Blue Devils Take Down Monmouth in a 49-48 Shoot Out

Junior quarterback Gunnar Jespersen found Josue Paul on a quick slant to complete the two point conversion in the second overtime to give Central Connecticut a 49-48 double overtime victory. Monmouth running back L.J. Caprio plunged into the endzone on his team's third play of the second overtime, and the extra point gave the Hawks a 48-41 lead. After a face mask on third and goal gave the Blue Devils a fresh set of downs, Gunnar Jespersen scored on a bootleg to make it 48-47.

Jespersen threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns, and added a rushing touchdown in the second over time to set up the Blue Devil victory. Senior Everette Benjamin rushed 28 times for 186 yards and a touchdown. Senior P.J. Borawski scored the game tying touchdown on a seven yard catch and run with under a minute left in regulation. The Hawks and Blue Devils combined for 97 points and over 1,000 yards of offense in a wild back and forth game.

Central recieved the opening kickoff and marched down the field to score on the opening drive. The Blue Devils drove to the Monmouth 29, handing off to Everett Benjamin for most of the way. On fourth and eight the Blue Devils ran an option to the left, Gunnar Jespersen pitched to Benjamen who gained five yards before hurdling a defender on his way to the endzone. Joe Izzo added the extra point to give Central the early 7-0 lead.

Monmouth responded by converting a pair of first downs before Hawks quarterback Kyle Frazier broke a long run to set Monmouth up. On second and goal L.J. Caprio took the direct snap and plunged through the line, and following the extra point the Hawks had tied the game at 7-7 half way through the first.

Monmouth opened the second quarter scoring by converting a third and long to set-up a first and goal inside of Central's five yard line. The Hawks than ran another direct snap play to L.J. Caprio who went off tackle to the right and plowed through a defender for the score, the PAT gave Monmouth the 14-7 lead.

The Blue Devils came out throwing on their next drive as Jespersen found Richie Martin along the right sideline for a first down, and followed that two plays later by connecting with p.J. Borawski down the left side for another first down. After a holding penalty forced the Blue Devils into a 2^nd and 17 Jespersen found a wide open Martin down the right sideline for a 42 yard touchdown pass. Joe Izzo's kick tied the game at 14-14.

The Blue Devil defense forced a three and out from Monmouth setting up the Blue Devils next drive. Central returned to its rushing game, with Chris Tolbert, Jespersen and Benjamin all picking up rushing first downs on the drive. The Blue Devils drive stalled at the Monmouth 20 yard line and on fourth down Izzo's 37 yard field goal attempt was blocked by the surging Hawks line.

Following the punt the Blue Devils began the next drive at the 50 yard line. After a pass interference penalty the Blue Devils were faced with a fourth and nine at the Monmouth 26, Jespersen hit receiver Josue Paul coming across the middle, Paul beat his defender and picked up the first down before dragging a would be tackler into the endzone for the go ahead score. Izzo added the extra point to make it 21-14.

Monmouth responded quickly, on second and ten Frazier hit Ryan Folsom over the middle. Folsom then cut up the field beating his defender and taking the ball 69 yards to the endzone.

The ensuing kickoff bounced short of up-man Lawton Arnold who then picked it up and ran down the left sideline before cutting back across the field and beating the kicker in a footrace to the endzone. Arnold's return was officially credited as 70 yards and was the first career return TD for the linebacker. Izzo made it 28-21 with the PAT.

Monmouth engineered a quick drive capped by a 15 yard TD pass from Frazier to receiver Nick Romeo, the extra point attempt was missed wide left, preserving Central's lead at 28-27.

Following a good return the Blue Devils tried to move into Izzo's field goal range, but after a timeout Jespersen threw the ball up under heavy pressure, Monmouth's Kenny Amsel picked it off and ran it 72 yards down the sideline to give Monmouth the lead. The extra point made it 34-22 at the half.

After the 62 first half points the game turned into a defensive struggle in the second half.

After the Hawks scored on their second drive of the half to take a 41-28 lead. The Blue Devils next scoring drive consisted of three plays, two runs by Benjamin totaling 51 yards, followed by a one yard touchdown plunge by Eric Richardson, pulling the Central to 41-36. Benjamin eclipsed the 100 yard rushing plateau with his first rush of the drive.

Monmouth was putting together a finishing drive late in the fourth quarter when they lined up for a field goal with 5:38 left in the game. The Blue Devil defense which had been close all game finally broke through and blocked the kick preventing the Hawks from making it a two score game.

Starting at the 20 yard line Jespersen led the Blue Devils down the field. Two of the key plays on the drive were a fourth down conversion on the ground by Benjamin, and a 18 yard completion from Jespersen to Richie Martin. The Blue Devils tied the game when Borawski caught a pass in the flat and scampered 7 yards into the corner of the endzone. Izzo's extra point was blocked leaving the game tied at 41-41.

The Hawks got the ball back with 56 seconds remaining and used a 48 yard pass from Frazier to Mitchel Pollard to put themselves in position for a game winning field goal attempt. Jarrod Goodarz's first field goal attempt of the season went wide left to end regulation in a tie.

The Hawks won the toss to begin overtime and selected to play defense giving the Blue Devils the chance to take the lead in the over time. Kicker Joe Izzo's 35 yard field goal was blocked, turning the ball over to Monmouth with the chance to win the game. Monmouth running back L.J. Caprio fumbled at the one yard line and it bounced out the back of the end zone for a touch back forcing a second overtime.

The Blue Devils will finish the season next Saturday when they host St. Francis (PA).