CCSU Stops Delaware State 28-10 on the Road on Saturday Night

By Central Connecticut Athletics
Posted Sunday, September 28, 2008

Junior running back James Mallory rushed for 123 yards on a career-high 36 carries as the Central Connecticut football team ended a nine-game home winning streak for Delaware State on Saturday night with a 28-10 victory on the road. The Blue Devils, now 3-1 on the season, rushed for 262 yards and held the ball for over 40 minutes in the victory. CCSU returns to action on Saturday, October 4 at 1 p.m. at home vs. Wagner.

After playing a scoreless first quarter, sophomore running back Eric Richardson scored his first career touchdown for the Blue Devils with 10:28 left in the second quarter to give CCSU the 7-0 lead. The play came after the Blue Devils blocked their third punt of the season to give the team great field position. Alondre Rush blocked the punt and it was recovered at the one yard line by senior captain Michael Bailey. Two plays later Richardson scored to put Central Connecticut up 7-0.

Delaware State answered with a touchdown on its next drive to tie the game at 7-7 with 7:55 to play. The Hornets needed only six plays to drive the length of the field to tie the game on a six yard touchdown run by quarterback Vashon Winton. The drive took only two minutes and 25 seconds off the clock.

Central Connecticut answered quickly with a four-play, 76-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead with 6:05 left to play in the second quarter. Senior Josh Vargas rushed from 15 yards out to give CCSU the seven point advantage. Junior quarterback Hunter Wanket entered the game for the first time and ran 31 yards to move the Blue Devils across midfield. After a long Wanket pass to Vargas and a run by Mallory, Vargas took the ball up the left side for his third score of the season and the seven point lead.

The Blue Devils upped their lead to 21-7 with 43 seconds left in the half on a seven-play, 68-yard drive capped by Wanket's 28-yard touchdown to Nick Colagiovanni. Wanket completed a pair of long passes on the drive but a pair of Delaware State penalties helped CCSU stay alive for their third score of the game.

Delaware State responded with a field goal before the break to cut the Blue Devil lead to 21-10 at halftime.

In the second half it was all Central Connecticut as they held the Hornets scoreless and allowed the DSU offense on the field for only a little over seven minutes. CCSU controlled the football and the clock as they held the ball for over 40 minutes in the game including 22 minutes in the second half.

CCSU scored the lone touchdown of the second half on a two-yard run by Mallory, his first touchdown of the game. The score ended a 13-play, 86-yard drive that took 6:21 off the clock and gave the Blue Devils the 18 point edge. The Blue Devils won the turnover battle forcing two interceptions and a fumble while committing only one turnover, on a fourth down interception on a fake field goal attempt in the third quarter.

Mallory rushed for a game-high 123 yards, his fourth 100+ yard performance of the season. With his yardage he became the 17th player in school history to surpass 1,000 yards in his career. Wanket finished the game with a career-high 99 yards on the ground on just seven carries. He was 6-for-7 through the air for 72 yards and a touchdown in the game. Vargas and Richardson each scored a touchdown in the win for the Blue Devils.

Ralph McKenley and Ernie Greywacz each had an interception to lead the Blue Devil defense. Jeff Marino led the way with six tackles in the game for the visitors. The CCSU defense held DSU to only 87 yards on the ground in the game.

The Blue Devils return to action next week at home vs. Wagner College beginning at 4 p.m. on Arute Field. The game is the first Northeast Conference game of the season for the Blue Devils.