Football Moves to 2-1 in NEC With Win at Sacred Heart

The Central Connecticut football team moved to 2-1 in Northeast Conference play with a 26-10 road victory over two-time defending NEC Champion Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon.  Central scored three second half touchdowns to break a 3-3 tie to come away with their second straight NEC win.

With the victory the Blue Devils move to 3-5 overall and 2-1 in NEC action.  Sacred Heart falls to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Central allowed only 10 points in the game, including a late touchdown from the Pioneers.  It was the fewest points allowed in a game by the Blue Devils since a 36-0 home win over St. Francis U in 2008.  It was the fewest points in a road game since 28-10 win at Delaware State during the same season.

The game was tied 3-3 at halftime after each team could manage only a field goal.  Sacred Heart scored first on a 20-yard field goal with 8:17 left in the first quarter.  The Blue Devils tied the game at 3-3 on a 22-yard field goal from Frankie Palmer.  

Sacred Heart drove the ball into Central territory with under two minutes to play but were forced to attempt their second field goal of the game.  Central junior captain Jevon Elmore broke through the line of scrimmage and blocked to kick to keep the game 3-3. 

Following a Blue Devil punt, the Pioneers went deep into CCSU territory again at the end of the second quarter, but on a key play with under 20 seconds to play in the half the Pioneers fumbled and sophomore Najae Brown recovered to end the threat as the first half came to a close.

The Blue Devils opened the second half with a big play from freshman Jacob Dolegala to redshirt freshman tight end K.J. Smith for 58 yards down to the Sacred Heart four yardline.  Three plays later junior Mike Petersen ran it in from three yards out for the game's first touchdown.  It was the first touchdown of the year for Petersen.

Following a Sacred Heart punt redshirt freshman Tavion Pauldo led the Blue Devils on a 47-yard scoring drive, capped by a 25-yard scoring pass to sophomore Joey Fields to push the lead to 17-3.  The touchdown throw was the fifth of the year for Pauldo and the second on the year for Fields.

Following a stop of the SHU offense inside the CCSU redzone, the third of the game for the Blue Devil defense, the Blue Devils drove 85 yards for the third touchdown of the game to build the lead to 24-3 with 7:56 left in the game.  The drive took only nine yards and was capped by a 36-yard scoring run from sophomore Cameron Nash, his second scoring run of the season.

Sacred Heart scored a touchdown late and the Blue Devils added a safety on a sack in the end zone from junior defensive end Asia Bolling.  It was one of two sacks on the day for the Blue Devils.  Bolling had nine tackles, forced a fumble and had a pass break-up in the game.  Elmore had 10 tackles and three pass break-ups to go along with his blocked field goal.

Pauldo and Dolegala combined to go 8-for-13 for 154 yards and a touchdown.  Nash ran for 86 yards and a touchdown.  Smith had two catches for 89 yards.  

The Blue Devils return to Arute Field next Saturday at 12 noon hosting Robert Morris live on ESPN3.