Courtesy: Central Connecticut State University

Junior Eric Richardson scored his second touchdown of the season with under three minutes to play in the game as the Central Connecticut State University football team won the Northeast Conference title with a 14-13 victory on the road at St. Francis (PA) on Saturday afternoon.  Central finishes the regular season 9-2 overall, matching a school-record for victories, and 7-1 in the NEC to win its first outright NEC title.  It marks the third time since 2004 that the Blue Devils have been NEC Champions.

"I guess we couldn't win it any other way," head coach Jeff McInerney said following the victory.  "We had to dig deep once again and make some big plays in the final quarter.  I am so proud of this team and this senior class, they would not quit, even when the chips were down and it looked like we might not have a chance.  I knew we could make it happen, this has turned into a special season."

The Blue Devils earn a berth in the Gridiron Classic, to be played on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the home of the champion of the Pioneer League.  It will mark the first time in school history that Central has advanced beyond the regular season as an FCS team.

The ninth win for CCSU (9-2, 7-1), ties the school record for wins in a season.  They finished the 1973 season 9-1.  They will have a chance to become the first team in school history to win a 10th game on Dec. 5.

"What a great tribute to this team," McInerney said.  "I am proud of every single one of them for what they have accomplished this season.  Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win an outright NEC title and now we have become the first team in school history to do so.  I am very proud of these players, our seniors and of our program.  This is a big day for Central."

The Blue Devils scored first on a 46-yard strike to junior wide receiver Josue Paul in the second quarter with 4:49 on the clock.  The play capped a seven play, 93-yard drive for the Blue Devils and gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

The scored remained 7-0 until the final drive of the first half for the Blue Devils.  On a third down, senior quarter Aubrey Norris was hit behind the line of scrimmage and the ball came loose.  Russel Fisher grabbed the ball out of the air and ran 51-yards for the interception return tie the game at 7-7. 

The Blue Devils turned the ball over three times in the first half on a fumble and two interceptions.  They had 174 yards of total offense against only 81 for the Red Flash, but the turnovers hurt Central and led to the only Red Flash score of the half.

Norris was 8-of-10 for 110 yards and a score, but his two incompletions were interceptions.  Paul had six receptions for 89 yards and the touchdown.  Senior running back James Mallory rushed 15 times for just 28 yards in the half.  He had a long touchdown run called back because of a hold in the first quarter.

The Red Flash took a 13-7 lead with 12:28 left in the fourth quarter on a 31-yard scoring run by freshman Kyle Harbridge.  The run capped a 68-yard drive by the Red Flash as they controlled the time of possession in the second half in taking the lead.  The extra-point was no good as the Red Flash mishandled the snap and kept the lead at 13-7.

The Blue Devils got the ball back with under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter and down six.  They drove 75 yards, in just seven plays, capped by a huge reception by senior wide receiver Nick Colagiovanni, to take their first lead of the game, 14-13.  Colagiovanni's catch went for 50 yards, his longest catch of the season, and he stretched out at the 10 yardline to make the grab.

"Nick has been a great player for us all season long, and has had a great career," McInerney said.  "He is a senior, and while we haven't gotten the ball to him much this year, he came up and made a big play.  He then went on to call a big timeout on the extra point because the ball was put in the wrong spot on the field.  He recognized it and got it corrected.  It's a tribute to his character and the type of player he has been all season long."

Freshman kicker Wes Bakker, who had not attempted an extra-point all season long, hit the game-winning PAT for the win.  The PAT came following a penalty against the Blue Devils and came from 25 yards out.  Junior Joe Izzo, the regular kicker for the Blue Devils, missed the game with an illness.

Norris finished the game with 177 yards through the air and the one touchdown.  Mallory rushed 24 times for just 57 yards.  Richardson had only three rushes on the day, but scored the game-winner for Central.  He had 24 total yards on the day.  Paul had 93 yards receiving and Giovanni added 50 on his catch late in the fourth quarter.

Junior Alondre Rush had 13 tackles, a sack and an interception for Central in the win.  Paul Briody and Lawton Arnold each added 10 tackles.  Central had a total of seven pass break-ups and an interception on the afternoon.  They held the Red Flash to 227 yards of total offense in the game.

The Blue Devils advance to the Gridiron Classic to be played on the road on Dec. 5, at the winner of the Pioneer Football League.