Groth Hits Game-Winner, Dolegala Sets Single Season Mark in Home Win Over Sacred Heart

Senior placekicker Ed Groth kicked his third field goal of the game with 15 seconds left and the Central Connecticut football team topped Sacred Heart 37-35 on Arute Field on Saturday afternoon.  The win moves the Blue Devils to 2-7 overall on the season and 1-3 in Northeast Conference play.  Sacred Heart is 6-3 overall and 1-3 in the league.

Groth hit from 29, 39 and 35 in the victory and is now 10-of-13 on the season.  The game-winner came after the Blue Devils fell behind 35-34 on a four-yard pass from R.J. Noel to Moses Webb with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Devil offense, led by junior quarterback Jacob Dolegala, went 47 yards on eight plays to set up the game-winner from Groth.  After a Sacred Heart timeout he struck his third field goal of the game and gave the Blue Devils the win, their second straight over Sacred Heart.

Dolegala finished the game 25-of-43 for 328 yards and one touchdown.  He set the single season yardage record for the Blue Devils in the process, and now has 2,325 on the year.  His 300 yard performance on Saturday was the second of his career.  Junior Joey Fields caught eight passes for 122 yards and a score.  Junior running back Cameron Nash had 24 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Central got the scoring started in the first quarter when they pinned the Pioneers at the SHU four-yard line after being forced to punt on their opening possession. On third down, sophomore Tymir Hinton picked off Noel's pass at the 11-yard line and returned it for the touchdown. The extra point made it 7-0.

The Pioneers went 69 yards over nine plays late in the first quarter to tie the score. Noel hit Moses Webb off a play-action pass for 21 yards and the extra point made it 7-7.

Central scored on consecutive drives to take a 10-point lead heading into halftime. First, the Blue Devils went 51 yards over 11 plays and got to the Sacred Heart 12 yard line. Groth converted a 29-yard field goal to make it 10-7 with 12:21 left in the second quarter.  

On the next SHU possession the Blue Devils forced a three-and-out to take over on their own 32-yard line. CCSU went 68 yards in 12 plays and Nash capped the drive with a two-yard run for the touchdown to make it 17-7 with 5:09 to play before halftime.  

Sacred Heart began the second half with a scoring drive that took just two plays and 22 seconds.  Jay Croom scored from 29 yards out to cut the Blue Devil lead to 17-14.  

The Blue Devils answered as Dolegala scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season to push the lead back to 24-14.  His run capped a quick seven-play, 41 yard drive that was aided by a big kickoff return from junior Joey Field and an SHU penalty.

The Pioneers had their own answer as they went 80 yards in eight plays to score again and cut the lead to 24-21 with 5:39 to play in the third quarter.  Noel hit Andrew O'Neill from 39 yards out for the score.

Central pushed the lead to 31-21 with 22 seconds left in the third quarter when Dolegala hit Fields from 37 yards out for a touchdown and the 10 point lead.  Dolegala was 2-for-2 for 84 yards on the drive, including the touchdown.

With 7:53 left in the fourth quarter the Pioneers cut the lead to 31-28.  Noel rushed it in from one yard out to cap a 66-yard drive that took nine plays and cut the lead to three.

A 39-yard field goal from Groth pushed the Blue Devil lead to 34-28 with 4:53 to play in the fourth quarter.  The Pioneers took the 35-34 lead with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter on a four yard pass from Noel to Webb.  

Groth hit the game-winner with 15 seconds on the clock and the Blue Devil defense knocked down a late hail mary from Noel to secure the victory.

Central travels to Saint Francis U. on Saturday, Nov. 12, for a Noon kickoff.  The game will be televised on ESPN3.