Benjamin’s 127 yards lead strong ground game as Central Connecticut defeats Sacred Heart 24-14

Central Connecticut State beats Sacred Heart 24-14

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Everette Benjamin carried 24 times for 127 yards and a touchdown as Central Connecticut State defeated Sacred Heart 24-14 on Saturday.

Gunnar Jespersen carried 12 times for 71 yards and Eric Richardson 10 times for 67 yards and a 20-yard touchdown as the Blue Devils (3-2, 2-0 Northeast Conference) rushed for 264 yards while holding the Pioneers (1-4, 0-3) to 76.

After Sacred Heart drove 72 yards on 12 plays on the opening possession, scoring on Dale Fink’s 18-yard pass to Marcel Archer, Central Connecticut State scored the next 17 points. Archer scored again on a 1-yard run 3:39 before halftime to bring Sacred Heart within 17-14.

Defenses dominated the second half, each team punting seven times. The Blue Devils padded their lead with 3:12 left on Benjamin’s 3-yard run.

Archer carried 20 times for 70 yards for the Pioneers, and Fink was 20-for-34 passing for 185 yards.