The Central Connecticut State football team plays its second FBS opponent of the season, travelling to UMass on Saturday, September 21st. The game, which can be watched on ESPN+, is set for a 3:30 pm kickoff.
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The Blue Devils have won back-to-back games, for the first time since 2021, and are 2-1 on the season. UMass enters Saturday's game with an 0-3 mark. CCSU and UMass are meeting for the fourth time, with UMass holding a 3-0 series record. Each of the games has been at UMass. The Minutemen are the second FBS opponent of the year for the Blue Devils, who opened at Central Michigan.
The CCSU defense has been flying the past two weeks, recording 29 TFL's and 14 sacks in those games and rank first in FCS in both of those categories. Jalen Howard became the second Blue Devil in two weeks to be named NEC Defensive Player of the Week, recording 4 TFL, 3 sacks and 7 tackles in the win at SFU.
Aidan Clark tied an NEC record, set a school-record and had the longest punt (84-yards) in FCS since 2021 in the win over SFU. His 50.7 yards per punt in the game earned him FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week and NEC Special Teams Player of the Week. The 50.7 yard average is the best single-game per punt average in school history.
NOTES
• The 16 TFL's recorded in the win at SFU is the most in a single-game by an FCS team this season. The 9.0 sacks versus Fordham, is also the highwater mark for an FCS team in a single-game. The Blue Devils 13 TFL versus Fordham is tied for fourth most in a game this year.
• The Blue Devils received seven votes in the AFCA Coaches Poll released on Monday. It is the most of any NEC team, with Duquesne and Wagner both picking up six.
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Jalen Howard is in the top-10 in the nation in sacks (4th with 1.67/game) and TFL (7th with 2.0/game) and leads the league in both of those categories. He recorded four TFL and three sacks in the NEC win at SFU
• CCSU is 0-7 all-time versus FBS opponents
• The Blue Devils have won consecutive games for the first time since defeating Merrimack and Bryant late in the 2021 season. It is the longest win streak for the program since the 2019 team won eight straight to end the regular season in 2019.
• CCSU has two defensive touchdowns, scored by
Kimal Clark (at SFU) and Vince Thomas (vs. Fordham). That number is tops in the NEC and second in FCS, behind San Diego (3).
• The Blue Devils are averaging 5.0 sacks per game, which leads FCS through three weeks of play. Eight Blue Devil defenders rank in the top-10 in the NEC in sacks this season, with
Jalen Howard (1st),
Gavin Taylor (4th)
Dan Toatley (6th) and
Sharod Watkins (7th) leading the charge.
• The defensive unit has held opponents to 87.7 yards per game, the eighth best rushing defense number through three weeks of play.
• The offensive line is allowing just .67 sacks per game this season, seventh in FCS and first in the NEC. The Blue Devils have not allowed a sack in the past two games. The offense has not allowed a sack in five games the past two seasons.
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Kimal Clark leads the Blue Devils with 27 total tackles. His 9.3 per game average is second in the NEC and 27th nationally. He recorded a career-high equaling 13 tackles in the win over Fordham, his fifth career game with 10 or more stops. Clark returned a fumble 10-yards for the game-winning touchdown at Saint Francis.
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Brady Olson is averaging 16 completions a game, second in the NEC. In the win at SFU, he was 21-42 passing, for 163 yards and a touchdown. Through three games, Olson has completed 48 passes and throw three touchdowns, while rushing for 16 net yards and a touchdown on the ground. The 42 pass attempts is the most by a CCSU QB since Kyle Zajack threw 36 times at Merrimack 11/12/22
• CCSU has held an edge in TOP in all three games this season and is +4:00 per game for the year. The Blue Devils had the ball for 34:57, +9:54, in the opener at CMU.
• CCSU has recovered eight fumbles as a team, all in the past two weeks. Chris Jean and Vince Thomas both recovered two in the win over Fordham, and rank first in the nation in that category. Six players have recovered a fumble this year for Central.
