Oct. 18, 2008
Box Score
NEW BRITAIN, CONN. - James Mallory ran for 126 yards and three touchdowns to give Central Connecticut State enough cushion to hold off a late Duquesne rally as CCSU held on for a 35-23 win at New Britain, Conn.
The loss, Duquesne's third in a row, dropped the Dukes' overall record to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the Northeast Conference. CCSU moved to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in NEC play.
Duquesne cut a 28-10 deficit to 11 midway through the fourth quarter and was on the doorstep to cut further into that lead when Alex Roberson fumbled into the end zone following a 43 yard catch-and-run.
CCSU scored on its next possession to ice the game.
Central Connecticut State, which entered the game ranked 10th nationally in rushing offense, gained 286 yards on the ground, including 150 in jumping out to a 21-10 halftime lead.
The Blue Devils took the opening kickoff 69 yards - all on the ground - to take a 7-0 lead on a three-yard scamper by Mallory, who carried nine times for 37 yards on the drive.
Duquesne moved to the Central Connecticut two-yard line on its opening possession, but was unable to punch it in, settling for a 19-yard Mark Troyan field goal.
Mallory capped a 17 play, 91-yard drive with a five-yard run to put the Blue Devils up 14-3 and Josh Vargas scored on a one-yard plunge on CCSU's third possession to make it 21-3 with 5:23 left in the second quarter.
Connor Dixon completed passes of 19 and a 41 yards to Sean Bunevich to set up a five-yard toss to Roberson that pulled the Dukes to within 21-10 with 1:32 to go in the half.
Mallory added his third touchdown of the game on a one-yard run late in the third quarter.
Duquesne had a chance to pull within 11 early in the fourth quarter, but Dixon and Roberson couldn't connect on 4th-and-goal pass play from the nine-yard line. Following a short CCSU punt, the Dukes drove 25 yards in four plays with Dixon finding Michael Rasky in the right corner of the end zone from 14 yards out to make it 28-17 with 8:38 left.
Nathan Totino forced a Mallory fumble that was covered by Thaimu Bangura at the CCSU 39 yard line with 5:11 to go. Dixon then hit Roberson in stride for 43 yards to the one where Roberson was tackled and fumbled the ball into the end zone. Central Connecticut's Dominique Rose recovered, giving the Blue Devils the ball on the 20.
Hunter Wanket faked a handoff to Mallory, got to the corner and raced 71 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown to make it 35-17.
Dixon found Roberson from three yards out with just over a minute left for the final margin.
Dixon completed 18-of-31 passes for 198 yards and three scores. Cleodis Williams added a career-high 139 yards on 20 carries for the Dukes. Roberson led all receivers with six catches for 76 yards and two TDs.
Totino finished with a game-high 16 tackles (nine solo).
Duquesne (2-4, 1-3) returns to action next Saturday against Sacred Heart (6-1, 2-1). The Homecoming matchup is set for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Rooney Field.
BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 FINALDUQUESNE 3 7 0 13 23CENTRAL CONN. ST. 7 14 7 7 35
LEADERSRushing (Att./Yds./TD): DU - Williams (20-139-0); CCSU - Mallory (37-126-3)Passing (Att./Comp./Int./Yds./TD): DU - Dixon (31-19-0-198-3); CCSU - Wanket (10-7-0-65-0), Norris (6-4-0-41-0)Receiving (Att./Yds./TD): DU - Roberson (6-76-2); CCSU - Paul (3-39-0)Tackles (Tot./Solo): DU - Totino (16/9); CCSU - Greywacz (7/4), Rose (7/3)
GAME NOTES Central Connecticut scored touchdowns on its first three possessions ... the Blue Devils did not punt until the 55 second mark of the second quarter .... the DU defense rallied to force three punts and a turnover (fumble) in the second half ... CCSU, which entered the game ranked 10th nationally in rushing yards per game (225.0), finished with 286 yards on the ground ... the Blue Devils' James Mallory, who finished the game with 126 yards on 37 carries, went over the 100-yard mark with seven minutes left in the third quarter ... CCSU converted 3-of-3 fourth downs ... four Dukes - including three freshmen - made their first career start on defense: sophomore DE Tyler Scruggs, freshman DT Mike Passodelis, freshman DT Aldon Sutton and freshman LB Chris Oliver ... Connor Dixon (South Park, Pa./South Park) completed 19-of-31 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns (5, 14 and 3 yards) ... he has thrown 16 touchdown passes in six games and thrown for two or more scores in five of six games ... junior tailback Cleodis Williams (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) rushed 20 times for a game and career high 139 yards (6.9 yards per carry) ... it was Williams' third 100-yard game of the season ... his previous career high was 129 yards against Saint Francis on Sept. 20 ... sophomore linebacker Nathan Totino (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton-La Salle), extended his double-digit tackles streak to six games with a game-high 16 stops (9 solo) ... Totino is now averaging 15.0 tackles per game ... Totino also forced a fumble at CCSU ... freshman defensive lineman Mike Passodelis (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny) had seven tackles (three solo) in his first career start.
