Football Opens Season With Loss at Syracuse

The Central Connecticut football team opened the season with a 50-7 loss on the road at FBS and ACC member Syracuse on Friday night.  The Blue Devils were playing an FBS member school for the second time in school history and the first time since 2007 (Western Michigan).  The loss drops the Blue Devils to 0-1 on the season while the Orange are 1-0.

The Blue Devils are back in action at home next Saturday, Sept. 9, at 12 noon, hosting Fordham. 

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Syracuse took a 31-0 lead at halftime and held a 326-65 edge in offensive yards, highlighted by 256 yards in the air.  Quarterback Eric Dungey threw for two and ran for a third touchdown in the half as the Orange opened up the 31 point lead.  He was 20-of-27 for 256 yards and two scores before the break.

Central took the second half kickoff and cut the Cuse lead to 31-7.  The scoring drive for the Blue Devils lasted eight plays and went 74 yards, including a fourth down conversion on the score throw from junior Jacob Dolegala to classmate Jose Garcia.  On fourth and four Dolegala hit Garcia for the 24-yard score, the first of the season for the Blue Devils.

Syracuse answered with another quick scoring drive, but missed the PAT, and led 37-7 with 7:35 left in the third quarter.  They scored again on their next possession to make it 44-7.

Defensively the Blue Devils were led by senior Randall LeGuerre who had seven stops.  Senior Carlton Nash and junior Kenneth Keen each added six. 

The scoring pass for Dolegala was the 20th of his career.  He finished the game 6-of-19 for 86 yards and the touchdown.  Sophomore Tanner Kingsley was 6-of-8 for 27 yards.  Freshman Xavier Bass caught a pair of passes for 39 yards to lead the receiving core.  Senior Cameron Nash rushed nine times for 36 yards on the ground.

The Blue Devils are back in action at home on Saturday, Sept. 9, hosting Fordham at 12 p.m.  The game will air love on NECFrontRow.com.