Wanket Leads Blue Devil Rally at Albany, CCSU Falls Short in 24-22 Loss

Central Connecticut (4-2, 1-1) fell a two-point conversion short of completing a second half comeback and forcing overtime in a 24-22 loss at Albany (3-3, 2-0) in Northeast Conference play. Junior quarterback Hunter Wanket looked for classmate Nick Colagiovanni in the back of the end zone on the two-point try following a 14-yard touchdown pass to junior Tyler Rossnagle, but his attempt fell short. Wanket finished the game 16-of-24 for a career-high 198 yards and a touchdown, while junior James Mallory rushed for 109 yards on 26 carries. It was the fifth 100-yard rushing performance for the nation's fifth leading ball carrier. Colagiovanni led CCSU with five catches for 71 yards. On the other side of the ball, senior captain Mike Cooke had 11 tackles, including one sack and 3.5 for loss. He also posted a pass break-up.

Trailing 17-9 at halftime, Central Connecticut senior Lamont Tillery recovered a fumble by Albany junior Colin Simmons on the second half's opening kickoff. However, the Blue Devils were stopped on a fourth and one at the Albany 19 yard line. The Great Danes marched 77 yards in 13 plays, taking 6:35 off the clock on the ensuing drive, but CCSU junior Danny Rodriguez blocked a Chris Lynch field goal to get the ball back to the Blue Devil offense.

CCSU was forced to punt, and Albany took a 15-point lead on its next possession. On third and 18 following a sack by Blue Devil junior Ray Saunders, Albany junior David McCarty broke a 72-yard screen play for a touchdown, and Lynch's point after made it 24-9 with 2:06 left in the third quarter. The Blue Devils ended the period with the ball but had to punt it away 11 seconds into the fourth. Two plays later, sophomore Dominique Rose intercepted a pass by junior Vinny Esposito, and the Blue Devils capitalized.

Mallory capped a six-play, 43-yard drive with a six yard rushing touchdown, his fifth of the season. A Joe Izzo point after made it 24-16. The teams traded punts on the next three possessions, with CCSU taking over at the Albany 20 with 4:45 to play after Cooke broke up a Great Dane screen on third down.

Wanket went 4-of-6 for 38 yards and rushed twice for 18 yards to lead CCSU down the field. He hit Colagiovanni for 15 yards on a third down and nine and then scrambled for 14 yards on a first down. His final completion, the 14-yarder to Rossnagle, gave the Blue Devils a chance for the tie. An onside kick following the Blue Devil score was recovered by Albany.

The CCSU defense stopped the Great Danes again, but the offense had just 30 seconds for a potential game-winning drive. And, the Blue Devils had to start at their own four yard line. Wanket sandwiched a 16-yard strike to Colagiovanni between completions of 10 yards and 13 yards to sophomore Josue Paul to get Central Connecticut out to their own 43 yard line. A last gasp play, which included three laterals, moved the Blue Devils into Albany territory, but the clock expired with the scoreboard reading 24-22.

Izzo, a sophomore, made the first three field goals of his career in the first half, connecting from 24, 36 and 26 yards, to account for the only Blue Devil points in the first 20 minutes. It was the first time a Blue Devil made three field goals in a game since Oct. 29, 2005. Derek Pearson had three against Monmouth on that day.

Paul returned the opening kickoff 35 yards out to the 50, giving the Blue Devils good field position for their first drive. A few plays into the drive, Mallory broke a 33-yard run to put CCSU at the Albany 10 yard line. But the Great Dane defense stiffened, forcing the first of three Izzo field goals. Albany responded on its ensuing possession.

The Great Danes converted on two fourth down plays, including a fourth and goal from the Blue Devil one yard line, to go up 7-3. CCSU went 47 yards in 12 plays to set up Izzo's second field goal. It cut the lead to 7-6 with 6:24 left in the first quarter. Albany added a field goal after CCSU made a key red zone stop inside the 10 yard line, but CCSU managed just three more points on the following possession. Wanket's pass intended for Rossnagle in the end zone on third down went incomplete, but Izzo was good from 26 yards to draw CCSU within one, 10-9.

Albany marched back down the field, but sophomore Alondre Rush intercepted an Esposito pass with 43 seconds left in the half. Wanket hit junior Colagiovanni for a 20-yard completion on the first play after the turnover. The next play gave it back to the Great Danes, however. Wanket rolled left after collecting a low snap but could not get rid of the ball before senior Tom Pandolf caught him for a sack, forced fumble and recovery at the CCSU 43 yard line. Albany put seven on the board with three seconds remaining, as Esposito found sophomore Jason Poore for an 11-yard score. Lynch, who took over kicking duties this week, made the point after to give Albany a 17-3 lead at the break.

Mallory carried the ball 14 times for 80 yards to lead the Blue Devil offense in the first half. Junior David McCarty had 73 yards on 15 carries for Albany. Esposito was 11-of-16 for 124 yards, a touchdown and the interception. Both teams were 3-of-3 in the red zone, but the Albany touchdowns accounted for the difference. Neither team punted in the first 30 minutes.

The Blue Devils finished the game with 160 yards on the ground and 209 through the air. Paul and Mallory added four catches apiece for the offense. Rush and sophomore Jeff Marino, like Cooke, each had 11 tackles. As a team, the Blue Devils had 10 tackles for loss. McCarty led Albany with 101 yards rushing and 96 yards receiving. Senior Tim Bush added six catches for 63 yards, while Poore finished with 47 yards on four receptions. Esposito was 17-of-26 for 254 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Central Connecticut will be back in action next weekend. The Blue Devils host Duquesne as part of homecoming festivities at 1 p.m. on Arute Field.