September 20, 2018
First of Four Straight on Road for the Blue Devils, Saturday at Fordham
CCSU and the Rams are meeting for the second straight season
Satruday's Game • The Blue Devils travel to play the first of back-to-back road games against Patriot League opponents Saturday at Fordham. Central will travel to play on the road at Lafayette next Saturday. Today marks the first of four-straight road games for the Blue Devils, their longest road swing since the 2006 season when they also played four straight on the road. Following the two Patriot League games, Central will open NEC play with back-to-back road games at Robert Morris and Bryant to begin league action.
vs. the Patriot League • The Blue Devils play back-to-back Patriot League opponents this week and next (Lafayette). Central has faced teams from the Patriot every year since 2012 and 10 times overall (Patriot League began in 1986). The Blue Devils are 2-8 in those games. The two victories came on the road at Colgate in 2005 (24-22) and at Lehigh in 2009 (28-21).
Bagley to the House • Junior defensive back Tajik Bagley became the first Blue Devil since 2003 to return a punt for a touchdown last week when he returned a Columbia kick 82 yards for a score in the first quarter. The last Blue Devils to return a punt for a touchdown, prior to Bagley, was former defensive back Donnie Rose, who returned a punt 90 yards vs. Monmouth on Nov. 1, 2003.
Prime Performer • Senior quarterback Jacob Dolegala was chosen as a Prime Performer in the NEC for the second week in a row this week after completing 28-of-43 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Columbia. It marked the fourth 300+ yard game for Dolegala in his career. He is 49-of-75 for 588 yards and three touchdowns this season, and has not thrown an interception.
More Jake • Dolegala's 320 yards in the air on Friday give him 6,496 career passing yards with the Blue Devils. He's already the school record holder in that category, and surpassed 6,000 yards in the loss to Ball State to start the season. His three touchdowns give him 35 for his career, good for a tie for second place in school history. He is 10 touchdowns shy of the school record of 45.
Shutout • The Blue Devils posted a 55-0 shutout victory over Lincoln (PA) on Sept. 7 in front of over 5,000 fans at Arute Field. It marked the first shutout for the Blue Devils since they defeated Robert Morris at home 34-0 during the 2015 season.
On The Ground • The Blue Devils rushed 42 times for 246 yards in the win over Lincoln earlier this season. Ten different players rushed the ball in the game, led by junior Enyce Walker who had eight rushes for 81 yards and a score. Junior Drew Jean-Guillaume and sophomore Aaron Dawson each rushed for a pair of touchdowns in the win.
Defense vs. Lincoln • The Blue Devils posted a pair of interceptions from senior Kevin Loschiavo and sophomore Kendall Coles in the win over Lincoln on Sept. 7. Last season the Blue Devils had 15 interceptions on the year. This year they have two through the first three games.
More Defense • The Blue Devils allowed only 125 total offensive yards in the win over Lincoln on Sept. 7, including just 45 on the ground and 80 through the air. Lincoln averaged just 1.5 yards per rush, gaining 45 yards on 30 carries. They averaged only 2.1 yards per play on the night.
Blue Devils Picked to Repeat • The Central Connecticut football team was tabbed the Northeast Conference preseason favorite at the league's 2018 Social Media Day at MetLife Stadium, it was announced on July 24, 2018. The Blue Devils were tabbed the preseason favorite, collecting five first-place votes from the league's coaches. Duquesne was tabbed second, followed by Bryant, with each collecting a single first-place vote. CCSU closes out the regular-season at home against the Dukes on Nov. 17.
Mushaw WAS the Match! • For the past four years, head football coach Pete Rossmando and the Blue Devil football program have teamed up with the Be The Match Program to add more than 750 CCSU students, faculty and staff to the national bone marrow registry. This past year they got word that one of the people they had signed up had been chosen as a match. Junior linebacker Mike Mushaw was recently selected as a match, and this summer he donated his marrow to help save the life of someone he has never met. CCSU football has joined the efforts of Villanova football head coach Andy Talley to raise awareness of the need for marrow donors and helping patients receive life-saving transplants. Talley and others have helped recruit thousands of potential donors to the registry by encouraging their football players, other students and their peers on other teams to sign up, along with friends, family and teachers. Last year alone, close to 10,000 people joined the Be The Match Registry through Get in the Game. Save A Life. donor registry drives.
Northeast Conference Champions • The Blue Devils won their fifth Northeast Conference title with an undefeated 6-0 league record in 2017. It was the first unbeaten conference season for an NEC team since 2008. The league title is the fifth for CCSU since the 2004 season, and their first since 2010. Central finished the home portion of its schedule 5-1, including five straight home wins to end the season.
Eight Straight Wins • Prior to last season's loss to New Hampshire in the FCS playoffs, the Blue Devils won eight straight games in a single season for the first time in school history. The last streak of nine or more straight wins came from 1954-55 when CCSU won nine straight games (all six games of 1954 and first three of 1955).
Rossomando Coach of the Year and Eddie Robinson Finalist Head coach Pete Rossomando was named the NEC Coach of the Year last season. He was also an Eddie Robinson Award finalist for the National Coach of the Year Award.
Turnovers • The Blue Devils finished 15th in the country in turnover margin last season (+10) having forced 11 fumbles and intercepting 15 passes in 12 games. They led the conference in that category.
Defensive TD's • The Blue Devils led the country in defensive touchdowns in 2017 with six. Central returned two fumbles and four interceptions for a touchdown in the 12 games. Senior Tymir Hinton had a pair of those touchdowns.
Interceptions for a Score • The Blue Devils have now returned seven interceptions for a touchdown in their last 24 games, dating back to 2016. Senior Tymir Hinton returned an interception 100 yards in the four overtime win over Wagner on Oct. 14, 2017, the fourth pick for a score last year for the Blue Devils. CCSU tied an NCAA record by returning an interception in four straight games from Sept. 23 through Oct. 14 of last season
26 or More • During their eight-game winning streak last season Central scored 26 or more points in each of those games. It was the first time in school history that CCSU had scored 26 or more points in eight consecutive games.
Overtime, Again • The Blue Devils played one of the most memorable games in school history in 2017 topping Wagner 51-45 in 4OT on Staten Island. The game is the longest in school history and the ninth-ever overtime game for CCSU. The Blue Devils are now 6-3 all-time in overtime. Central had previously played three double overtime games and was 1-2 in those games. They lost 23-17 at Robert Morris in 2006, won 49-48 at Monmouth in 2010 and lost 51-44 at Lehigh in 2013, all in double OT.
