Football Wins 11th Straight at Home, 41-24, Over Bryant on Saturday

Senior running back Everette Benjamin rushed 29 times for a career-high 188 yards and three touchdowns as the Central Connecticut football team topped Bryant 41-24 to open Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils, now 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in league action, also got 108 yards on the ground from junior quarterback Gunnar Jespersen. Central returns to action next Saturday at Sacred Heart at 12 p.m.

Jespersen and Benjamin became the first Central teammates to rush for over 100 yards in a game since James Mallory and Brian Fowler did it on Oct. 10, 2009. The 100 effort is the second of the season for Benjamin, who is now averaging 105.2 yards per game. Jespersen told the media following the game it was the first time "ever" that he has rushed for 100 yards in a game.

Central trailed 10-0 early, and didn't score until the second quarter. Two Benjamin touchdowns and a field goal from senior Joe Izzo made it 17-10 at the half in favor of the home team.

Benjamin's first score came from two-yards out and he followed it up with a 42-yard run with 10:35 left in the second quarter. Izzo's first field goal of the game came from 33-yards out, just 11 seconds before the half.

Izzo provided the next score for the Blue Devils, a career-long 40-yard field goal halfway through the third quarter. He is a perfect 5-for-5 on the season and an impressive 14-of-16 in his career at CCSU.

Following a Bryant score that made it 20-17, Jespersen rushed for his second rushing touchdown of the season, making it 27-17. Bryant answered again to make it 27-24, but the third rushing touchdown of the season for junior Nate Pagan made it 34-24 for the Blue Devils. He ran it in from 19-yards out to push the lead to 10.

Tthe teams combined for 31 points and 337 yards of offense in the third quarter, and Central built its lead from 17-10 to 34-24 before it was over. All 31 points in the quarter came in the final 7:51.

Benjamin's final score came in the fourth quarter and from five yards out. The three touchdowns is a career-high for the transfer, who posted his third career 100 yards game (two with CCSU and one with Hofstra).

The Central defense stepped up big after falling behind 10-0. After allowing 106 yards to the Bulldogs in the first quarter, they allowed just 207 yards in the final three quarters, including a total of only 25 yards in the fourth quarter. Senior linebacker Jeff Marino led the defense with 10 tackles. Senior Dominic Giampietro and sophomore Lawton Arnold each had a sack in the victory.

Senior wide receiver Richie Martin had a career-high 165 yards receiving in the game. He led the Blue Devils with five catches including a career-long of 67 yards. Jespersen finished 7-of-13 through the air for 174 yards, 165 of those went to Martin.

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday, Oct. 2 at Sacred Heart beginning at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES:
- The win is the 11th straight home win for the Blue Devils.
- Coach McInerney improves to 19-2 at home in his five seasons.
- The Blue Devils have won 21 of their last 23 home games vs. NEC opponents.
- Central is 28-3 at home since the beginning of the 2004 season.
- Jespersen and Benjamin become the first teammates to rush for 100+ yards in a game since 10/10/09.
- The 188 yards by Benjamin are the most in a game for CCSU since Mallory had 204 on Halloween last season vs. Albany.
- Martin's 165 yards receiving are a career-high, and the most since Josue Paul had 131 on 11/14/09 vs. Monmouth.
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