Central Football Falls at Youngstown State on Saturday Night

The Central Connecticut football team dropped a 63-24 decision on the road at four-time national champion Youngstown State on Saturday night. The loss drops the Blue Devils to 1-2 overall on the season Junior quarterback Gunnar Jespersen finished the game 16-for-26 for 180 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for one in the loss. Central opens conference action next week at home against Bryant at 12 p.m. at Arute Field.

Youngstown scored first on a 45-yard scoring run from Jamaine Cook. The scoring drive only took four plays and 1:38 and gave YSU the 7-0 lead just 1:38 into the game.

Central answered on a two-yard touchdown run from Jespersen with 1:29 left in the first quarter. Junior Isaiah Boddie started the Blue Devil drive with his first interception of the season, giving the Blue Devils the ball at the 42-yardline. Eight plays later Jespersen tied the score with his first touchdown run of the season.

Youngstown answered with another four-play drive that took just 1:33 and finished with another long run from Cook. This time the sophomore ran it in from 52-yards out and gave the Penguins the 14-7 lead with 14:51 left in the second quarter.

The Blue Devils responded quickly, using only two plays to drive the length of the field and tie the game at 14-14 with 14:19 left before halftime. Junior Nate Pagan scored his second rushing touchdown of the season from 16-yards out to tie the score. Also on the drive Jespersen hit senior P.J. Borawski on a 56-yard pass play to set up the scoring run.

Youngstown would score the final three touchdowns before the half, including a pair of scoring runs by Jordan Thompson. He scored twice from one-yard out, including the final score of the half with 40 seconds remaining. Adaris Benjamin scored the other touchdown in the quarter.

Youngstown ran for 181 yards and five touchdowns in the half, and posted 297 yards of total offense before the break. The Blue Devils had 188 total yards and scored twice. Jespersen was 10-of-13 for 104 yards in the half. He also ran for 41 and a score.

In the second half, Central scored first on a career-long field goal from senior Joe Izzo. He hit from 37-yards out to cap a 75-yard drive for the Blue Devils that took 3:02 off the clock. The field goal cut the lead to 35-17.

The Penguins answered again on another scoring run from Cook. He ran 23-yards for his third touchdown of the game to push the lead to 42-17 in the third quarter.

Bellamy scored his second touchdown of the game to make it 49-17 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. He scored from four-yards out to cap a nine-play, 54-yard drive and scored the seventh rushing touchdown of the game for the Penguins.

Jespersen led the Blue Devils down the field on their next possession and hit fullback Dennis Spadaro with a two-yard scoring pass to make it 49-24. The touchdown was the first of Spadaro's career and the third scoring strike for Jespersen this season. The drive took 12-plays and went for 75 yards.

Jespersen finished the night 16-of-26 for 180 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 15 times for 68 yards and a second score. Benjamin rushed 14 times for 85 yards while Borawski led the way with 71 receiving yards for CCSU.

The Blue Devils return home next Saturday to host Bryant at 12 p.m. It is the first Northeast Conference game of the season for the Blue Devils, who open the NEC slate as the defending champions. Fans can watch and listen live beginning at 11:45 a.m. on CCSUBlueDevils.com.