Football Slumps in Setback to LIU on Saturday
Central Connecticut fell to LIU, 30-13, on Saturday in Northeast Conference football action at Arute Field. The Sharks scored 20 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to take control of the conference matchup.
CCSU was limited to 260 yards of offense, with 201 coming through the air. Graduate student Shon Mitchell started at quarterback and had 201 yards with a touchdown and interception. Senior Tyshaun James had 113 yards on six catches and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Blue Devils forced a pair of turnovers. Senior Rani Abdulaziz had a team-high nine tackles. Freshman Jonathan Cabral-Martin added eight tackles and an interception.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Central Connecticut 13, LIU 30
Records: CCSU (1-6, 1-2 NEC), LIU (1-5, 1-2 NEC)
Location: Arute Field | New Britain, CT
KEY MOMENTS
- The Blue Devils would force a turnover on LIU's first possession when Cabral-Martin picked off a pass and returned it 35 yards. The Blue Devils would open the scoring and convert a 25-yard field goal by sophomore Joe Zoppi to make it 3-0.
- The Sharks tied the game on a 20-yard field goal on their next possession, before CCSU was able to regain the lead early in the second quarter. The Central defense set it up by forcing a fumble caused by junior DeQuan Williams and recovered by Cabral-Martin. After picking up a first down the drive stalled and Zoppi would kick a 42-yarder to make it 6-3 with 10:09 to go in the half.
- LIU would score an eight-yard touchdown on its next drive capping off a 5-play, 88-yard drive to make it 10-6. After intercepting a CCSU pass, the Sharks converted a 32-yard field goal to push its lead to 13-6 that it took into halftime.
- Central was limited to just 33 yards on its first three drives of the second half. LIU would take advantage with another field goal and Camden Orth's second passing touchdown of the day to build a 23-6 lead.
- CCSU managed to find the endzone with 8:14 remaining when Mitchell connected with James from three yards out to make it 23-13. The Sharks responded with an 12 play 76 yard drive for a touchdown on its next possession to close out the scoring..
NUMBER TO KNOW
2 - The Blue Devils were held to 2-of-14 on third down conversions. LIU by contrast was 6-of-13 on third down conversions.
GAME NOTES
- LIU leads the all-time series 9-3. Saturday's win was the Sharks' first vs. CCSU since moving to Division I.
- CCSU has dropped back-to-back NEC games for the first time since the final two contests of the 2016 season.
- Junior Aaron Dawson ran for 31 yards on 11 carries to pace Central's backfield.
- The Blue Devils' five-game slide is its longest since 2016 (Sept. 24-Nov. 5) when the also dropped five straight.
UP NEXT
Central travels to Merrimack for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 30.
