By Brittany Burke
Following a NEC loss at Robert Morris last weekend the CCSU Blue Devils football team (7-3, 6-1 NEC) took a trip to Monmouth University (3-7, 3-4 NEC) and came out on top 49-48 in an exciting double overtime finish decided by a two-point conversion.
“It never really entered my mind that they would not come out and be positive and work that’s their makeup, that’s why we are seven and three and we don’t let things bother us,” said Head Coach Jeff McInerney. “We always say we play this game for the fun of it like we are seven. At this level it’s the purest form of amateurism there is, and you play it and you do it for the right reasons and when you do that good things happen.”
The overtime situation was the first in Monmouth’s school history and the second for the Blue Devils this season, however it was the first double overtime for either team.
With 56 seconds left to play in regulation Gunnar Jespersen found P.J. Borawski for a seven yard touchdown completion and a tie score. As Joe Izzo took the field the Blue Devils had an opportunity to take the lead by one, but his extra point kick was blocked.
“It was a ridiculous game it was a lot of back and forth action a few extra points missed a few field goals blocked and its just a wild game,” said running back Everette Benjamin.
Monmouth took over with time left and drove down field to get into field goal range. As time expired the ball went sailing to the left of the post, forcing the first overtime.
After a scoreless first overtime the Hawks came out and drove the ball in for a touchdown to open the second. With the pressure to get at least seven on the board the Blue Devils took over with a touchdown run from Jespersen.
At that point in the game McInerney had the decision to kick the extra point, forcing a third overtime or to go for the two point conversion. The offense remained on the field lined up for the slant with Jespersen in position behind center. As the ball was snapped Jespersen connected to Josue Paul for the two points and the win.
“Our team’s got a heart of a champion and you don’t blink and I said, ‘Hey were gonna end this thing now one way or another,’ and I knew I had guys that could make plays and I was gonna put the ball in their hands and that’s how it all went down,” said McInerney.
The overtime antics were just the icing on the cake in one of the most memorable NEC games of the Blue Devils’ season.
The first half was a true battle of offenses as CCSU took the ball down field capitalizing on the lethal combination of Jespersen to Everette Benjamin for the opening touchdown. Following the initial seven the Hawks came back three minutes later with a score of its own to tie the game early on.
However it was in the second that the offenses really exploded. Seven touchdowns were made between the two teams, five of which came in the final two minutes of the half.
It looked as if the Blue Devils were going to head to the locker rooms with the lead until Jespersen was picked off by Kenny Amsel for a 72-yard touchdown return and the lead.
“It was just a bad play,” said Jespersen. “I was trying to throw the ball away and I got hit when I was throwing it and they took it for six points the other way right at the half time, but with the guys I got backing me up, backing this team up I’ve got no doubts. Like coach says, we have no fear of losing. We just keep playing to the end and if we come up with a win we come up with a win if we come up with a loss we come up with a loss that’s the way it is.
With another win in the record books, CCSU will come back to Arute Field for the final game of the season Saturday Nov. 20 to take on St. Francis (PA) at 12 p.m.
