Defense Dominates In Home Win Over Robert Morris

The Central Connecticut football team moved to 4-5 overall and 3-1 in Northeast Conference with a 34-0 win at home over Robert Morris on Saturday.  The win is the third home win in the last four games for the Blue Devils, and also the third win in the last four games overall.

WATCH IT AGAIN

The shutout is the first for the Blue Devils since the 2008 season when they topped St. Francis U 36-0 at home.  Central forced six turnovers in the win on Saturday, including five interceptions, the most in a game since the same home win over the Red Flash in 2008.  They also had five interceptions and one fumble recovery in that win.

The win keeps the Blue Devils in a tie for first place in the NEC.  After dropping their first league game of the season on the road at Duquesne, the Blue Devils have won three straight NEC contests. 

With the loss to Colonials fall to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in league play.

After a scoreless first half the Blue Devils struck first on a blocked punt in the third quarter to take a 6-0 lead with 12:30 on the clock.  Freshman Dwight Lomax blocked the Robert Morris punt and it was scooped at the two-yard line junior Keir Minor who walked into the end zone for the score and the first points of the game from either team.

The blocked punt for a touchdown was the first for the Blue Devils since Josh Alaeze blocked one last season in a home game vs. Sacred Heart.  

The Blue Devils pushed the lead to 13-0 with their first offensive touchdown of the afternoon.  Redshirt freshman Tavion Pauldo snuck it in from one-yard out to cap a seven-play drive that went 31-yards with 2:25 left in the third quarter.  The rushing touchdown was the third of the season for Pauldo, a team-high.

The lead reached 20-0 after an 11-yard touchdown run from junior Mike Petersen with 9:55 left in the fourth quarter.  The Blue Devil drive went for 13-plays and 69 yards and took 5:06 off the clock.  After the Blue Devils appeared to be stopped on a third down play the Colonials were flagged for a personal foul penalty, and CCSU took advantage.  Five plays and four first downs later the Blue Devils rushed for their second offensive touchdown of the game.

Sophomore Cameron Nash ran it in from 10-yards out to make it 27-0, and on the next possession and the first play from scrimmage for RMU, sophomore Najae Brown picked off his second pass of the day and ran it back for the touchdown as the Blue Devil lead reached 34-0 with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter.  The interception was the fifth of the day for the Blue Devils.

Petersen finished with a career-high 97 yards on the ground and ran for one touchdown.  The Blue Devils rushed for 214 yards in the win and posted 330 yards of total offense.  The Blue Devil defense held RMU to just 13 yards on the ground in 30 attempts.

The Blue Devils return to action at home next weekend, hosting St. Francis U at 12 noon on Nov. 7.  The game will be the final home game of the season for CCSU, and the Blue Devils will honor their senior class prior to kickoff.