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Central Michigan 66, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 10
Central Connecticut opened the 2024 season with a 66-10 defeat at FBS and MAC opponent Central Michigan on Thursday. The Blue Devils reached the end zone on their opening drive to draw the teams even in the first quarter before the Chippewas scored five touchdowns before the halftime break to take a sizeable lead at intermission.
MERCYHURST 28, Wheeling 25
Senior quarterback Adam Urena threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns — including two to graduate student Cameron Barmore — to pilot Mercyhurst to a season-opening win at Division II opponent Wheeling on Thursday. The Lakers compiled 411 yards of offense in the 28-25 win, which was the program’s first as a Division I member.
Toledo 49, DUQUESNE 10
Duquesne dropped a 49-10 decision at FBS opponent Toledo inside the Glass Bowl on Thursday evening. The Dukes scored on consecutive drives to make it 14-7 in the opening quarter and 21-10 in the second stanza, but they were unable to keep up with an explosive Rockets’ offense that racked up 439 total yards of offense.
WAGNER 46, Virginia Lynchburg 7
Taking an early 19-0 advantage in the second quarter, Wagner ended the game with 27-unanswered points to score a 46-7 win over visiting Virginia Lynchburg on Saturday. Graduate student Jake Cady earned the starting nod at quarterback and threw for three touchdowns, while reigning NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year Jaylen Bonelli caught for 106 yards and a pair of scores to pace the Seahawks’ offense.
Dayton 18, SAINT FRANCIS U 10
Despite conceding just 203 yards of offense, including 47 yards on the ground, Saint Francis U opened the season with a setback at Dayton on Saturday. Sophomore Markell Holman got the Red Flash back within one score at 18-10 — the eventual final — on a one-yard rush midway through the third quarter, but the Flyers staved off the comeback bid by keeping Saint Francis U scoreless for the remainder of the game.
No. 16 UAlbany 27, LIU 20
LIU went blow-for-blow with 2023 FCS Playoff semifinalist and 16th-ranked UAlbany, but the Great Danes delivered the game-deciding punch on a touchdown in the third quarter to come away with a 27-21 victory. Redshirt sophomore Luca Stanzani hit three different receivers for touchdowns for the Sharks, who came up short of the potential game-tying score after driving to the UAlbany 39-yard line on their final possession.
Utah State 36, ROBERT MORRIS 14
Robert Morris’ 14-10 halftime lead at Utah State was spoiled by 26 unanswered points by the Aggies after intermission on Saturday evening. The Colonials’ defense was running on all cylinders in the opening half, as three interceptions — including two from rookie corner back Tyris Harvey and a “Play of the Year” candidate pick by junior defensive back Rob Carter Jr. — helped the visiting squad build an early advantage against their FBS and Mountain West foe.
Patriot
AT NAVY MIDSHIPMEN (1-0, 0-0 AAC) 49, BUCKNELL BISON (0-1, 0-0 PL) 21
Annapolis, Md./Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Saturday, Aug. 31 at Noon (CBS Sports Network)
BOX SCORE
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Senior quarterback Ralph Rucker IV connected with junior wide receiver Nate Anderson on a 47-yard touchdown pass in the first series of the game, but Bucknell could not keep pace with FBS foe Navy in a 49-21 loss in its season opener at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
*The Mids scored the next 35 points after Bucknell’s opening drive before senior running back Paul Neel’s three-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 35-14.
*Bison freshman running back Michael Cadden scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring in the 49-21 loss.
*Rucker completed 11-of-24 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 34 yards on 10 carries to help the Bison gain 337 yards of total offense. Anderson finished with 61 yards and a touchdown on two catches
*Neel finished with 60 rushing yards on 12 carries to lead a Bucknell ground game that compiled 131 yards.
*Sophomore wide receiver TJ Cadden led the Bison receiving corps with 97 yards on five catches.
*Senior linebacker Nick Hoying posted a career-high 11 tackles and logged his first collegiate interception. Junior defensive back Terian Williams II also intercepted a pass in his first game as a Bison.
*Bucknell sophomore linebacker Gavin Willis totaled 10 tackles, and senior linebacker Brad Jamison added seven tackles and one sack.
RECAP:
BUCKNELL
AT GEORGETOWN HOYAS (1-0, 0-0 PL) 46, DAVIDSON WILDCATS (0-1, 0-0 PIONEER) 24
Cooper Field/Washington, D.C. Saturday, Aug. 31 at 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON – Georgetown senior running back Naieem Kearney and sophomore running back Bryce Cox rushed for two touchdowns apiece to lead the Hoyas to a 46-24 victory in their home opener at Cooper Field.
*Kearney carried five times for 87 yards, and Cox rushed three times for 84 yards to lead a GU rushing attack that compiled 274 yards on 27 carries.
*Hoyas' junior quarterback Danny Lauter was efficient, completing 9-of-16 passes for 106 yards, with junior wide receiver Jimmy Kibble logging four receptions for 60 yards.
*Georgetown took a 2-0 lead early in the first quarter when sophomore defensive lineman Cooper Blomstrom recorded a safety on the Wildcats' first possession. Blomstrom finished with 10 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one sack.
*Senior placekicker Patrick Ryan followed with a 33-yard field goal less than four minutes later, his first of three field goals on the afternoon, to give GU a 5-0 lead.
*The Wildcats and Hoyas traded touchdowns through the rest of the first half, including a 23-yard run for Kearney and a 59-yard score from Cox.
*Senior cornerback Kolubah Pewee Jr. intercepted a pass late in the second quarter to help set up a field goal from Ryan to take a 22-17 lead into halftime.
*The Hoyas took control early in the third quarter, as Kearney scored on a 20-yard touchdown run 18 seconds into the half.
*Sophomore cornerback Quincy Briggs broke the game open, stripping the ball from a Davidson ball carrier and returning the fumble 64 yards to put GU in front 36-17.
*Cox rushed for another touchdown, and Ryan connected on another field goal before Davidson added a final score with 1:55 remaining in the game in the Hoyas' decisive win.
*Graduate student linebacker David Ealey III led the Hoyas' defense with 12 tackles, while sophomore safety Zeraun Daniel posted 10 tackles and 1.0 TFL.
RECAP:
GEORGETOWN
AT RHODE ISLAND RAMS (1-0, 0-0 CAA) 20, rv/rv HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (0-1, 0-0 PL) 17
Meade Stadium/Kingston, R.I. Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. (FloSports)
BOX SCORE
KINGSTON, R.I. – Holy Cross senior running back Jordan Fuller’s four-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes remaining in the game put the Crusaders in front for the first time, but Rhode Island answered with 19 seconds left in regulation to spoil the first game of the Dan Curran era in a 20-17 loss.
*Fuller rushed for 139 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries to lead the Crusaders’ offense.
*Holy Cross trailed 13-3 heading into the fourth quarter, with sophomore placekicker Daniel Porto’s 39-yard second-quarter field goal as their only score.
*Senior quarterback Joe Pesansky brought the Crusaders within three points when he connected with sophomore wide receiver Charly Mullaly on a 43-yard touchdown pass at the 12:58 mark in the final frame. Pesansky completed 10-fo18 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
*Crusaders’ sophomore defensive lineman William Robinson blocked a URI field-goal attempt from 37 yards on the ensuing drive.
*Fuller capped the 13-play, 80-yard drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock to give the Crusaders a 20-17 lead, their first lead of the game.
*The Rams struck quickly, driving 75 yards in less than 90 seconds with Devin Harris throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Shawn Harris Jr. to hand Holy Cross a 20-17 loss.
*Crusaders’ senior safety Curtis Harris-Lopez led the defense with 10 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and one forced fumble.
*Senior defensive lineman Joseph Townsend finished with two sacks and a forced fumble, while senior linebacker Frankie Monte added nine tackles and a half TFL.
RECAP:
HOLY CROSS
AT ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS (1-0, 0-0 AAC) 42, LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (0-1, 0-0 PL) 7
West Point, N.Y./Michie Stadium Friday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
BOX SCORE
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Lehigh dropped its season opener 42-7 to FBS opponent Army West Point on Friday night at Michie Stadium.
*The Mountain Hawks hung with the Black Knights early, as sophomore running back Luke Yoder capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive in the first quarter with an 18-yard touchdown rush to tie the score, 7-7.
*Yoder finished with 51 rushing yards on 10 carries for a Lehigh squad that totaled 172 yards on the ground.
*Lehigh trailed 21-7 at the half after having an eight-play, second-quarter drive thwarted by a penalty and a fourth-down interception. The Black Knights outscored the Mountain Hawks 21-0 in the second half.
