Nov. 9, 2007

Richmond Game Notes

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

Kickoff

As the season winds down Stony Brook will make its final appearance at home this week as it hosts Central Connecticut State. The Seawolves will have a an opportunity to complete an undefeated home season against the Blue Devils, coming into the contest with a perfect 4-0 mark in LaValle Stadium this season. A win would also give SBU a three-game win streak, the longest of the year for the Seawolves, and clinch a winning season for the a fourth time in the last six years. Stony Brook will be coming off a bye week, with its last action coming two weeks ago when the Seawolves entertained Bryant University. In that one SBU handed the then undefeated Bulldogs their first loss of the season in a convincing 30-0 victory. Josh Dudash threw for three scores and Conte Cuttino ran for 126 yards on just 11 carries while the SBU defense held Bryant to just 224 yards of total offense as it recorded the first Stony Brook shutout in three years.

The Opponent

Central Connecticut State, ranked No. 6 in this week's Mid-Major poll, has had a solid season to date, coming into this week's contest with a 6-3 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the Northeast Conference, good for second-place in the league. Last week the Blue Devils downed Sacred Heart, 49-33, with four runners gaining at least 50 yards in the win. CCSU put up 479 yards of offense on the board as it reach the 40-point mark in a game for the fourth time this season. The Blue Devils have been getting the job done on offense where they average over 400 yards per game, nearly 300 of which comes on the ground. Senior running back Jo Jo Freeman is the school's fourth all-time leading rusher and comes into the game averaging 78.7 yards per game and has scored nine times. CCSU's tandem quarterbacks, Aubrey Norris and Ryan Holmes are the second and third leading rushers on the team and have each thrown for five scores. The top target for their passes has been sophomore Nick Colagiovanni who has averaged 3.6 catches and 52.4 yards per game. As many points as the Blue Devils score, they have given up at least 30 four times as well. This week's game will be a prep for next week's showdown with Albany at home that will determine the NEC championship.

The Series

One of the more played rivalries in the Stony Brook record book, the Seawolves have played Central Connecticut State nine times in the past, with SBU holding a 6-3 lead in the series. This will mark the ninth straight year that the two teams have met. Last season it was Central Connecticut State took a 35-19 lead and then held off a Stony Brook fourth-quarter rally in a 35-32 decision at CCSU. Josh Dudash threw for 369 yards and five scores, but the Blue Devils countered with 308 yards on the ground in the contest. The two teams have split the last four games in the series.