Blue Devils Wins 13th Straight at Home with 38-20 Win Over Wagner

Senior running back Everette Benjamin rushed for 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as the Blue Devils defense posted six sacks as the Central Connecticut football team topped Wagner 38-20 on Saturday afternoon. The win is the fifth straight for the Blue Devils, who are now 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the Northeast Conference.

The win clinches the seventh straight winning season for CCSU, the longest stretch since seven straight from 1965-71. The seven straight winning seasons matches a school-record.

The win is the 13th straight at home for the Blue Devils, extending their school record. They are 4-0 at home this season. They are 30-3 at home since 2004 and head coach Jeff McInerney moves his home record to 21-2 at Arute Field.

The Blue Devils took a 14-0 lead early with two impressive drives to start the game. The first went 12-plays for 83 yards and was capped by a six-yard run from Chris Tolbert. The second went 13-plays for 82 yards and Benjamin finished it off with his first touchdown of the game.

Following a Wagner touchdown senior Joe Izzo kicked his 11th field goal of the season from 24 yards to up the Blue Devil lead to 17-7. That is where it stood at the half. He is 11-of-11 on the season and has made 12 straight overall.

In the second half the Blue Devil defense forced a pair of fumbles by Wagner quarterback Nick Doscher and both led to quick touchdowns. Junior Charles Williams forced both fumbles and finished the game with six tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss.

After his first forced fumble, the Blue Devils needed only two plays to go 13 yards and make it 24-7. Tolbert rushed for his second touchdown, this time from 13 yards out.

On the next Wagner drive, Williams forced his second fumble, and Benjamin rushed for his second score of the game to make it 31-7. This time he ran from 18-yards out to put the game away.

Following a Wagner score, senior wideout Josue Paul returned his fourth career kickoff for a touchdown to make it 38-13 in favor of the Blue Devils. He returned it 90 yards for the score, his second touchdown of the season.

Benjamin finished the game with 104 yards rushing and the two scores.

Defensively senior Jeff Marino and teammate Isaiah Boddie each had nine tackles. Williams had six stops and his 2.5 sacks, while Rich Royster and Dominic Giampietro each added a sack and a half. Jeremy Crayton added eight tackles in the victory.

The Blue Devils take to the road for an important NEC match-up next Saturday at Robert Morris. Central and the Colonials will battle at 12 noon, and you can listen to the action live beginning at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN Radio 1410 and online at CCSUBlueDevils.com. Both teams enter the game unbeaten in the NEC. CCSU is now 5-0 while Robert Morris improved to 6-0 in league play with a win over Duquesne on Saturday.

GAME NOTES
- The win extends the school-record home win streak to 13 games.
- Coach Mac improves to 21-2 at home.
- Everette Benjamin rushes for over 100 yards for the fifth straight game.
- The Blue Devils are now 30-3 at home since 2004.
- The kickoff return for a touchdown by Josue Paul is the fourth of his career.
- Joe Izzo remains perfect on the season. He is 11-of-11 on field goals and 27-of-27 on PATs.
- The win is the fifth straight for CCSU.
- Central is 14-1 in its last 15 NEC games.
- Chris Tolbert's two touchdowns are a career-high.
- The six sacks by the defense are a season-high.