Football Drops 23-22 Decision At Yale

The Central Connecticut State football team fell one-point shy in its first-ever meeting with Yale on Saturday, as a last ditch drive came up short in a 23-22 loss at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, CT.

The Blue Devils defense held Yale to a three-and-out, after the Bulldogs took over on their own 45 with 2:02 to play. On third-andshort, Malachai Wright and Jack SToll stuffed Josh Pitsenberger for a one-yard loss and CCSU got the ball back, trailing 23-22 with 1:41 to play.

Brady Olson found Elijah Howard on third-and-8 for a diving reception that went for 39 yards to the Yale 44. The ensuing play went for seven yards, again to Howard, but Yale was able to bat away a third-down pass attempt and Da'Quan Gonzales broke up the fourth-down effort to David Pardo to seal the Bulldogs victory.

Howard had 30 touches on the day, rushing 25 times for 108 yards, and catching five passes for 68 yards. It is his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season.

The Blue Devils return home next week to host Mercyhurst. Game time at Arute Field is 12:00 pm. Fans can purchase tickets online.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Yale **, CCSU(((

Records: CCSU (2-2), Yale (1-1)

Location: Yale Bowl | New Haven, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Yale took the opening drive 11-plays into the red zone, but an offensive pass interference call in the end zone forced the Bulldogs to settle for a 35-yard field goal for the early 3-0 lead 4:30 into the contest
• CCSU answered with a 12-play, 60-yard drive that was capped by a 32-yard Jack Barnum field goal, with 5:25 to play in the opening quarter
• Grant Jordan carried the ball in from the four-yard line for Yale, capping an eight-play, 71-yard drive that Grant was 4-4 passing including a 23-ard pass to Mason Shipp to setup the score
• Brady Olson found Jamir Robertson open across the middle and Robertson took it to the house, with 39 yards after the catch, for a 49-yard touchdown, drawing the Blue Devils even at 10-10 with 12:57 to play in the first half
• CCSU forced the first punt of the game and drove nearly the length of the field, before Da'Quan Gonzales intercepted an Olson pass at the 1-yard line to turn away the Blue Devils
• Yale's Josh Pitsenberger went 64 yards around the left edge and put the Bulldogs on top 17-10 2:14 before halftime
• The CCSU defense stiffened within the red zone once again, forcing a Yale field goal attempt with 7:38 to play in the third quarter, that went wide left
• Olson connected with Plaskon on the ensuing first down for a 54-yard reception that resulted in Barnum's second field goal of the game, this time from 38 yards out, making the score 17-13
• Gavin Taylor knocked down a Jordan pass on 3^rd and 10 to force the Yale punt, giving CCSU the ball on their own 40-yard line
• Barnum connected from 42-yards out with 21 seconds remaining in the third, capping seven-play, 35-yard drive and bringing CCSU within 17-16
• AFter another defensive stop forced another 3-and-out the Blue Devils drove seven-plays and capped it off with Olson finding Isaac Boston in the corner of the end zone for his first CCSU touchdown and a 22-17 CCSU lead
• Two drives later Olson was intercepted and YAle took over on the Blue Devils 30-yard line and four plays later Jordan completed a 19-yard TD pass to Luke Foster to out the Bulldogs back on top, 23-22

NUMBER TO KNOW

215 - Howard's all-purpose yards on Saturday, the highest total in the NEC this season

NOTES

• CCSU outgained Yale 458-339 for the game, including a 288-146 edge in passing yards
• Howard totalled 215 all-puyrpose yards on Saturday, with 39 kick return yards added to his rushing and receiving totals
• Barnum has three field goals in the game, the second time in his career at CCSU that he has done so and is now 8-9 on field goal attempts this season
• Stoll led the defense with eight toackles, four of them solo stops, as well as the late TFL and a pass breakup
• Olson finished 17-30 for 288 yards and two touchdowns, completeing passes to eight different receivers on the afternoon
• The Blue Devils were a season-best 8-16 on third downs, holding Yale to 6-15
• It is the first CCSU touchdown for Robertson and Boston
• Kimal Clark recorded seven tackles, five of them solo stops
• For the fourth time the Blue Devils had an edge in time of possession, controling the ball for 34:31
• Both teams failed to convert a two-point conversion
• Yale scored 13 points of the two CCSU turnovers in the contest, turning both into touchdowns
• The CCSU defense recorded 3.0 TFL for the day, with no sacks
• Jayvis Rayside had a pair of pass breakups, one in the endzone
• Gavin Taylor had two QB hurries, a pass breakup and a tackle
• Abu Kamara led the Yale defense with 14 tackles, 12 solo
• Pitsenberger caried 19 times for 127 yards