FOOTBALL OPENS FRIDAY NIGHT AT HOME VS. LAFAYETTE

The Central Connecticut football season is here as the Blue Devils get set to host Lafayette at Arute Field on Friday night at 6 p.m.  For the second straight season CCSU is opening the season at home against a Patriot League opponent.

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Today's Game • The Blue Devils are opening the 2016 season with a home game vs. a Patriot League opponent for the second straight season.  A year ago the Blue Devils dropped a 20-14 decision at home to Lehigh.  It's the first time that CCSU will open consecutive seasons at home since the 1999 and 2000 seasons.  Central and Lafayette are meeting for the third time in the history of the two programs.  This is the first meeting between the two teams in New Britain.

Series history • The Blue Devils and Leopards have met two previous times, with the Blue Devils winning 14-3 at Lafayette in 1980, and losing 51-0 at Lafayette the following season.

NEC Preseason Poll and Preseason All-Conference • The Central Connecticut football team was tabbed fifth in the 2016 Northeast Conference Football Preseason Coaches' Poll. Additionally, the Blue Devils had senior Asia Bolling, junior Cameron Nash and junior Randall Laguerre named to the Preseason All-NEC Team. Leading the returnees on defense will be Bolling who was named to the Preseason All-NEC Team for the second consecutive season. Bolling earned All-NEC First Team honors on the defensive line as a junior after compiling 64 total tackles in 11 games. He led the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He added a pair of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Nash burst onto the scene in his first season with the Blue Devils to earn All-NEC Second Team honors at running back. He led the Central rushing attack with three touchdowns on 676 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. He added 218 receiving yards on 18 catches, including an 84-yard touchdown against Bryant. Laguerre played in all 11 games as a sophomore in Central's linebacker corps and led the Blue Devils' defense with 92 total tackles, including 55 solo efforts. He recorded one sack at Wagner and had 11.5 tackles for loss. 

Captains • Third-year head coach Pete Rossomando announced that two players from each side of the ball will lead the Blue Devils this season as captain, as Central prepares to open the season this Friday night at home vs. Lafayette. Rossomando has announced that seniors Dan Hebert and Brenden Lytton and juniors Najae Brown and Randall Laguerre will be the four captains for the upcoming season. "These four players were picked because they embody what it means to play football at Central Connecticut," Rossomando said.  "Each has proven to have what it takes to be successful at this level, and leads by example each and every day.  During their careers they have performed both on the field and in the classroom.  During preseason camp they have led this team from day one.  That showed, and that's why each was chosen." The four captains were chosen by a vote of the players and the coaching staff.  "We chose four captains, but I have been tremendously impressed with the leadership of the entire team during the last three weeks, and really since we finished the 2015 season," Rossomando added.  "We had a great spring and a hard working and productive summer, and that has to do with the entire attitude and dedication of the entire team."

Dolegala Gets the Nod • Sophomore Jacob Dolegala has been named the starting quarterback for the Blue Devils this season.  The 6-6, 225 pound native of Hamburg, NY completed 87-of-161 passes a year ago for 1,021 yards and four touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions.  Dolegala rushed for three touchdowns in a home win over Bowie State in September.

Shutout • The shutout vs. Robert Morris last season was the first for the Blue Devils since Nov. 8, 2008 when they shutout St. Francis U 36-0, also at home.   

Lytton Back From Injury • Senior running back Brenden Lytton returns from injury this season after missing the entire 2015 season.  Lytton rushed for 438 yards and four touchdowns in 2014, including 193 yards and two touchdowns in a home game vs. Sacred Heart.  Lytton averaged 83.3 yards per game in the final three games of the 2014 season.  Lytton has been voted a captain by his teammates and the coaching staff this season. 

Leading Tacklers Returning • The Blue Devils return 10 of their 14 leading tacklers from a year ago, including leading tackler Randall LaGuerre and Najae Brown.  LaGuerre led the squad with 92 stops a year ago, including 55 solo.  Brown had 88 total stops, with 49 coming unassisted.  

Rushing Attack • The Blue Devils return leading rusher Cameron Nash (676 yards, 3 TD) as well as third leading rusher Devon Lofton (230 yards, 1 TD) this season.  Lofton will see time as a receiver, as well as running back.  Look for the Blue Devils to use multiple players at the running back position this season, including Lytton, Nash and Mike Peterson.  Also keep an eye on Drew Jean-Guillaume and freshman Danley Exilhomme.

Receiving Core • The Blue Devils return nine of their top 10 receivers from a year ago, including Hebert (22 catches, 233 yards, 4 TD) and leading yardage man sophomore K.J. Smith (17 catches, 335 yards).  Also keep an eye on Joey Fields, Cameron Nash out of the backfield, Courtney Rush, Xavier Jenkins, Jose Garcia, Alex Jamele and Devon Lofton. 

Size • The Blue Devils have gotten bigger up front on the offensive side of the ball.  The starting five, as listed in the two deep, are 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, 6-5 and 6-5, and average 290 pounds.  The entire two deep doesn't have a lineman below 6-1, and all 10 listed average 296 pounds.  

Turnovers • The Blue Devils caused six turnovers and had five interceptions in the win over RMU last season.  It was the most turnovers (6) and interceptions (5) in a game since Nov. 8, 2008 in the win over St. Francis.10 Points in 2 Games • The Blue Devils allowed only 10 points in a two-game span vs. SHU and Robert Morris last season, the fewest points allowed in a two-game stretch in their FCS history and the fewest in a two-game stretch since 1987 when they allowed three points in a two-game stretch to Springfield and Western Connecticut.      

Since the beginning of 2004 • Since the beginning of the 2004 season CCSU posts a record of 70-62, including 41-20 at home.

25 or More Almost Perfect • Since the start of 2004 the Blue Devils are 52-13 when scoring 25 or more points in a game. They are 62-26 when scoring at least 20.

News Radio 1410 • Every Central Connecticut football and men's basketball game will air live on radio.  News Radio 1410 will carry the action with Bruce Biel and Marc Robbins on the call.  Fans can also listen to every game online at www.iHeartRadio.com or with the iHeartRadio app.

NEC Front Row • Thanks to a continued partnership between the Northeast Conference and the Pack Network, live webcasts of NEC sports will be available free of charge on NECFrontRow.com. The site will carry every CCSU NEC football game this season (Excluding the two games broadcast on ESPN3.com this season, home vs. RMU on Oct. 31, and on the road at Sacred Heart on Oct. 24).

Social Media • Follow the Blue Devils all season long on Social Media: Twitter: @CCSUBlueDevils In Game Twitter Updates: @KizerBlueDevil Facebook: CCSUBlueDevils Instagram: CCSUBlueDevils