41-24 Defeat of Bryant Gives CCSU 11th Straight Win at Home
By Brittany Burke
Following a tough road loss, the CCSU football team (2-2, 1-0 NEC) managed to walk away from Arute Field with their second win of the season as they defeated Bryant University (3-1, 0-1 NEC) 41-24.
The win against Bryant was the first conference game and win for CCSU. The Blue Devils fell to Youngstown State on the road last week, dropping their second game on the road, 63-24, but continued to have good luck at home. CCSU lengthened their home streak to 11 straight wins while in New Britain, en route to handing Bryant their first loss of the season.
It was the Bryant Bull Dogs who took the early lead in the first quarter, scoring 10 unanswered points, but the momentum didn’t stay in their favor.
“First two drives we came out and laid an egg but eventually we got it going and everything started clicking on all cylinders and I guess the defense just came around eventually and the score speaks for itself,” said Hofstra transfer Everette Benjamin.
As the clock wound down to end the first, quarterback Gunnar Jespersen managed to find wide receiver Richie Martin for a 50 yard completion at Bryant’s 19-yard line. The reception began a 8 play, 69-yard touchdown drive putting CCSU behind by a field goal early in the second.
The Blue Devils then dug into their bag of tricks to ensure they set up a comfortable lead at the half.
Ahead by four with under two minutes to play in the second, CCSU faked the punt, reversed back and running back Benjamin threw for a completed 22-yard pass to Dominic Giampietro. The drive resulted in the field goal, putting CCSU ahead by a touchdown at the beginning of the third.
“I think it was huge getting the turnover late. Ran the fake field goal we’ve been working on for two or three weeks and we actually ran it on them two years ago and it worked and we’re ready,” said Head Coach Jeff McInerney. “We had a fake punt in and we didn’t have to call that but I thought Joe Izzo was just kicking the ball fabulous and any time you can go up seven points versus four that’s good.”
The second half remained close as the two teams went head-to-head and score-to-score. CCSU was up by 10 entering the final quarter but an 80-yard touchdown drive in the fourth took 6:49 off the clock and closed the win for the Blue Devils.
“We’re out there to score points even if we’re up 30, we’re out there to score points if we’re down 30. Zero, zero ball game we want to score points that’s the whole motivation of the offense…If the defense is gonna hold them then we got to score points. If the defense is not gonna hold them we’ve got to score points that’s what we’re here to do and I think we did a good job of that today,” said Jespersen.
Jespersen and Benjamin both hit career milestones with rushing for over 100 yards in a single game. Benjamin led the team with 188 yards for three touchdowns, followed by Jespersen with 108 yards. The game against the Bulldogs was the first game since Oct. 10, 2009 that CCSU has had two players in one game rush for over 100 yards.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been in an offense where I’ve touched the ball so much and had so much to do with the outcome of the game, I love the limelight, it’s fun,” said Jespersen laughingly.
Jespersen had more rushing attempts than he did passing, going 7-for-13 with 174 yards and no interceptions. Martin was Jespersen’s go-t0 man as he ended the game with 165 yards receiving.
The offense racked up 529 yards against the Bryant defense, while the Blue Devils held the Bull Dogs to 313.
The Blue Devils are set to take the road to take on NEC opponent Sacred Heart on Saturday, Oct. 2. The team won’t be back to CCSU until Oct. 9 where they will meet Duquesne for the Blue Devils’ homecoming.