Football Triumphs In Overtime, 24-17, Over Wagner

For the second time in three weeks the Central Connecticut State football team used overtime to earn a win, defeating NEC host Wagner 24-17 on Staten Island Saturday night. The victory is the Blue Devils 100^th NEC win all-time, the most of any team in the history of the league. The Blue Devils have won three straight games.

The Blue Devils needed two plays in overtime this week, a 14-yard rush by Elijah Howard on the first play and then an 11-yard touchdown run by Brady Olson. The Blue Devils defense then held Wagner to just four yards on their four overtime plays to seal the victory.

With the win the Blue Devils are 6-1 all-time in overtime and have won five consecutive overtime games. CCSU is 2-0 against Wagner in overtime, winning a four-overtime game on Staten Island, 51-45, in 2017.

With the score tied 17-17 and regulation running down the Blue Devils defense held twice. Chris Jean provided the first stop, intercepting a Jordan Barton pass in the end zone with 2:40 to play in regulation. After a CCSU turnover, Wagner got the ball back on the Blue Devils 37-yard line with 79 seconds to play. The Blue Devils did not allow a Wagner first down, forcing a punt that led to overtime.

Wagner jumped out to a 14-0 lead with an 11-yard touchdown pass midway in the first quarter and a 93-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Joran Johnson with 75 seconds left in the opening period.

CCSU would score the next 17 points to take the lead, 17-14 3:30 elapsed in the third quarter. Wagner kicked a 38-yard field goal with 8:55 to play in the third, to wrap up the scoring in regulation.

The CCSU defense allowed just 48 yards rushing, the fewest by an opponent this season.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score: CCSU 24, Wagner 17 (OT)
Records: CCSU (5-3; 3-0 NEC), Wagner (1-6; 0-2 NEC)
Location: Hameline Field | Staten Island, NY

KEY MOMENTS

• Wagner scored first, on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jordon Barton to Jeremiah Colclough midway in the first quarter
• CCSU drove to the Wagner one yard line, went for it on fourth down and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Jordan Johnson and returned 92 yards for a touchdown
• Central got on the board with a 22-yard field goal from Jack Hennessey with 12:54 to play in the second quarter to make it 14-3
• Elijah Howard punched in a five-yard run that capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive in the second quarter, after the defense held Wagner to negative yards on a three-and-out on the previous drive
• The Blue Devils drove to the Wagner 15-yard line with 73 seconds left in the first half, but missed the 32-yard field goal
• Paul Marsh, Jr. made a leaping catch in the end zone 3:03 into the second half to put the Blue Devils on top 17-14
• On the next drive the big play was a 55-yard completion to Malik Cooper that led to a 33-yard field goal by Nicholas Romero
• The Blue Devils drove to the Wagner 42-yard line with 11:28 to play, but Olson was intercepted on third down, but the defense forced and three-and-out, sparked by a Malachi Wright sack to get the ball back
• Chris Jean intercepted a Jarod Barton pass in the end zone, with 2:40 to play to turn Wagner away, but the Seahawks answered with an interception with 79 seconds left and returned to the CCSU 37-yard line

NUMBER TO KNOW

100-The number of wins in NEC play for CCSU, the most of any team since the league's inception in 1996

NOTES

• CCSU has won eight consecutive games in the series with Wagner
• Olson finished 25-45 for 251 passing yards and rushed seven times for 35 yards, including two 11-yard rushes
• Wright led the Blue Devils with eight tackles, three of them solo stops and had a sack
• Jean recorded his eighth career interception to go along with four tackles
• Marsh caught his seventh career TD pass and his second of the year, finishing with 23 receiving yards
• Damani Williams caught a team-best five passes, for 29 yards, while Michael Trovarelli made four catches for 30 yards
• Gavin Taylor made 1.5 sacks on the evening, with three total tackles and a forced fumble
• Jack Stoll led the way with five solo tackles, finishing with six and a TFL
• Howard saw his streak of games over 100 yards APY and rushing end, while still finishing with 83 rushing yards and his ninth rushing touchdown of the season
• Donovan Wadley caught two passes, including a 42-yard reception, to finish with 58 yards.
• The Blue Devils had 10 players catch at least one pass
• Zach Bonini averaged 41.1 yards per punt, including a career-long 65 yard punt
• Jack Hennessey is 25-25 in PAT chances, after going 3-3 Saturday night
• Olson was 7-7 for 51 yards through the air and rushed once for 11 yards, on the Blue Devils first touchdown drive of the game
• CCSU held Wagner to 25 yards on offense in the second quarter, with minus-11 rush yards in the period

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils are off next week before returning to action on November 1^st when they host LIU at Arute Field. That is the first of three home games in the month of November.