EASTON, Mass. (Sept. 20, 2025) – The Stonehill football team outscored Penn, 14-3, in the second half and nearly finished off the comeback, falling by a final score of 24-21 before 3,800 fans at W.B. Mason Stadium Saturday afternoon. The loss puts the Skyhawks at 1-3, while the Quakers move to 1-0.

STONEHILL HIGHLIGHTS:

• For the second-straight week, Jack O'Connell threw a touchdown pass on fourth down and finished the game 18-of-26 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. O'Connell is now tied for 10th in program history with 15 career touchdowns, matching Tim Morrison '11.
   
• Myles Wilson and Torance Washington, Jr., each caught their first touchdowns of the season.
   
• Zavion Woodard's touchdown rush was the first of the season on the ground for Stonehill.
   
• Defensively, Charles Battagla recorded seven tackles, while Anthony Busa (six tackles) and Tyler Bannon (four tackles) each broke up three passes. Bannon also recorded a sack.
   
• Logan Chenette had seven punts for an average of 48.0 yards, including a 69-yarder. He also placed three punts inside the 20.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Quakers struck first as Liam O'Brien sent a pass down the middle to Jared Richardson for a 69-yard touchdown at the 14:10 mark of the first quarter. Penn added a score on a 63-yard punt return by Julien Stokes to go up, 14-0, with 7:13 remaining in the first stanza.

The Skyhawks responded with an 11-yard TD struck from Jack O'Connell to Myles Wilson, getting Stonehill back within, 14-7, with 1:28 to go in the first. Early in the second, Penn made it a 21-7 contest with a 1-yard TD rush by Sean Williams, Jr., 2:55 into the period.

In the second half, Zavion Woodard dashed into the endzone for a five-yard touchdown, as the Skyhawks cut the deficit back to seven, 21-14, with 14:47 in regulation.

Later in the fourth on 4th and 2 at their own 28-yard line, the Skyhawks tied the score as O'Connell sent a long pass down the left sideline, finding Torance Washington, Jr., for touchdown, knotting the game, 2-21, with 5:32 left.

On Penn's ensuing possession, the Quakers wound down the clock to under 10 seconds to play as Mason Walters connected on a 45-yard field goal to put them ahead for good, 24-21.

UP NEXT:
Stonehill (1-3, 0-0 NEC) will remain home and host LIU (1-2, 0-0 NEC) in the NEC opener during Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. at W.B. Mason Stadium.

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