Seven Blue Devils Earn Football All-Conference Honors on Friday
The Central Connecticut football team won a share of its second straight Northeast Conference Championship last Saturday with a 23-13 win at home over St. Francis (PA). On Friday, seven Blue Devils were honored by the NEC and named All-Conference. Four players were named to the first team, and three additional players earned second team honors. Central finished the season 8-3 overall and 7-1 in NEC play.
The Central Connecticut football team won a share of its second
straight Northeast Conference Championship last Saturday with a
23-13 win at home over St. Francis (PA). On Friday, seven Blue
Devils were honored by the NEC and named All-Conference. Four
players were named to the first team, and three additional players
earned second team honors. Central finished the season 8-3 overall
and 7-1 in NEC play.
First team honorees for the Blue Devils are offensive lineman Mike
Allison, wide receiver Josue
Paul, defensive back Alondre
Rush and place kicker Joe
Izzo. Second team members include running back Everette
Benjamin, offensive lineman Brendan
Brackett and defensive lineman Charles
Williams.
COMPLETE NEC RELEASE
Central Connecticut accounted for another fine season under head
coach Jeff McInerney. After winning the 2009 NEC crown outright,
CCSU finished tied atop the 2010 standings with Robert Morris. The
Blue Devils captured their fourth league title since 2004.
Paul made the most of his time on the gridiron in his senior
season. The blazing-fast Floridian, who has earned all-NEC honors
at both kick returner and receiver during his four-year CCSU
career, made a number of big plays during a stretch run. Averaging
18.5 yards per reception, Paul caught 23 balls for 426 yards and
three scores on the way to his first team selection. In his first
game back, Paul made a 64-yard touchdown catch to help Central past
Duquesne, 31-29. Two weeks later, he added a 90-yard kickoff
return touchdown to his ledger in a 38-20 win over Wagner.
The right side of CCSU's offensive line features a pair of all-NEC
performers. Allison lived up to his preseason billing as a first
teamer, while Brackett claimed a spot on the second team. The
6-foot-6, 300-pound Allison served as a team captain and was the
leader of a line that paved the way for the NEC's top-ranked
rushing attack (212.5 ypg). Brackett, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound
blocker, did not miss a game during each of the past two seasons
and made 11 starts in 2010.
Izzo matched a single-season program record by nailing 13 field
goals and earns first team honors at placekicker as a result.
Izzo's 86.7 percent conversion rate (13-of-15) was tops amongst NEC
field goal kickers. The Connecticut native accounted for 74 points
this season, including a game-winning three-pointer in overtime at
Albany.
Meanwhile, senior safety Rush makes his third consecutive
appearance on the All-NEC First Team. Rush made 73 tackles (42
solo) to rank third on CCSU while logging 5.5 hits for a loss. The
instinctive safety recorded seven pass break-ups in coverage and
blocked a pair of punts on special teams.
Benjamin and Williams round out CCSU's selections on the second
team. Handling the bulk of the ball-carrying duties in his first
season after transferring from Hofstra where he was an all-CAA
fullback, Benjamin ran 250 times for 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He ranked third amongst NEC rushing leaders in yards per game
(120.9). Williams totaled 47 tackles and his 12.0 stops for loss
tie him for fifth amongst the NEC's best.