Albany Hands CCSU NEC Loss
Central drops its fifth straight game, 63-35, to conference-leading Great Dans
Albany scored 63 points and held Central Connecticut to 14 second half points as the Great Danes remained unbeaten in Northeast Conference play with a 63-35 victory in New Britain on Saturday afternoon. Central is now 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the NEC, and has lost five straight games for the first time in 19 seasons.
The Blue Devils put up 414 yards of total offense in the game, but the Great Danes racked up 573 and scored seven of their first eight possessions in the victory.
The loss is the third straight at home for the Blue Devils.
Senior quarterback Gunnar Jespersen finished the game 11-of-18 for 205 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for his sixth touchdown of the season.
Senior running back Brian Fowler rushed 20 times for 85 yards as the Blue Devils rushed for 202 yards, their third straight game with over 200 yards rushing.
Senior wide receiver Deven Baker caught four passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Nick Bacarella caught three passes for a career-high 83 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. His scores came from 47 and 30 yards.
The two teams lit up the scoreboard in the first half, and the Great Danes led 35-21 at the break. They scored first, and then Jespersen hit Bacarella for his first touchdown of the game to make it 7-7 with 9:48 left in the first quarter.
Albany would score the next two touchdowns to make it 21-7, but the Blue Devils answered again on Jespersen's one-yard run to open the second quarter. After Albany made ity 28-14, Jespersen hit Baker for an 18-yard score to cut the lead to 28-21 with 3:28 left before halftime.
The Great Danes would score once before halftime, and then post the first three scores of the second half to lead 56-21 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Central scores twice in the fourth, including a four-yard touchdown run from sophomore Chris Tolbert, but the Great Danes score one more time for the final score of 63-35.
Albany scored at least 14 points in every quarter in the game, and has now won five straight games. They began the season 0-2.
Dan DiLella had an impressive game at quarterback for the Great Danes. He finished the game 14-of-22 for 283 yards and a school-record five touchdowns. He also rushed for 75 yards and a score.
Central returns to action next Saturday on the road at St. Francis (PA), beginning at 12 noon. The game can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1410 and online at CCSUBlueDevils.com.