Football Rallies in Second Half, Holds Off Wagner

Central Connecticut rallied from a 10-point deficit to win its Northeast Conference football opener at Wagner, 21-19, on Saturday at Hameline Field. The Blue Devils stopped a Seahawks two-point conversion to tie the game and a missed field goal in the closing minutes sealed the CCSU win.

Central rebounded from a loss in its season-opener and outscored Wagner, 21-3, after falling behind 10-0 to open the game. Sophomore Romelo Williams accounted for three touchdowns. Senior Everett Wormley had four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. 

Defensively, senior Jahlil Brown accounted for 13 tackles and forced a fumble. Senior Kelvin Apari made 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and had a pair of sacks.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Central Connecticut 21, Wagner 19
Records: CCSU (1-1, 1-0 NEC), Wagner (0-2, 0-1 NEC)
Location: Hameline Field | Staten Island, NY

KEY MOMENTS

• Wagner took a 10-0 lead after a five yard run by Naiem Rush and a 18-yard field goal by Austin Hosier with 6:00 to go in the second quarter.
• Central would get on the board as time expired in the first half. Sophomore Romelo Williams found junior Jiovany Pierre in the back of the endzone for a six-yard touchdown to make it 10-7 at halftime.
• After the Seahawks converted a 38-yard field goal, CCSU would score 14 unanswered points to take the lead. Williams capped a five-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard rush. After the PAT, Central took a 14-13 lead. In their first drive of the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils went 60 yards in four plays and scored on a 34 yard pass from Williams to senior Everett Wormley.
• Wagner scored with 5:34 to play on a 18-yard touchdown catch by Jayvin Little to cap a 12-play 77-yard drive. The Seahawks went for the two-point conversion, but the CCSU defense stuffed the run attempt up the middle.
• The Seahawks had one more chance taking over on their own 45 with 3:17 to play. The Seahawks got down to the CCSU 26 and attempted a field goal with 1:11 to play, but the kick came up short and the Blue Devils held on for the win.

NUMBER TO KNOW

6 - The teams combined to convert six fourth downs in the game. CCSU went 3-of-4.

GAME NOTES

• Central has won four straight meetings and leads the all-time series 17-16.
• Wagner outgained CCSU, 346 yards to 203 yards. Central had 154 yards passing and 49 yards on the ground.
• Williams was 12-of-23 for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
• Wormley has 10 catches for 168 yards on the season, while adding a pair of touchdowns.
• Brown set a career-high with 13 stops. Nine of his tackles were solo stops.
• Apari became the first Blue Devil to record two sacks in a game since Brandon Puritt on Nov. 2, 2019, at Wagner. He also added 4.0 tackles for loss.
• Senior Nasir Smith led CCSU with 51 yards on the ground. He added three catches for 18 yards.
• Central was 0-for-11 on third downs in the game, while Wagner was 6-of-17.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils return to Arute Field on Saturday and will host Southeastern Louisiana in a noon kickoff.