Central football found themselves back in the win column with a 38-20 victory at home over Mercyhurst University on Saturday, Oct. 12.   

The win puts the Blue Devils at .500 for the season, bumping them to 3-3 while retaining their 1-0 conference record, due to the late addition of the Lakers to the Northeast Conference (NEC) in April.   

Head Coach Adam Lechtenberg emphasized the importance of winning in college football.   

“It’s hard to win,” Lechtenberg said. “In college football, if you win a game, you better celebrate it, and I’m proud of our guys for finding a way to win… Our goal is to win the conference championship, but we’re not going to do it if we don’t play better.” 

The stars of the show were the dynamic backfield tandem of junior Elijah Howard, whose 169 yards on the ground moved him into the top 20 all-time for rushing yards as a Blue Devil, and Stony Brook University transfer Jadon Turner, who added 114 yards on the ground of his own, including a 59-yard scamper for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.  

Junior quarterback Brady Olson was efficient through the air, as he threw for 124 yards on nine completions, three for touchdowns.   

“[Finding the endzone in the air] felt great,” Olson said. “Just getting the offense going, we knew it was going to be a big run week, but we capitalized when passing.”  

Defensively, the Blue Devils forced four Laker turnovers, including an interception apiece from linebacker Malachi Wright and cornerbacks Davone Walden Jr. and Jayvis Rayside. Linebacker Gavin Taylor added a fumble recovery.  

Receiver Paul Marsh, Jr. made a miraculous catch to put Central ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter. Marsh said he wanted to make the catch to redeem himself.  

“I was just praying I caught it,” Marsh said. “[I] didn’t want to let the team down because earlier I dropped it before.”   

The Blue Devils players said they are hoping to keep their momentum as they look forward to a road trip to Hanover, New Hampshire to take on the Big Green of Dartmouth University in another NEC-Ivy League matchup.