Football Falls on the Road at St. Francis U
Blue Devils end the season next Saturday at home vs. Duquesne
The Central Connecticut football team dropped to 2-8 overall and 1-4 in Northeast Conference play with a 31-21 loss on the road at St. Francis U on Saturday afternoon. With the win the Red Flash claim at least a share of the NEC title and will represent the NEC in the FCS playoffs this season.
St. Francis is now 7-3 overall and 5-0 in league play after the win. The Blue Devils will complete their 2016 season at home next weekend hosting Duquesne at 12 p.m. at Arute Field.
Sophomore quarterback Jacob Dolegala finished the game 25-of-38 for 318 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It was his second straight and third 300+ yard game of the season. He also rushed for a touchdown in the loss, his fifth of the season.
Junior Cameron Nash rushed 13 times for 81 yards in the game. Sophomore wideout Jose Garcia had eight catches for 119 yards and a touchdown.
The Blue Devils punted on their first possession and the Red Flash needed just two plays to go 63 yards and take a 7-0 lead. Zack Drayer hit Jordan Millberry for the score and the early lead.
The Blue Devils answered quickly on a 78-yard pass completion from Dolegala to Jose Garcia to tie the game 7-7 with 11:26 left in the first quarter.
Drayer's second touchdown pass of the first quarter pushed the Red Flash lead to 14-7 left. Lance Geesey's 28-yard field goal gave the Red Flash a 17-7 lead.
Dolegala's second scoring pass of the game, this time a ?-yard strike to junior Joey Field, cut the Red Flash lead to 17-14. The score came on the first play following a Red Flash and a personal foul penalty against SFU.
Following a Blue Devil fumble and SFU recovery on a mis-handled punt return, the Red Flash scored on a quarterback sneak on fourth and goal as Drayer snuck it in from one yard out. The scored built the lead to 24-14 with 6:42 left before halftime.
The Blue Devils answered with a 10-play, 76-yard drive but were stopped on fourth and goal from the one yardline with under two minutes to play before halftime.
The Blue Devil began the second half forcing a Red Flash punt, but the ball was again fumbled by the Blue Devils and the Red Flash took over deep in CCSU territory. Two plays later Drayer hit tight end Marcus Alston for the score to push the SFU lead to 31-14.
Following a strong of punts from both teams Dolegala ran it into the end zone to cut the Red Flash lead to 31-21 with 1:59 to play in the game. It was his team-high fifth rushing touchdown of the season. An onside kick attempt by the Blue Devils was unsuccessful.
Junior captain Randall LaGuerre, the conference leader in tackles, finished the game with 13 stops, including five unassisted. Kenneth Keen had 10 stops, his third double digit tackle total on the season.
The Blue Devils will finish the season next Saturday at home vs. Duquesne at 12 p.m. Prior to the game the Blue Devils will honor the members of the senior class.
