Football Hits the Road to #12 James Madison on Saturday
Blue Devils and Dukes meeting for the third time in the last six seasons
Today's Game • The Blue Devils are playing at James Madison for the third time in the last six seasons. The Dukes hold a 2-0 advantage in the series, winning 14-9 in 2011 and 38-14 in 2013. The game in 2011 was the first following a vast expansion of Bridgeforth Stadium. The Blue Devils trailed 7-0 heading into the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 7-3 on a field goal from Juan Duque. Central fought until the last second as Chris Tolbert scored with one second remaining in the game to make it 14-9. The Dukes were ranked #17 in the country at the time.
Last Week • The Central Connecticut football team erased an early deficit to tie the game in the second half before falling, 24-10, to Lafayette in the season-opener last Friday night at Arute Field. The Blue Devils tied the game at 10-10 before the Leopards scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win the opener. The Leopards forced turnovers on the Blue Devils' first four possessions to build a 10-0 lead in the first half. Lafayette recovered a CCSU fumble on its own 38 to begin its first drive. An 18-yard touchdown pass from Drew Reed to Matt Mrazek capped the 62-yard drive and the extra point made it 7-0. An interception on the ensuing drive gave the Leopards the ball back on the CCSU 25. A 35-yard field goal from Jacob Bissell made it 10-0. After the Central defense forced a three-and-out, junior Najae Brown returned the punt 38 yards to set CCSU up on the Lafayette 27. Senior Ed Groth got the Blue Devils on the board three plays later with a 43-yard field goal to make it 10-3. Central would tie the score with a six-play 75-yard drive in the third quarter. Redshirt freshman Drew Jean-Guillaume ripped off a 21-yard rush on second down to move the ball to the LU 46 yard line. Three more rushes by Jean-Guillaume moved the ball to the 25 yard line. On first-and-10, sophomore Jacob Dolegala sent a pass to the left side of the endzone where he found sophomore Alex Jamele for the touchdown. Groth's PAT made it 10-10. The Leopards responded on their next possession with a 14-play, 89-yard drive over 5:06 to retake the lead. Reed connected with Mrazek for a 21-yard strike and the PAT made it 17-10 with 12:53 left in the game. Reed would hit Mrazek for their third touchdown connection of the night with 5:12 to play. The 15-yard pass capped a nine-play, 81-yard drive and extended the Leopards' lead to 24-10.
NEC Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference • The Central Connecticut football team was tabbed fifth in the 2016 Northeast Conference Football Preseason Coaches' Poll. Additionally, the Blue Devils had senior Asia Bolling, junior Cameron Nash and junior Randall Laguerre named to the Preseason All-NEC Team. Leading the returnees on defense will be Bolling who was named to the Preseason All-NEC Team for the second consecutive season. Bolling earned All-NEC First Team honors on the defensive line as a junior after compiling 64 total tackles in 11 games. He led the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He added a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Nash burst onto the scene in his first season with the Blue Devils to earn All-NEC Second Team honors at running back. He led the Central rushing attack with three touchdowns on 676 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. He added 218 receiving yards on 18 catches, including an 84-yard touchdown against Bryant. Laguerre played in all 11 games as a sophomore in Central's linebacker corps and led the Blue Devils' defense with 92 total tackles, including 55 solo efforts. He recorded one sack at Wagner and had 11.5 tackles for loss.
Captains • Third-year head coach Pete Rossomando announced that two players from each side of the ball will lead the Blue Devils this season as captains. Rossomando has announced that seniors Dan Hebert and Brenden Lytton and juniors Najae Brown and Randall Laguerre will be the four captains for the upcoming season. "These four players were picked because they embody what it means to play football at Central Connecticut," Rossomando said. "Each has proven to have what it takes to be successful at this level, and leads by example each and every day. During their careers they have performed both on the field and in the classroom. During preseason camp they have led this team from day one. That showed, and that's why each was chosen." The four captains were chosen by a vote of the players and the coaching staff. "We chose four captains, but I have been tremendously impressed with the leadership of the entire team during the last three weeks, and really since we finished the 2015 season," Rossomando added.
