Football Heads North For Final Road Game of 2023 Campaign
The Blue Devils take on Merrimack Saturday at noon in North Andover, MA.
The Central Connecticut State football team takes to the road one final time on Saturday, travelling to North Andover, MA for a 12:00 pm game with Northeast Conference member Merrimack. The Blue Devils are 3-1 all-time versus the Warriors.
CCSU Game Notes | Watch NEC Front Row | LiveStats |
- Jack Barnum made his 12th field goal of the season versus SHU and is now one shy of tying the single-season school record, currently held by Paul Flynn. Flynn made 13 field goals during the 1987 season.
- Elijah Howard needs 123 yards rushing to become the 17th Blue Devil to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a single-season. Nasir Smith (1,219) accomplished the feat last season, ending a five-year drought since it was last accomplished in 2017 (Cameron Nash). Howard is averaging 97.4 yards per game on the ground
- CCSU ranks first in the league and 11th in the nation, allowing just 1.0 sacks per game
- Elijah Howard had his fourth 100+ yard rushing game of the season on Saturday, carrying the ball 14 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns
- The Blue Devils offense is averaging 200.9 yards per game on the ground, 16th in FCS and first in the NEC
- The red zone defense is 30th in the NCAA at .750, holding opponents scoreless on 9-36 red zone visits
- Tyler Boatwright has two blocked kicks this season, which is first in the league and seventh amongst FCS player
- The Blue Devils ran for 223 yards against SHU, the fourth game this season over 200 yards as a team, with the highwater mark of 498 coming in the win over Delaware State
- The Blue Devils defense is averaging 2.22 sacks per game, second in the league and 34th in the FCS. Dan Toatley is the team leader at 0.50 sacks per game, while Malachi Wright averages 0.44 sacks/game. The duo are second and third in the NEC respectively.
- Isiah Williams has made at least two catches in each of the last six games, with five for 130 yards in the last two outings. He leads the team with 36 receptions, 478 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He had an 81-yard TD catch versus LIU, and is second in the NEC with five catches that resulted in scores. Williams leads the team with 33 catches, second in the NEC, and 455 receiving yards, fourth in the league. Williams is also averaging 20.1 yards per KO return, with a long of 46 and is second on the roster at 82.9 APY a game, fifth in the league and 95th nationally
- CCSU is third in the NEC in scoring, averaging 2.6 points per game, and sixth in scoring defense allowing 28.8 points per game. Merrimack is the top scoring defense in the NEC, allowing 20.7 points per game, and ranks second in scoring offense at 27.3.
- Kimal Clark has 20 tackles in the past two games and his 74 tackles leads the team and ranks second in the NEC. He as three games with 10 or more stops, with a career-high 13 at Kent State. He is 49th in the NCAA at 8.2 tackles per game. Clark also leads the team with two interceptions, and ranks 30th in the NCAA at 0.3 INTs a contest. Both his picks came in the same game, Wagner, and that remains the most in a game this season, accomplished 40 times.
- Matt Jenner had his best day as a Blue Devil at Wagner going 20-29 for 236 yards and two touchdown strikes and earned NEC Prime Performer. He has completed 12 or more passes in each of the last four games, going 62-104 for 687 yards and five touchdowns in that stretch. Jenner made his first CCSU start at Kent State on September 16th
- Dan Toatley had at least one TFL in each of the first seven games this season and has 2.0 TFL in three games, including at Wagner. He is second in the league at 1.06 TFL per outing, 54th in the FCS He is fourth on the roster with 42 tackles, first in TFL (9.5) and first in sacks (4.5)
- Malachi Wright had a season-best 10 tackles in the game at Sacred Heart, including an assisted TFL. HE is fifth on the roster with 41 tackles, second with 6.5 TFL and second with 3.5 sacks. He also has an interception, a forced fumble, three QBH and a PBU.