Football Rallies in Second Half, Holds Off Wagner

September 11, 2021

Central Connecticut rallied from a 10-point deficit to win its Northeast Conference football opener at Wagner, 21-19, on Saturday at Hameline Field. The Blue Devils stopped a Seahawks two-point conversion to tie the game and a missed field goal in the closing minutes sealed the CCSU win.

Central rebounded from a loss in its season-opener and outscored Wagner, 21-3, after falling behind 10-0 to open the game. Sophomore Romelo Williams accounted for three touchdowns. Senior Everett Wormley had four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, senior Jahlil Brown accounted for 13 tackles and forced a fumble. Senior Kelvin Apari made 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and had a pair of sacks.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Central Connecticut 21, Wagner 19
Records: CCSU (1-1, 1-0 NEC), Wagner (0-2, 0-1 NEC)
Location: Hameline Field | Staten Island, NY

KEY MOMENTS

Wagner took a 10-0 lead after a five yard run by Naiem Rush and a 18-yard field goal by Austin Hosier with 6:00 to go in the second quarter.
Central would get on the board as time expired in the first half. Sophomore Romelo Williams found junior Jiovany Pierre in the back of the endzone for a six-yard touchdown to make it 10-7 at halftime.
After the Seahawks converted a 38-yard field goal, CCSU would score 14 unanswered points to take the lead. Williams capped a five-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard rush. After the PAT, Central took a 14-13 lead. In their first drive of the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils went 60 yards in four plays and scored on a 34 yard pass from Williams to senior Everett Wormley.
Wagner scored with 5:34 to play on a 18-yard touchdown catch by Jayvin Little to cap a 12-play 77-yard drive. The Seahawks went for the two-point conversion, but the CCSU defense stuffed the run attempt up the middle.
The Seahawks had one more chance taking over on their own 45 with 3:17 to play. The Seahawks got down to the CCSU 26 and attempted a field goal with 1:11 to play, but the kick came up short and the Blue Devils held on for the win.

NUMBER TO KNOW

6 - The teams combined to convert six fourth downs in the game. CCSU went 3-of-4.

GAME NOTES

Central has won four straight meetings and leads the all-time series 17-16.
Wagner outgained CCSU, 346 yards to 203 yards. Central had 154 yards passing and 49 yards on the ground.
Williams was 12-of-23 for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Wormley has 10 catches for 168 yards on the season, while adding a pair of touchdowns.
Brown set a career-high with 13 stops. Nine of his tackles were solo stops.
Apari became the first Blue Devil to record two sacks in a game since Brandon Puritt on Nov. 2, 2019, at Wagner. He also added 4.0 tackles for loss.
Senior Nasir Smith led CCSU with 51 yards on the ground. He added three catches for 18 yards.
Central was 0-for-11 on third downs in the game, while Wagner was 6-of-17.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils return to Arute Field on Saturday and will host Southeastern Louisiana in a noon kickoff.