Nov. 11, 2006

Final Stats

New Britain, Conn. - Justise Hairston rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns as Central Connecticut held off Stony Brook, 35-32, in the NEC regular season finale on Saturday. Josh Dudash threw for 369 yards and five touchdowns but it was not enough as the Seawolves lost their first conference road game of the season. The loss dashed Stony Brook's hopes of winning back-to-back conference titles as it fell to 5-6 overall, 5-2 in conference play.

"Our team fought hard but it wasn't meant to be," said head coach Chuck Priore. "I am proud of our seniors and our team for all that they have accomplished."

Trailing 28-13 at the break, the Seawolves struck early in the third quarter when Josh Dudash hit Lynell Suggs on a 68-yard scoring pass to get SB within 28-19. CCSU bounced back on Hairston's third TD of the game late in the quarter and CCSU led 35-19 heading into the final stanza.

Stony Brook would not go away, however, as Dudash found Dwayne Eley down the right sideline and Eley ran 51 yards to paydirt to get SB within 35-25 with 9:26 to play. The Seawolves would get closer late in the game when Dudash threw his fifth touchdown pass of the game, connecting with Mike Cosentino on a 10-yard scoring strike at the 2:08 mark.

The Seawolves then lined up for the onsides kick and Matt Week's kick rolled out of bounds. The Blue Devils ran out the clock and held on for the win.

The CCSU ground game proved to be the difference in the game as the Blue Devils piled up 380 rushing yards on 62 carries. The Blue Devils took control on the ground in the first half, scoring on their first two possessions to grab a 14-7 lead after one quarter. Ryan Holmes continued the rushing onslaught in the second quarter when he dove in from one-yard out with 2:48 remaining before the half.

CCSU then surprised the visitors with an onsides kick that they recovered at the SB 29-yard line. On the next play, Hairston ran up the middle, bounced off a tackle and ran to the end zone for a score and the hosts held a 28-7 lead. The Seawolves responded with a scoring drive of their own just before the break when Dudash hit Steve Austin on a nine-yard scoring pass.

Dudash finished 26 of 43 for 369 yards and five touchdowns, equaling his career and program best for passing touchdowns in a single game. Eley also had a career day with eight catches for 168 yards while Suggs totaled nine catches for 159 yards and two scores.