Mallory and Fowler Rush Blue Devils Past Robert Morris on Saturday, 42-21

Senior James Mallory and junior Brian Fowler each rushed for over 100 yards as the Central Connecticut State University football team topped Robert Morris 42-21 on Saturday afternoon in New Britain. The win is the seventh straight home victory for Central as they improve to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Northeast Conference play. Fowler and Mallory became the first teammates to each rush for over 100 yards in a game since the 2000 season. CCSU returns to action next Saturday at Duquesne beginning at 12 p.m.

The Blue Devils rushed for 332 yards on the day, and generated 490 of total offense in the victory. It is the third straight home victory over Robert Morris for the Blue Devils and they have now won four of the last six games in the series.

Fowler led all rushers for CCSU with a career-high 159 yards and three touchdowns. He carried the ball just 19 times in the game, and his performance included a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Mallory moved into second place all-time at Central with 113 yards in the game. He carried the ball 23 times. He now has 2,387 career rushing yards, good for second place in the CCSU record books behind all-time leader Stan House (3,347).

The Blue Devils trailed 14-13 at the half, falling behind at the break for the fourth straight week. For the third straight they answered for the victory and provided a big second half for the CCSU home fans to cheer about.

The Blue Devils scored 29 second half points, including the first 22 of the half, to come away with the 21-point victory. The 42 points were a season-high for the Blue Devils who helped head coach Jeff McInerney improve his home record to 15-2 in his fourth season.

Trailing 14-13 at the half, the Blue Devils opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by junior wide receiver Josue Paul. It marked the first kickoff return for a score since Paul returned one last season at Robert Morris. Central led 21-14 after the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw four scores, including three by the home team and just one by Robert Morris. The touchdown by the Colonials was the first allowed in the second half against the Central defense since the first week of the season against Lafayette.

With the score 21-14, Robert Morris drove to the CCSU nine-yardline for the potential tying score. On second down and goal from the nine, the Colonials fumbled the snap and Central's Ricardo Gibson recovered the ball to give CCSU possession.

Central answered the turnover with a nine-play, 85-yard scoring drive to take a 28-14 lead with 4:17 left to play. Senior quarterback Hunter Wanket hit sophomore Rob Fisher with a 40-yard scoring strike to cap the drive.

With 1:43 left in the game Fowler scored his third touchdown, this time on a 66-yard run as the Blue Devils were running out the clock. It was the only play of the drive after Robert Morris had been stopped on fourth down on the previous play.

Following a score from RMU, sophomore running back Kevin Woolfolk scored on a 44-yard run with 56 seconds to play in the game.

The rushing touchdowns mark the 38th straight game that the Blue Devils have scored a touchdown on the ground. The 332 rushing yards and 490 total yards are season-highs.

Defensively the Blue Devils held RMU to 311 total offensive yards and forced four turnovers. Two of those came on interceptions by London Lomax, his first two picks of the season. It marked the first time since November of last season that a CCSU player has had two interceptions in a game. CCSU also forced three fumbles, and recovered two of them.

Mallory made his mark on special teams too for CCSU. He blocked a pair of punts in the first half, both of which led to Central touchdowns on their next possession.

Jeff Marino led all Central tacklers with 11 stops while teammate Paul Briody had 10. Roberto Rodriguez had seven tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and one sack. CCSU sacked the Colonial quarterbacks four times in the game.

Central returns to action next Saturday on the road at Duquesne beginning at 12 p.m. It will be the first trip to Duquesne for the Blue Devils since they joined the NEC.