Sporting News CT – SNCTTV

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut State University football coach Rich Cavanaugh has announced team captains for the upcoming 2010 season – Daniel Allen (Bridgeport, Conn.), Richard Kirkland (Paterson, N.J.), Kevin Lynch (Medfield, Mass.) and John Russell (Boynton Beach, Fla.).

Allen, a defensive lineman, enjoyed a breakout season as a junior, one that saw him provide a presence off the edge and earn All-Conference honors. He registered 32 tackles (17 solo) and led the club in sacks (four) and quarterback hurries (seven). Allen was also third on the team with seven tackles for loss.

Kirkland, a defensive back, stepped into an increased role in the secondary last year and emerged during the season’s second half to collect All-Conference laurels. He led the team with three interceptions and was sixth among all defenders with 33 stops (20 solo). Kirkland was also second on the club with four passes defended.

Lynch will step into the starting quarterback role after seeing action as a reserve in that position in each of the past two years. As a redshirt freshman in 2008, he engineered the winning scoring drive in the opener against West Virginia Wesleyan and earned the start against American International before suffering a season-ending injury.

Russell, a center, has seen time on the offensive line in each of the past three years for the Owls. He will serve as the starting center again this fall.

The Owls finished the 2009 season with a 6-4 record and claimed the Northeast-10 Conference championship for the second time in the past four years. The 2010 season opener is on Sept. 4 at Indiana (Pa.).

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore quarterback Kevin Lynch (Medfield, Mass.) completed 16-of-25 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns as the Southern Connecticut State University football team hosted its annual William ‘Sully’ Sullivan spring game on Saturday. Sophomore tailback Rashaad Slowley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) broke the 100-yard mark for the second spring game in a row, as he finished with 111 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. The Owls’ defense also fared well, stopping the offense on 12 of 16 possessions to go along with six sacks.

The offense came out strong on the opening possession, as it put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive. The key play on the series was a 44-yard scamper by junior John Wiechman (Buxton, Maine). One play later, fullback Curtis Shappy (Rutland, Vt.) scored from a yard out. Eric LaVorgna (North Haven, Conn.) added the PAT to make it 7-0.

The score would be the only points put up by the offense in the first half of action.

Once again, the Owls’ offense struck quickly to start the second half – and once again, it was with an eight-play, 75 yard drive. The series culminated when Lynch connected with Andre Privott (Middletown, Conn.) on a 21-yard pass.

Later in the half, Lynch assembled a two-play, 59-yard drive, with the second completion resulting in a 50-yard touchdown reception by Michael Donnelly (Framingham, Mass.).

The final score of the day came courtesy of Slowley, who broke a 65-yard touchdown run to surpass the 100-yard mark for the day.

Quarterback David Gondek (Waterbury, Conn.) finished 8-of-11 for 44 yards. Donnelly led all receivers with 87 receiving yards, while tight end Jerome Cunningham (Waterbury, Conn.) had a team-high five catches. Eleven different Owls had at least one reception on the afternoon. Wiechman added nine rushes for 68 yards.

The Owls’ 2010 opener is on Sept. 4 at Indiana (Pa.).

Notable Statistics

Passing

Kevin Lynch 16/25, 206 yards, 2 TD

David Gondek 8/11, 44 yards

Rushing

Rashaad Slowley 12 rushes, 111 yards, TD

John Wiechman 9 rushes, 68 yards

Curtis Shappy 3 rushes, 4 yards, TD

Patrick Collins 3 rushes, 11 yards

Receiving

Jerome Cunningham 5 catches, 33 yards

Andre Privott 4 catches, 52 yards, TD

Nick Mandich 3 catches, 20 yards

Sean Donnelly 2 catches, 87 yards, TD

Raymond Fagan 2 catches, 17 yards

Rashaad Slowley 2 catches, 9 yards

Vito Fornarelli 2 catches, 8 yards

Willie Epps 1 catch, 11 yards

John Wiechman 1 catch, 6 yards

Chris Cleaveland 1 catch, 4 yards

Brian Tourtellot 1 catch, 0 yards

Punting

Chris Hazelton 10 punts, 35.1 average

Kicking

Eric Lavorgna 4/4 PAT, 0/1 FG (43 yards, no good, hit left upright)

Yale Tight End Coach

Kyle Metzler ’02 has been named Yale Football’s new tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator. Metzler, who coached tight ends and served as video coordinator for the Bulldogs from 2003 to 2005, returns to Yale after four seasons at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he served as offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

Metzler was a four-year starter and two-time All-Ivy League offensive guard for the Elis. He anchored the offensive line for the 1999 league champions.

He has served on the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coaches Committee the last three years and received an M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in 2007 from the University of Phoenix.

Metzler and his fiancé, Jeanne Davis ’04, are currently relocating to Southern Connecticut.