Football Falls 35-28 To Dartmouth

The Central Connecticut State football team fell 35-28 to visiting Dartmouth College on Saturday, in a thrilling non-conference game at Arute Field. The teams combined for 29 fourth quarter points on the day, and both scored in the final minute of action. 

CCSU started the fourth quarter scoring with a nine-yard touchdown run by Elijah Howard, putting the Blue Devils in front 21-20. The teams traded three-and-outs on the next two possessions resulting in Dartmouth taking over on its own 11-yard line with 9:38 to play in the game. The Big Green mounted a nine-play drive, in which Grayson Saunier went 4-5 passing to score with 5:56 to play and converted the two –point conversion to take a 28-21 lead.  

The Blue Devils responded with a 12-play scoring drive of its own, covering 80 yards and 4:57 of action. Dartmouth stopped CCSU short on a 3rd and 1, but on fourth down, Brett Griffis went around the right side to convert and keep the drive alive. Five plays later Brady Olson found Michael Trovarelli for a five-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 58 seconds left. 

Saunier responded, completing three consecutive passes to start the drive and bring the Big Green to midfield. After an incompletion he found KyDric Fisher at the 12-yard line and he took the ball in for the game-winning score.

GAME INFORMATION  

Score: Dartmouth 25, CCSU 28 
Records: CCSU (2-3, 1-0 NEC), Dartmouth (2-0) 
Location: Arute Field | New Britain, CT 

KEY MOMENTS 

• After punting on their first possession the Blue Devils' defense would stop Dartmouth when Stylz Mitchell picked off a pass and returned it 27 yards into Dartmouth territory. CCSU would cash in the turnover midway through the opening quarter when Brady Olson connected with David Pardo for a six-yard touchdown to make it 7-0. 

• The Big Green responded on their next possession to tie the game. A 71-yard completion to Grayson O'Bara on third down moved the ball to the doorstep where D.J. Crowther dove in from two yards out to make it 7-7. 

• CCSU came back with a brisk nine-play, 68-yard drive in 4:09 to regain the lead. Olson was 6-for-6 on the drive and connected with Paul Marsh, Jr. for 12 yards on the touchdown to make it 14-7. 

• After turning the ball over on a fumble, Dartmouth would stop the Blue Devils to get the ball back. The Big Green would cover 53 yards in six plays, and a 12-yard touchdown run by Crowther would make it 14-14. 

• Dartmouth would take the lead before halftime with a pair of field goals. The Big Green forced and recovered a fumble on the CCSU 35 leading to a 36-yard kick by Owen Zalc to make it 17-14. Following a 15-play, 76-yard drive over nearly three minutes, Zalc would convert a 27-yard kick to make it 20-14 at the intermission. 

• The Big Green opened the second half with a pair of drives deep into Central territory. Both possessions would end in missed field goals of 50 and 29 yards, respectively. Central would respond by covering 80 yards to retake the lead. Elijah Howard capped the drive with a nine-yard run to put CCSU in front, 21-20, with 14:52 to play. 

• Both teams had targeting penalties called on them in the fourth quarter, and both kept the opponents drives alive and resulted in touchdowns 

NUMBER TO KNOW 

3 – Brady Olson had his second three TD passing game as a Blue Devil  

NOTES & NUMBERS 

• Jack Stoll recorded a career-best 12 tackles for CCSU, with five solo stops and 2.5 TFL 

• Olson completed passes to eight different receivers, going 25-33 for 233 yards 

• Chris Jean broke up three passes, to go along with seven tackles 

• CCSU broke up seven passes on Saturday and Stylz Mitchell had an interception, as well as seven tackles 

• Howard scored his seventh touchdown of the season and fourth of the rushing variety and finshed with 109 all-purpose yards (69 rushing, 40 receiving) 

• Jadon Turner averaged 32 yards per kickoff return 

• Navon Mitchell had five tackles, 2.0 for a loss and forced a fumble 

• Dartmouth threw for 407 yards of offense, and totaled 524 yards of total offense 

• Pardo caught six passes for a team-best 42 yards and had a touchdown catch  

• CCSU was 4-4 in the red zone on Saturday and are now 18-20 on the year, with 12 touchdowns 

UP NEXT 

• Central hosts Sacred Heart on Saturday, October 4. Kickoff will be 12 p.m.