Football Runs to 38-20 Win Over Mercyhurst

The Central Connecticut football team fan for over 300 yards and earned a 38-20 win over Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon at Arute Field . The Blue Devils would score 31 unanswered points to take control of the game.

The Central offense turned out a pair of 100-yard rushers with Elijah Howard running for a season-high 169 yards on 27 carries, while Jadon Turner had 114 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

The CCSU defense limited the Lakers to 17 yards rushing and forced four turnovers. Kimal Clark made 10 tackles, including seven solo stops. Dan Toatley and Jalen Howard had three and two tackles for loss, respectively.

Central returns to action on October 19 with a contest at Dartmouth.

GAME INFORMATION

Score:  CCSU 38, MERCYHURST 20
Records: CCSU (3-3, 1-0 NEC) | HURST (2-5)
Location: Arute Field | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• The Lakers took the opening kickoff and drove 35 yards into CCSU territory. Mercyhurst went for it on fourth-and-10, but Adam Urena's pass was intercepted by Malachai Wright, giving Central the ball on their own 28-yard line. CCSU would get a pair of runs from Elijah Howard that covered 35 yards to move into Mercyhurst territory. On fourth down, the Blue Devils' 39-yard field goal attempt went wide left.
• Mercyhurst would open the game's scoring on its second drive. Taking over on their own 22, the Lakers would cover 78 yards in eight plays. On third-and-five from the CCSU 22, Urena connected with Brian Trobel for a touchdown.
• The Blue Devils would respond by scoring 17 unanswered points to close out the first half. CCSU tied the game on the next drive, using 13 plays to cover 73 yards. On a fourth-and-six, Brady Holson completed a pass to Howard for 12 yards that put the ball on the Lakers' 33-yard line. The Blue Devils would hit paydirt on an eight-yard run by Ricky Ortega to make it 7-7.
• The Blue Devils would force a pair of turnovers by the Lakers that they turned into 10 points. Following a strip sack by Dan Toatley that was recovered by Gavin Taylor, CCSU would punch it in three plays later when Paul Marsh, Jr. made a diving reception in the endzone for a 10-yard score.
• Davone Walden, Jr. intercepted a pass from Mercyhurst in the endzone to halt a 55-yard march on the ensuing possession. The Blue Devils took advantage by going 76 yards in 12 plays. Howard and Jadon Turner combined to run for 68 yards on the drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal by Jack Barnum to make it 17-7.
• Central extended its lead by scoring on the first two drives of the second half. A 57-yard drive to open the period was set up by a kick return from Precious Ekeh that brought the ball out to the CCSU 43. Olson connected with Joe Crifasi for a 16-yard touchdown to make it 24-7. After a Hurst punt, Olson connected with Marsh for the second time, covering 39 yards, to push the Blue Devils led to 31-7 in the third quarter.
• Mercyhurst would score on back-to-back drives to trim the deficit. The Lakers' first drive covered 89 yards and ended in a three-yard run by Brian Trobel. After a CCSU punt, Mercyhurst went 80 yards in four plays and scored on a 14-yard run by Trobel to make it 31-20 with 10:23 to play.
• The Blue Devils would tack on a final touchdown when Jadon Turner broke through the middle for 59 yards with under two minutes to play.

NUMBER TO KNOW

1,502 – Elijah Howard moved into 19^th on the career rushing list at Central Connecticut.

NOTES

• CCSU and Mercyhurst were meeting for the first time.
• Central outgained the Lakers in total yards, 425-303.
• Howard had 181 total yards in the game, with 12 yards coming on a single catch. It was his 7^th 100-yard game and second in a row.
• Barnum is now 9-for-11 on field goal attempts this season.
• Olson finished 9-for-14 for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
• Marsh led Central with four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
• CCSU held Mercyhurst to 1-of-8 on third downs and 1-of-4 on fourth downs.
• The Central defense had 10 tackles for loss.

UP NEXT

• Central returns to action on October 19 with a contest at Dartmouth.

Follow @CCSUBlueDevils on Twitter and CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates.