Last Second Field Goal Downs Football

Bronx, N.Y. – It was 79 degrees at kickoff and probably close to 70 on the final play of the game when Central Connecticut State lined up for a try at a game-winning field goal. Fordham head coach Joe Conlin called back-to-back timeouts in an attempt to bring the temperature down for the Blue Devil kicker but Francis Cole, who had a kick blocked earlier in the game, connected from 31 yards as time expired to lead Central Connecticut to a 26-23 win on Jack Coffey Field in the season opener for both teams.
 
The loss overshadowed a strong offensive game from sophomore quarterback Tim DeMorat, who completed 17 of 27 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns, two of those to junior wide receiver Hamze El-Zayat, who hauled in eight passes for 70 yards. Junior running back Zach Davis also contributed on offense, gaining 109 yards on 19 carries.
 
The Rams trailed in the first half, 15-6, but scored twice in the third quarter on an Andrew Mevis field goal and a 14-yard scoring strike from DeMorat to El-Zayat to take a 16-15 lead with 2:26 left in the third.
 
Early in the fourth, Dexter Lawson picked off a DeMorat pass and returned it 48 yards for a score to put the Blue Devils up 23-16. However, the Rams knotted the game at 23 when DeMorat threaded the needle on a 13-yard touchdown pass to freshman Dequece Carter, with 1:53 remaining in the fourth.
 
Takeaways
• The Rams are now 49-33 all-time in season openers since 1920, 10-21 since moving to the NCAA FCS in 1989.
 
• The 109-yard rushing game was Davis' second career 100-yard rushing game.
 
• Fordham had three different receivers catch their first collegiate pass tonight (Hamze El-Zayat, Dequece Carter, and Fotis Kokosioulis).
 
• The Rams held the Blue Devils to just three offensive points in the second half; unfortunately, it was the game-winning field goal.
 
By the Numbers
2 – Senior starters for the Rams (captains Jesse Bramble and Joe Ferraro), who started eight freshmen or sophomores.
 
2.5 – Tackles for loss by sophomore linebacker Glenn Greenhagen, bring his career total to 17.5.
 
8 – Catches for junior Hamze El-Zayat, the first eight career receptions for the junior wide out.
 
8 – Tackles for loss for the Fordham defense.
 
11 – Total tackles for senior defensive back James Biggs-Frazier, a career-high.
 
31.5 – Career tackles for loss for junior linebacker Glenn Cunningham, who had 1.5 tonight, tied for sixth on the Fordham career list.
 
38.2 – Punting average for Andrew Mevis, who punted four time with three of those landing inside the CCSU 20.
 
117 – Yards allowed by the Fordham defense in the second half.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams travel to Muncie, Indiana, to take on the Ball State University Cardinals next Sat­urday, September 7, at 2:00 p.m. in Scheumann Stadium.
 
• It will be the first meeting between Fordham and Ball State on the gridiron.