After returning home on Saturday for the homecoming game, the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils football team came short of earning their first victory this season. Their opponent, the Brown University Bears, walked away with the 27-20 victory, their first since facing Bryant University earlier this season.

Brown University was the first to score early in the first quarter with a touchdown reception by senior wide receiver Hayes Sutton and kept the lead for the entirety of the game. However, CCSU fought hard to level the score against Brown while ultimately coming up short as the clock ran out. 

CCSU’s senior running back Nasir Smith rushed for an 85-yard touchdown in the middle of the second quarter and led the team in rushing for a total of 140 yards. After the game, Smith said that the offensive line was highly influential throughout the game. 

“They held up for how big their guys are,” Smith said. “They’re a good team; they’re a smart team; they don’t make too many mistakes.”  

Following the sixth straight loss of the season and having junior quarterback Romo Williams out with a knee injury, head coach Ryan McCarthy is unsure what the timetable for Williams to return looks like. But the team has the next week off, which will allow Williams to rest. 

 “I’m not sure exactly when he’s going to return,” McCarthy said. “We’re going to have a better idea of where he’s coming out of the bye week.”   

The CCSU Blue Devils’ next game will be at home against Duquesne on Saturday, Oct. 22.