Football Falls at Central Connecticut

New Britain, Conn. – New Britain, Connecticut, is home to Central Connecticut State University. It's also home to Stanley Works, the world's largest tool company. They make everything from screwdrivers to hammers. But they don't make a tool that can help a player hold on to a wet ball which Fordham could have used tonight as the Rams lost five fumbles which proved to be too much to overcome as Fordham fell to Central Connecticut State University, 33-3, at Arute Field.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 0-2 on the year while Central Connecticut evens its record at 1-1.
 
Senior running back Julius Loughridge recorded his second straight 100-yard game, rushing 15 times for 127 yards while grad student wide receiver Mekai Felton led the Fordham receivers with four catches for 48 yards.
 
Defensively, senior Matt Jaworski made six tackles, four solo, including two for loss, while grad student Nahil Perkins intercepted two passes to go with five tackles.
 
The game started in a pouring rain which led to the first Fordham turnover. The Rams took the opening kickoff and on the third play of the drive Loughridge broke through the line for a 28-yard run but fumbled the ball on the CCSU 22 and it was recovered by the Blue Devils.
 
Early in the second the Rams attempted a punt from their own 32 but the snap sailed over punter Will Haslett's head and into the endzone where it was recovered by the Blue Devils for a 7-0 lead.
 
Later in the second, CCSU took over at midfield following a punt and covered the 51 yards on nine plays, scoring on a 24-yard rush to take a 14-0 lead with 6:55 left in the first half.
 
The Blue Devils added a safety late in the quarter when the ball was snapped over quarterback CJ Montes' head and out of the endzone to take a 16-0 lead at the break.
 
The Rams got on the board on a 20-yard Bennett Henderson field goal with 8:48 left in the third but that was as close as they would get.
 
Takeaways
• Freshman kicker Bennett Henderson connected on his second field goal in as many games.
 
• It was the first time the Rams did not score a touchdown since the Rams wee shutout by Colgate in 2018.
 
• Sam Buerkle blocked a CCSU field goal attempt for Fordham, the second straight year the Rams have blocked a field goal.
 
• Fordham is 15-16 versus current members of the Northeast Conference, with the loss snapping a three-game winning streak for the Rams over an NEC school.
 
• Both teams opened the season last week with a MAC matchup (Fordham at Bowling Green and CCSU at Central Michigan).
 
By the Numbers
3:09 - Time of game (there were no media timeouts in the game).
 
5 – Quarterback hurries for Matt Jaworski.
 
6 – Career interceptions for Nahil Perkins.
 
12 – Fumbles by the Rams tonight, with five of those recovered by CCSU.
 
13 – Career 100-yard rushing games for Julius Loughridge.
 
43.7 – Punting average for Will Haslett.
 
72 – Offensive plays ran by the Rams (compared to 66 for the Blue Devils).
 
What's Next?
• The Rams continue the 2024 season by returning to the Bronx to host the Stony Brook University Seawolves at Moglia Stadium on Saturday, September 14, at 1:00 p.m.
 
• It will be the eighth meeting between Fordham and Stony Brook on the gridiron.
 
• The Rams lead the all-time series, 4-3, and have taken the past three meetings.
 
• Fordham won last year's meeting, 26-7, on October 14 at Stony Brook as Julius Loughridge carried 24 times for 154 yards and two scores while also catching two passes for 19 yards and CJ Montes completed 20 of 33 passes for 171 yards.
 
• Defensively the Rams forced three fourth quarter Stony Brook turnovers, two on strip sacks from Matt Jaworski, both which were converted into touchdowns, and the third on an interception by senior defensive back Nahil Perkins.