Football Shares NEC Title For the Fourth Time Since 2004 With 23-13 Win Over St. Francis (PA)

The Central Connecticut football team claimed its share of the Northeast Conference title with a 23-13 home victory over St. Francis (PA) on Saturday afternoon. The win is the 14th straight at home for CCSU, the third-longest home win streak in the country. The Blue Devils finish the year 8-3 overall and 7-1 in league play. The senior class, 15 of which were honored prior to the game, match the program-record with their 30th career victory.

The title is the fourth for the Blue Devils since the 2004 season, the most of any team in the NEC. They share the title with Robert Morris, who will represent the NEC in the NCAA Playoffs by virtue of their win earlier this season over CCSU.

"This team showed some guts," head coach Jeff McInerney said. "These 15 seniors helped build this program to where it is today. They are members of an exclusive club, and they have the only 15 tickets. They won 30 games, two NEC titles, have this winning streak at home. I'm so proud of them and everyone on our team for fighting until the end and winning a share of this title."

McInerney and the Blue Devils have now won 14 straight at home, the longest streak in school history. They finished the season 5-0 at Arute Field.

The eight wins this season give the Blue Devils 17 in the last two seasons, the most in a two-year stretch in school history.

"We have come a long way," McInerney said. "It started in 2004 and 2005, and then when we came on board in 2006 we strived to make this one of the best programs in the league. These last two seasons have been special, and the hard work and effort that each and every one of these kids has put in during their time here has paid off. I'm proud of these guys and the way they have finished their careers."

Junior quarterback Gunnar Jespersen ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw for 199 yards in the victory as Central topped the Red Flash for the fifth straight season. Senior running back Everette Benjamin rushed 16 times for 117 yards in the win, his eighth 100 yard performance of the season. He finishes his one season in New Britain with 1,330 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Josue Paul caught eight passes for 105 yards in the win, including a long of 48.

Senior linebacker Jeff Marino led the Blue Devil defense with 13 tackles in the game, including three solo. He finished the season with a career-high 105 tackles in the 11 games. Lorenzo Baker added 12 tackles and a forced fumble for Central.

The defense held the Red Flash to just 32 yards net rushing in the game. They averaged just 1.3 yards per carry and had only 217 total offensive yards. The Central offense rushed for 216 yards and had 415 total yards in the win.

The Blue Devils climbed out to a 23-0 lead, they led 21-0 at the half. Jespersen rushed for two touchdowns and junior Kevin Woolfolk rushed for a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the scoring. Senior placekicker Joe Izzo kicked a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was his 13th of the season, matching the school-record.

Izzo finished the season with 74 points, and moved into third place all-time at Central in career points with 177.

A safety in the third quarter provided the final scoring of the game for the Blue Devils.

St. Francis (PA) scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 23-13. They went for two on the second score but were unsuccessful.

The Blue Devils were presented the NEC trophy by Commissioner Noreen Morris following the victory. It was the first time that the Blue Devils have celebrated one of their titles in front of the home crowd.

GAME NOTES
- The win gives the Blue Devils a share of their second straight and fourth overall NEC title since 2004.
- The win is the 14th straight at home for CCSU.
- The win improves head coach Jeff McInerney's record to 38-18 at CCSU. He is 22-2 at home.
- The win improves CCSU to 31-3 at home since 2004.
- The 100 yard rushing day for Benjamin is his eighth of the season.
- Senior Joe Izzo moves into third place all-time in career points with 177.
- Senior Jeff Marino eclipsed 100 tackles in a season for the first time in his career.