Football Wins Home Opener 34-7 Over AIC
Marcus has two touchdowns, while defense records 11 TFL
The Central Connecticut State football team defeated visiting AIC 34-7 to win its third consecutive home opener, Saturday afternoon at Arute Field. The Blue Devils are 1-1 on the season, while the Yellowjackets are 0-1 in 2025.
The Blue Devil defense allowed just 200 yards of offense from AIC, with 79 of those coming on the ground. The Blue Devils defense recorded 11 TFL and 5.0 sacks on the day.
Brady Olson threw for 247 yards, his second most as a Blue Devil, with 10 different receivers catching one of his 15 completions. Paul Marsh Jr. caught three of those passes, for 67 yards, while Michael Trovarelli and Donovan Marcus both had touchdown receptions.
The Blue Devils are back at Arute Field on Saturday, September 13th to open NEC play versus Saint Francis. That game is set for 12:00 pm. (BUY TICKETS)
KEY MOMENTS
- With the Blue Devils leading 3-0, AIC recovered a fumbled punt return in the Blue Devils end zone to take a 7-0 lead with 10:28 to play in the second quarter
- CCSU responded with two touchdowns 120 seconds apart to take a 17-7 lead
- The first score was a five-yard rush from Davon Smith Jr., capping a five-play 76-yard drive that was highlighted by a 47-yard competition from Olson to Joe Crifasi
- On the first play after the defense forced a three-and-out Olson found Donovan Marcus across the middle and he went 54 yards, 40 after the catch, for the score
- CCSU scored the only points of the second-half, with Marcus scoring from a yard out in the third quarter and Trovarelli catching a one-yard pass for a score, after Marsh made a leaping catch at the one-yard line
- Jack Hennessey converted a 26-yard field goal, his second of the game, with 4:49 to play to wrap-up the scoring
NUMBER TO KNOW
111 – The number of points the Blue Devils have scored in home openers (three) under Adam Lechtenberg, going 3-0 in those games with a 111-10 margin
NOTES & NUMBERS
- AIC is the fifth opponent that CCSU has held to seven or fewer points since 2022
- Malachai Wright led the defense with nine tackles and a single-game career-high 2.5 sacks
- Wright and Brayden Hall both forced fumbles, one of which Jarred Massey recovered and returned 24 yards
- Hennessey is now 4-4 in field goal attempts and 5-5 in PAT on the season
- Marcus finished with 88 all-purpose yards and the two touchdowns
- Wright has 6.5 TFL in the last two home openers, with a career-best 3.5 in the 2024 win over Fordham
