Football Welcomes Delaware State For Homecoming Game
Blue Devils are home for first time in nearly a month
October 5, 2023
The Central Connecticut State football team welcomes Delaware State to Arute Field Saturday for the 2023 Homecoming Game. The Blue Devils are home for the first time since September 9th. Game time is 1:00 pm.
Homecoming events begin Friday afternoon at 6:30 with an Alumni Pep Rally, in the Student Center Circle. Saturday morning the Arute Field parking lot opens at 10:00 am for tailgating.
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Saturday marks the second-ever meeting between CCSU and Delaware State and the first at home for CCSU. The Blue Devils won that 2008 contest, 28-10, in Dover, DE. CCSU is 2-1 all-time against current MEAC members.
• The Blue Devils have blocked a kick in each of the last three games, with Tyler Boatwright blocking his second in as many games at Brown
• Elijah Howard had a career-day at Brown, highlighted by an 82-yard TD run, the longest play from scrimmage this season for the Blue Devils.
• Kimal Clark remains the top tackler in the NEC, with 38 tackles, 9.5 per game
• Tavian Montgomery had three PBU at Brown and leads the NEC with six passes defeSnded on the year - 5 PBU and an interception
• CCSU is third in the nation, first in the NEC with three blocked kicks, behind UNH (8) and Morgan State (4)
• The CCSU offensive line has allowed just 0.5 sacks per game this season, second in the NCAA, behind Dartmouth's 0.3/ game. The probable starting five on the offensive line (Alec Ambrosia, Isaiah DeLoatch, Jordin Martell, Mason Schloop, and Reis Spicer), have combined to play in 106 career games. Of that total, 95 have come since 2021.
• Three Blue Devils rank in the top three in the NEC in sacks. Dan Toatley leads the conference, and is 49th in FCS, at .62 sacks per game. Ahmad Craig and Malachi Wright average 0.5 sacks a game, tied for third in the NEC and 65th nationally.
• Elijah Howard had 183 all-purpose yards at Brown, a career-best and third-best single-game effort in the NEC this year. He was named an NEC Prime Performer as a result. He rushed for 146 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown run, on 16 carries. Howard had a catch as well for 13 yards, with 11 YAC. On the year, Howard is averaging 100.0 all-purpose yards per game. Howard is second in the NEC, 53rd nationally, with 100 APY per game.
• Ricky Ortega made his first start at Brown, and completed his first five passes. He finished 11-20 for 133 yards on the day, including a touchdown pass. Ortega has played in every game, throwing for 143 yards on 13-23 passing and rushing 29 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
• ELijah Howard's 82-yard run is the longest since Nasir Smith went 85 yards last season - also versus Brown
• Dan Toatley has at least one TFL in each game this season, and his 6.0 is second on the NEC. He has five solo TFL. Toatley is third on the roster with 23 tackles, leads the team with 2.5 sacks and has a PBU and QBH to his credit this season.
• Kimal Clark is the league's top tackler, at 9.5 stops per game. He has 23 solo stops to his credit and the 5.8 per game enters the week 20th in FCS rankings. He has seven or more stops in every game this year, with a career-best 13 at Kent State, one of two double-digit tackle games on his resume this season.
• CCSU is second in the NEC in rushing and rushing defense. The Blue Devils are averaging 183.3 yards per game on the ground, and allowing 173.5 per game
• CCSU is averaging 26 points/game this season, tied for first in the NEC, with Duquesne.
• Malik Thomas tallied 112 all-purpose yards at Brown, including a 41-yard touchdown reception. He carried the ball 14 times for 71 yards and now has 187 yards on 39 carries this fall. Thomas is averaging 57 APY a game this season. In the opening night win over AIC, he rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
