Football Hangs On For Win on the Road at Sacred Heart on Saturday

The Central Connecticut football team hung on for a 24-14 victory on the road at Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon. With the victory Central moves to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in Northeast Conference play. Senior fullback Eric Richardson and sophomore wide receiver Deven Baker each scored for the first time this season as Central won for the second straight week. Senior Everette Benjamin surpassed 100 yards rushing for the third time this season. They return home next week to face Duquesne on Homecoming next Saturday.

The win is the seventh straight for the Blue Devils vs. Sacred Heart, the longest such streak vs. any team in the NEC.

Sacred Heart took the early 7-0 lead on their first drive of the game. The Pioneers went 72 yards in 12 plays and just over six minutes, and quarterback Dale Fink hit running back Marcel Archer for a 19-yard touchdown.

The Blue Devils answered with a field goal on their first drive of the game. They drove the ball down to the Sacred Heart 16-yardline before senior Joe Izzo connected from 33-yards out for his sixth field goal of the season. The score was 7-3 with with under four to play in the first quarter.

After forcing a SHU punt, the Blue Devils went 82 yards on 18 plays and Richardson scored from 20 yards out to make it 10-7 with 9:05 left before halftime. Central scored on its first two drives and put up 150 yards in offense in taking the three point lead.

On their next offensive possession senior wide receiver threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Deven Baker to give the Blue Devils a 17-7 lead. Martin took the ball on an end around and hit a wide open Baker at the goalline for the score and the 10-point lead with under five minutes to play before the half.

Sacred Heart answered with a quick drive just before halftime to cut the lead to 17-14. Archer scored his second touchdown of the game to cut the lead to three with 49 seconds left before the break.

Neither team could reach the endzone in the third quarter, and then to begin the fourth the Pioneers missed the potential game-tying field goal from 35 yards out.

Benjamin finished off the scoring in the fourth quarter as Central drove 71 yards in 11 plays and he scored from three yards out to put the Blue Devils up 24-14. The touchdown was the first of the game and the sixth of the season for the senior.

Benjamin rushed for over 100 yards for the third time this season and finished with 127 yards on 24 carries and the one touchdown.

The Blue Devils are back in action at home next week hosting Duquesne on Homecoming beginning at 12 p.m. Central has matched a school-record with 11 straight home victories dating back to the 2008 season. Fans can watch and listen live online at CCSUBlueDevils.com beginning at 11:45 a.m.