Smith's Career Day Leads Football To 34-7 Win Over Wagner

Running back carried 31 times for 174 yards and three touchdowns

Nasir Smith had a career-high 174 yards, on 31 carries, and three touchdowns in the Blue Devils win over Wagner on October 29. (Photo: Steve McLaughlin)

October 29, 2022

Behind a career-day from Nasir Smith, the Central Connecticut football team earned a 34-7 victory over visiting Northeast Conference foe Wagner College, Saturday at Arute Field.

Smith notched carrier highs in carries, 31, rushing yards, 174, and touchdowns, three, in the victory.

The Blue Devils scored the first 28 points of the game, with a touchdown on the opening drive, and never trailed.

The Blue Devils travel to LIU for an NEC contest on November 5, at 12 pm on ESPN3.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: CCSU 34, Wagner 7
Records: CCSU (1-7; 1-3 NEC); Wagner (1-7, 1-3 NEC)
Location: Arute Field | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

The Blue Devils won the toss, chose to receive and Kyren Petteway returned the kick to midfield
Smith capped that opening drive with a five-yard TD run to give CCSU the lead
Exactly 15 minutes of game action later Shon Mitchell connected with Jadd Dolegala from four yards out for a 14-0 advantage
Wagner drove to the Central 17 on the ensuing drive and attempted a 34-yard field goal that was blocked by Dan Toately
Smith found the end zone for a second time with 8:21 to play in the second quarter, breaking off an 18-yard run for the 21-0 lead
Smith gave CCSU a 28-0 lead capping a 10-play, 37-yard drive with a seven-yard rushing touchdown.
A fake punt that went for 24 yards jump-started the Seahawks to a score with 21 seconds left in the first half to make the score 28-7
Harold Miles forced a fumble at the Wagner 15-yard line early in the fourth quarter, that was recovered by Malachai Wright
Trey Gray carried three times for nine yards, and then Shon Mitchell took the ball around the right side 12 yards, for the final points of the afternoon

BY THE NUMBERS

Shayne Manson recorded two sacks amongst his four tackles, to go along with a pair of pass break-ups and a QBH
Jonathan Cabral-Martin and Miles led the CCSU defense with seven tackles apiece
CCSU held Wagner to 19 rushing yards in the first half and 13 in the second
Anthony Wynn had two PBU's and two tackles
Petteway led CCSU with seven catches and 44 yards
Mitchell went 18-31 passing for 128 yards and a passing touchdown

NUMBER TO KNOW

32 – The Blue Devils held Wagner to 32 yards rushing, its best performance of the season in rush defense versus NEC opponents