*Mountain Hawks' first-year running back Jaden Green and first-year quarterback Hayden Johnson combined for 71 rushing yards on 12 carries.
*Sophomore wide receiver Mason Humphrey caught five passes for 61 yards to lead Lehigh.
*Junior defensive back Nick Peltekian led the Lehigh defense with 15 tackles, and first-year defensive back Mekhai Smith finished with seven tackles.
RECAP:
LEHIGH
AT MAINE BLACK BEARS (1-0, 0-0 CAA) 17, COLGATE RAIDERS (0-1, 0-0 PL) 14
Orono, Maine/Morse Field at Harold Alfond Sports Stadium Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. (FloSports)
BOX SCORE
ORONO, Maine – Colgate senior quarterback Michael Brescia threw for 174 yards and rushed for another 61 yards and a touchdown, but the Raiders fell to Maine, 17-14, in its season opener on Friday night.
*Brescia led a pair of long Colgate scoring drives in the second and fourth quarters, completing 17-of-27 passes for 142 yards and an interception. He rushed 13 times for 61 yards.
*Senior running back Brendan Cassamajor put the Raiders in front when he capped a 13-play, 94-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run at the 11:16 mark in the second quarter.
*The Black Bears scored the following 17 points before Brescia led a 12-play, 67-yard drive, scoring on a 10-yard run with 4:27 remaining in the game, bringing Colgate within three points.
*The Raiders had one final opportunity after sophomore defensive lineman Justin Tedim recovered a Maine fumble with 57 seconds left in the game. But a Colgate interception with seven seconds left cemented the 17-14 final score.
*Raiders' senior defensive lineman Andrew Taddeo posted four tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
*Junior linebacker Cole Kozlowski led Colgate with 10 tackles, while junior defensive lineman Dane Picariello added five tackles and one sack. RECAP:
COLGATE
AT BUFFALO BULLS (1-0, 0-0 MAC) 30, NO. 18/17 LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (0-1, 0-0 PL) 13
Buffalo, N.Y./UB Stadium Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
BUFFALO, N.Y. – A pair of second-half touchdowns helped Lafayette cut a 16-point deficit to 10 early in the fourth quarter, but the Leopards could not complete the comeback in a 30-13 loss at Buffalo in their season opener.
*Lafayette trailed 16-0 at the half but took advantage of a blocked punt by sophomore running back Troy Bruce deep in Bulls’ territory.
*Two plays later, the Leopards set up a double pass that resulted in sophomore wide receiver Carson Persing tossing an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Dallas Holmes.
*After a Buffalo touchdown, Lafayette responded in the fourth quarter with an 11-play, 66-yard drive capped by sophomore quarterback Dean DeNobile connecting with senior wide receiver Chris Carasia on a 13-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 23-13.
*Carasia finished with a game-high eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown, while DeNobile completed 23-of-33 passes for 162 yards, one score and two interceptions.
*Buffalo capitalized on a Lafayette interception late in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach with a touchdown run to make the score 30-13 with 5:25 left.
*Lafayette senior linebacker Preston Forney recorded a team-high seven tackles while reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year Jaylon Joseph (So. DL) added four tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss of six yards.
RECAPS:
LAFAYETTE
AT BOWLING GREEN FALCONS (1-0, 0-0 MAC) 41, FORDHAM RAMS (0-1, 0-0 PL) 17
Bowling Green, Ohio/Doyt Perry Stadium Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Fordham senior running back Julius Loughridge finished with 178 all-purpose yards, but the Rams could not keep pace with FBS foe Bowling Green in a 41-17 loss in their season opener.
*Loughridge rushed for 112 yards on 16 carries and added 66 receiving yards on four catches to lead the Rams’ offense.
*Junior quarterback CJ Montes completed 13-of-21 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, while senior wide receiver Cole Thornton caught two passes for 33 yards and a score.
*Rams’ freshman linebacker Jaylen Dawson recorded a team-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops. Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Matt Jaworski (Sr. DL) added five tackles.
*The Falcons scored the first 27 points, including a game-opening 100-yard kickoff return by junior running back Justin Pegues.
*Fordham freshman placekicker Bennett Henderson connected on a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to put the Rams on the scoreboard for the first time.
*Montes capped a four-play, 75-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Thornton to make the score 27-10.
*After a pair of Bowling Green touchdowns, the Rams scored with 24 seconds remaining in the game when junior quarterback Jack Capaldi completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jack Betten.
RECAPS:
FORDHAM