LaGuerre and Brown • Juniors Randall LaGuerre and Najae Brown, both captains, picked up where they left off last season last Friday night. LaGuerre led the defense with 13 tackles on the night, including four solos and one sack. Brown added 10 tackles and a tackle for a loss while also adding a pass break up.
Brown's Returns • Junior Najae Brown, who became a dangerous return man towards the end of the 2015 season, showed that again on Friday night. Brown returned a punt for a touchdown in the game but had it called back because of a holding penalty on the other side of the field. He finished the game with three punt returns for 76 total yards, an average of over 25 yards per return. He also had one kickoff return for 30 yards in the game.
Turnovers • The Blue Devils turned the ball over five times in the loss to Lafayette on Friday night, and were still tied 10-10 heading into the fourth quarter. Central turned the ball over on four straight possessions to begin the game.
Shutout • The shutout vs. Robert Morris last season was the first for the Blue Devils since Nov. 8, 2008 when they shutout St. Francis U 36-0, also at home.
Rushing Attack • The Blue Devils return leading rusher Cameron Nash (676 yards, 3 TD) as well as third leading rusher Devon Lofton (230 yards, 1 TD) this season. Lofton will see time as a receiver, as well as running back. Look for the Blue Devils to use multiple players at the running back position this season, including Lytton, Nash and Mike Peterson. Also keep an eye on Drew Jean-Guillaume.
Receiving Core • The Blue Devils return nine of their top 10 receivers from a year ago, including Hebert (22 catches, 233 yards, 4 TD) and leading yardage man sophomore K.J. Smith (17 catches, 335 yards). Also keep an eye on Joey Fields, Cameron Nash out of the backfield, Courtney Rush, Xavier Jenkins, Jose Garcia, Alex Jamele and Devon Lofton.
Size • The Blue Devils have gotten bigger up front on the offensive side of the ball. The starting five, as listed in the two deep, are 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, 6-5 and 6-5, and average 290 pounds. The entire two deep doesn't have a lineman below 6-1, and all 10 listed average 296 pounds.
Turnovers • The Blue Devils caused six turnovers and had five interceptions in the win over RMU last season. It was the most turnovers (6) and interceptions (5) in a game since Nov. 8, 2008 in the win over St. Francis.
10 Points in 2 Games • The Blue Devils allowed only 10 points in a two-game span vs. SHU and Robert Morris last season, the fewest points allowed in a two-game stretch in their FCS history and the fewest in a two-game stretch since 1987 when they allowed three points in a two-game stretch to Springfield and Western Connecticut.
Since the beginning of 2004 • Since the beginning of the 2004 season CCSU posts a record of 70-63, including 41-21 at home.
25 or More Almost Perfect • Since the start of 2004 the Blue Devils are 52-13 when scoring 25 or more points in a game. They are 62-26 when scoring at least 20.
News Radio 1410 • Every Central Connecticut football and men's basketball game will air live on radio. News Radio 1410 will carry the action with Bruce Biel and Marc Robbins on the call. Fans can also listen to every game online at www.iHeartRadio.com or with the iHeartRadio app.
NEC Front Row • Thanks to a continued partnership between the Northeast Conference and the Pack Network, live webcasts of NEC sports will be available free of charge on NECFrontRow.com. The site will carry every CCSU NEC football game this season (Excluding the two games broadcast on ESPN3.com this season, home vs. RMU on Oct. 31, and on the road at Sacred Heart on Oct. 24).
Social Media • Follow the Blue Devils all season long on Social Media: Twitter: @CCSUBlueDevils In Game Twitter Updates: @KizerBlueDevil Facebook: CCSUBlueDevils Instagram: CCSUBlueDevils