Kingston, RI — In its third-ever FCS Playoff appearance, Central Connecticut fell 21-17 to 10th-ranked and seeded Rhode Island on Saturday. The Blue Devil, who camptured the 2024 NEC title last weekend and rode a four-game winning streak into the postseason, finish the campaign 7-6 overall.
Rhoe Island scored 14 points in a 14-second span in the first quarter to take a 14-0 advantage. The Blue Devils responded with a touchdown midway in the second quarter before they drew even with 1:27 to play in the third quarter. The Rams answered with a six-play, 32 yard drive following a Central Connecticut punt to retake the lead, 21-14, in the final quarter. The Blue Devils got into the redzone on their last full drive, but that resulted in a 32-yard field goal.
With 50 seconds left to play, Central Connecticut’s defense got the ball back, but the Blue Devils were intercpeted on a deflected pass to secure the Rams’ victory.
Boston Isaac scored each of the Blue Devils’ two touchdowns on 11- and six-yard passes from Brady Olson.
Recently-named NEC Defensive Player of the Year Kimal Clark finished with seven tackles on Saturday, giving him 116 for the season. That mark tied Central Connecticut’s single-season recocrd, which was last accomplished by Randall Laguerre in 2016.
Elijah Howard, who pocketed NEC Offensive Player of the Year honors earlier this season, ran for 101 yards for his fifth game this season over the century mark. Adding 126 all-purpose yards, he finished the season with 1,924 yards in his CCSU career, which are good for ninth in program history.
NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year Christopher Jean also had a standout performance for the Blue Devils. He finished with an interception — his fourth in the past two games — and had three pass breakups. He also came away with a blocked field goal that prevented the Rams from breaking open the scoreless game midway through the first quarter.
