Football Sunk By Last Second Merrimack Field Goal
Blue Devils erased a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter
The Central Connecticut State football team scored twice in the fourth quarter but Merrimack converted a 19-yard field goal in the final seconds to earn a 16-14 win Saturday night in North Andover, MA.
The Blue Devils erased a 13-point deficit in the final nine minutes of the game. Elijah Howard put CCSU on the board with a 21-yard touchdown run, capping a four-yard 61 yard drive with 9:23 to play.
Merrimack responded and attempted a 28-yard field goal to make its lead nine points, but Navon Mitchell blocked the attempt and Chris Jean returned the ball the length of the field. The return was truncated by a penalty, giving CCSU the ball on the Merrimack 40-yard line. The Blue Devils took seven plays to go that 40-yards, and Howard scored with 1:32 to play to put CCSU in front.
Merrimack took the ensuing kickoff and drove 66-yards to the two-yard line, where they lined up for a 19-yard field goal with three seconds remaining. Jack Stoll was able to get a hand on the field goal attempt, but it got over the cross bar to give Merrimack the win.
Jean had his second multi-interception game of his career with two picks on Saturday night.
The Blue Devils are home next Saturday for the Homecoming Game (Buy Tickets) versus Dartmouth. Game time on Saturday at Arute Field is 12:00 pm.
GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Merrimack 16, CCSU 14
Records: CCSU 2-2; Merrimack 2-2
Location: Duane Field | North Andover, MA
KEY MOMENTS
- Merrimack blocked a Blue Devil punt and recovered it on the CCSU five and scored on a five-yard TD run by Ayden Pereira on the next play, to go up 7-0 58 seconds into the second quarter
- A Warrior interception on the next Blue Devil possession set up a 28-yard field goal by Carlton Thai, with 9:07 to play in the first-half and make the score 10-0
- On the Blue Devils second offensive play of the third quarter, after stopping Merrimack on downs, Elijah Howard ran for 19-yards before fumbling the ball and having it recovered by Merrimack and returned to the CCSU 29, before settling for a field goal to go in front 13-0 midway through the third quarter
- Elijah Howard put the Blue Devils on the board with a 21-yard touchdown run with 9:19 to play, setup by a 31-yard completion from Brady Olson to Peter Cleary
- The Blue Devils blocked a Merrimack 28-yard field goal attempt with 4:04 to play and Jean returned it to the Merrimack 40-yard line
NUMBER TO KNOW
7 – Jean has seven interceptions in his last five games played
NOTES & NUMBERS
- Jean finished with two interceptions, a PBU and seven solo tackles in the game,
- CCSU accumulated four rushing yards in the first-half and had 91 yards of offense in the first-half
- Howard accumulated 106 all-purpose yards and had his second consecutive two touchdown game, as he rushed for 91 yards and made six catches
- Brady Olson finished 14-32 passing, marking his eighth game as a Blue Devil with 30 or more pass attempts and completed passes to seven different receivers
- Jack Stoll finished with a team-high nine tackles
- The Blue Devils have had at least one player score two touchdowns in each of the past three games
- CCSU recorded eight quarterback hurries on the day, with four from Navon Mitchell
- Central committed four turnovers on Saturday and were minus-three in the turnover battle
