Football Remains Alive for NEC Title With Win at Saint Francis U

The Central Connecticut football team won its second straight game on Saturday, topping Saint Francis U on the road 30-14.  Senior quarterback Jacob Dolegala threw for a pair of touchdowns and sophomore running back Aaron Dawson ran for two more as the Blue Devils picked up the road victory.

With the victory the Blue Devils are now 6-4 overall on the season and 4-1 in Northeast Conference play.  They remain in the picture for the NEC title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs.  CCSU, Sacred Heart and Duquesne all enter the final week of the season with one loss.  CCSU hosts Duquesne next Saturday at 12 p.m. A Duquesne win gets them the NEC title and the berth.  CCSU needs a win and an SHU loss on Saturday to earn their second straight bid.  

On Saturday the Red Flash took a 7-0 lead on a touchdown pass to Cam Lewis with 5:10 left in the first quarter. The Blue Devils tied the game 7-7 with 13:42 left in the second quarter on a four-yard touchdown run from Dawson.  The scoring run capped a 13-play, 68-yard scoring drive.

The lead reached 14-7 on a 47-yard scoring pass from Dolegala to tight end Arthur Gilmore with 9:55 on the clock before halftime.  The drive lasted only two plays and would complete the scoring in the first half for both teams.

In the second half, Dolegala hit Drew Jean-Guillaume with an 86-yard touchdown pass with 10:46 left in the third quarter to build the lead to 21-7.  The scoring pass was the longest on the season for the Blue Devils and the longest since Oct. of 2017 when Dolegala hit Courtney Rush with a 70-yard score.  

SFU cut the lead to 21-14 with 14:54 left in the fourth quarter on the second touchdown of the day for Lewis.

But, with the Red Flash driving for the potential tying score, DJ Exilhomme picked off an SFU pass in the end zone to end the threat and give CCSU possession.  The Blue Devils answered, and went 70-yards in nine plays to score and make it 28-14.  Dawson ran for his second score of the day, this time from 3-yards out, to push the lead to 14.  The defense added a safety in the final seconds of the game as the SFU quarterback was called for intentional grounding while in the end zone.

The Blue Devils are tied for first place in the league with Duquesne and Sacred Heart following the victory with a 4-1 league record. 

They return home on Nov. 17 to host Duquesne beginning at 12 p.m.