Football Drops Season Finale on the Road at Wagner
Blue Devils end the season 4-7 overall and 3-3 in NEC play
The Central Connecticut football team fell behind 28-0 and turned the ball over five times in a season-ending 28-7 loss to Wagner on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils finish the 2015 season, the second under head coach Pete Rossomando, with a 4-7 overall record and a 3-3 mark in NEC play.
Sophomore running back Cameron Nash rushed for 102 yards and added 53 yards receiving in the game. It was his third 100 yard rushing game of the season. He ends the year with 676 rushing yards to lead all Blue Devil rushers.
Wagner rushed for 316 yards in the win and posted 428 yards of total offense in the game. The Blue Devils had 81 total rushing yards and 186 through the air.
Following a Blue Devil punt to open the game, Wagner used a 40-yard touchdown run from quarterback Alex Thomson to take the early lead. Thomson's rush capped a five-play, 55-yard drive and made it 7-0.
The first turnover of the game for either team led to the second score of the game for the Seahawks. Nash gained 22 yards on a rush and neared a CCSU first down, but he fumbled on the play and Wagner recovered at the CCSU 42-yardline. Seven plays later Matthias McKinnon ran it in from one yard out for the 14-0 lead.
The Blue Devils turned it over for the second time on their next possession when freshman Jacob Dolegala was intercepted at the Wagner 34 yardline. The defense held the Seahawks without a first down and they were forced to punt.
On their next drive the Blue Devils got to the Wagner 31-yardline, and on fourth down they attempted a 49-yard field goal from junior Ed Groth. The attempt, which would have matched the school record, went just left and it remained 14-0.
Wagner led 14-0 at the half and then took the second half kickoff and drive 65-yards to take a 21-0 lead with 12:55 in the third quarter. Otis Wright capped the drive with a four yard run, his second of the season.
The lead reached 28-0 with 8:57 left in the third quarter when McKinnon ran it in from three yards out for his second score of the game. The drive was highlighted by a 66-yard run from Wright.
Central got on the board on a 53-yard pass completion from Dolegala to freshman Courtney Rush with 1:24 left in the third quarter. The drive went for 89 yards and took nine plays as the Blue Devils cut into the lead. It included a fourth down conversion from Dolegala early in the drive.
Central tried the onside kick and was unsuccessful, but the Seahawks fumbled on their first place and senior C.J. Morrison recovered and Central took over. The Blue Devils drove inside the Wagner red zone but on a fourth down play the Blue Devils attempted a fake field goal and Dolegala was intercepted in the end zone.
Following a Wagner punt and a big return from junior Dan Hebert, Dolegala was intercepted for the third time, the fifth turnover for CCSU, and Wagner took over at their own 11 yardline.
Wagner's win was their first of the season as they improved to 1-9 on the season. They have one game remaining next week. The Blue Devils end the season with a 4-7 overall record and a 3-3 mark in league play.
