Football Set to Open 2021 Season Against Southern Connecticut
The Central Connecticut football season kicks off on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. against Southern Connecticut at Arute Field. The Blue Devils will be back on the field for the first time since winning the 2019 Northeast Conference championship.
Fans will be permitted at Arute Field and are asked to review the Fan Attendance Policy for fall/winter sports at CCSU. Tailgating will not be allowed on the campus of CCSU.
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TODAY'S GAME • The Blue Devils return to Arute Field for the first time since 2019 when it kicks off the season against Southern Connecticut State University. Tonight's season-opener marks the first game for both programs since 2019 after opting out of competing in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BLUE DEVILS SECOND IN PRESEASON NEC POLL • Central Connecticut collected a first-place vote and was tied for second in the preseason Northeast Conference coaches' poll. Sacred Heart got four first-place votes and was picked first, while Duquesne got two first-place votes and was tied with CCSU. Central is returning to action after opting out of the 2020-21 season. SHU claimed the league title in an abbreviated spring season and was ranked in the Top 25, while Duquesne was the league's runner up.
BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD WATCH LIST • Senior Tre Jones was one of 35 named to the prseason watch list for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award. He was named All-NEC First Team in 2019 and had 58.0 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. The Buchanan Award is presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in the FCS.
BROWN, LAWSON EARN PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS • Senior offensive lineman J'Von Brown and junior defensive back Dexter Lawson earned preseason All-America recognition. Brown was named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Team for the second straight year, while also being named to the HERO Sports FCS Preseason All-America Third Team. He was also named to the Preseason All-Northeast Conference Team. Earlier this summer Brown was named to the Athlon FCS Preseason All-America Team. He was also honored with Preseason All-Northeast Conference honors. Lawson was named to the HERO Sports Preseason All-America Third Team after having six interceptions to lead the NEC in 2019 and earning All-NEC Second Team honors.
MCCARTHY IMPRESSES IN YEAR 1 • Central Connecticut head football coach Ryan McCarthy had a record-setting first year as head coach and was recognized with multiple honors. He was named the Northeast Conference co-Coach of the Year and the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Division I Coach of the Year. The Gridiron Club presents the award to one Division I (FBS/FCS) head coach each season. McCarthy also finished fifth in the voting for the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS National Coach of the Year presented by STATS.
UP NEXT • Following the opener, CCSU begins Northeast Conference play at Wagner on Saturday, September 11.
