Game of the Week: Central Connecticut Runs Over Mercyhurst, 38-20
In a competitive, officially non-conference matchup, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) secured a 38-20 victory over Mercyhurst University at Arute Field. The Lakers gave the Blue Devils everything they could handle, but the powerful CCSU rushing attack ultimately decided the game, raising Central Connecticut up to 3-3 at the midway point of the season.
Mercyhurst opened up the scoring in the first quarter, capping an eight-play, 78-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Adam Urena to Brian Trobel, putting the Lakers ahead 7-0 on their second drive of the game. The early lead was taken into the second frame, but CCSU responded with an eight-yard touchdown run by Ricky Ortega to tie the game. The Blue Devils capitalized on Mercyhurst turnovers shortly thereafter, with Brady Olson connecting on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Paul Marsh Jr., giving CCSU a 14-7 lead. A 22-yard field goal by Jack Barnum extended the Blue Devils' advantage to 17-7 by halftime.
The second half saw CCSU's offense take control. The Blue Devils were held scoreless in the first quarter, but there would be no slow start in the second half. Olson threw two more touchdown passes, including a 39-yard strike to Marsh, to increase the lead to 31-7. Despite trailing, Mercyhurst refused to back down. Trobel found the end zone twice in the second half, once on a three-yard run late in the third quarter and again with a 14-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth, narrowing the deficit to 31-20. The Lakers hadn’t relied on a ground game to this point in the season, but they were able to lean into the ground attack in New Britain on short yardage attempts, showing a new dimension from the NEC’s newest team although on the day their rushing attack was usually stifled.
However, any hopes of a Lakers comeback were dashed when CCSU’s Jadon Turner broke free for a 59-yard touchdown run, sealing the game with under two minutes to play. The Blue Devils' powerful ground game, which saw both Turner and Elijah Howard rush for over 100 yards, proved too much for Mercyhurst to handle. Howard led the way with 169 yards on 27 carries, while Turner added 114 yards and a score on 11 attempts.
Mercyhurst's defensive efforts were led by Tyler Buterbaugh, who recorded a game-high 17 tackles, and Jonas King, who registered a sack and two tackles for loss. Urena finished the game with 286 passing yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions, while Trobel was the standout on offence, accounting for all three of the Lakers' touchdowns. Urena, who had only thrown one touchdown on the year, finally met his match from an opportunistic Blue Devils defense that had played aggressive all season long.
Despite the loss, Trobel’s performance was a highlight, as he kept the Lakers in striking distance with his two rushing scores. Defensively, they had moments of strength, including a forced fumble by Adrian Lewis that was recovered by Anthony Mackey.
On the CCSU side, there was more to their game than a rushing attack and opportunistic defense. Marsh’s two touchdown receptions and Olson’s three-touchdown performance were complemented by a smothering defensive effort that limited Mercyhurst to just 17 rushing yards. Kimal Clark anchored the CCSU defence with 10 tackles, while Dan Toatley and Jalen Howard each contributed multiple tackles for loss, adding pressure on Mercyhurst’s offence throughout the game.
Both teams will look to move forward in their seasons. CCSU, now 3-3 overall and remaining at 1-0 in conference play, will face Dartmouth in their next contest. Mercyhurst, dropping to 2-5 and 0-2 in unofficial NEC play, will aim to bounce back when they travel to Sacred Heart University in two weeks.
