon each finished with six tackles.
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Grieb was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts.
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Southern Connecticut State's Amaning finished with 146 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries.
UP NEXT
The Mustangs take a week off before returning to action at West Virginia State University on Saturday, October 24, at 1:00 p.m.
