The Central Connecticut State University football team lost their final home game of the season Saturday to conference rival, Merrimack College, with a final score of 20-14. 

The Blue Devils now hold a win-loss record of 1-9 in the season, and 1-5 in the conference. The team has only one game left before they wrap it up for the 2022 season, on the road against fellow conference rival Stonehill College on Saturday, Nov. 19. 

Senior running back Nasir Smith hit a milestone, reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the season.

 “It feels good, but I’d rather win the game,” Smith said. “Stats don’t matter, we needed the win. But you know, it’s big for me, something I wanted to do, especially the journey that I’ve been on and everything that I’ve been through.”

 Smith also reflected on his time as a Blue Devil at CCSU.

 “I learned a lot – all the coaches, they made me into a man. Coming here being a Blue Devil, its family,” Smith said. “We’ve got to cherish these moments, can’t take everything for granted –  Blue Devil for life!”

The Blue Devils defense held out for the first half of the matchup against Merrimack. The team only allowed a single touchdown in the first quarter, and it was not until the fourth quarter that the defense allowed two more touchdowns to be scored against them.

 “We were going pretty good in the second half,” Defensive Coordinator Ron DiGravio said. “We hurt ourselves with the penalties.”

 The CCSU defense had two pass interference fouls called against them, which gave Merrimack the advantage and allowed the scoring drives which led to their victory.

 “Every school in this league is close, we know we can match up with them,” DiGravio said, regarding Merrimack being the top ranked school in the conference. “It came down to who made the most plays and unfortunately, down the stretch, they made a few more plays than we did and that’s why they won the football game.” 

The Blue Devils finish off the season Saturday, Nov. 19 against conference rival Stonehill College Saturday. The game will be held at 1:00 p.m. at W.B. Mason Stadium in North Easton, Massachusetts.