2025 Central Connecticut Blue Devils football team

The 2025 Central Connecticut Blue Devils football team represented the Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) as a member of the Northeast Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Blue Devils were led by Adam Lechtenberg in his third year as the head coach.

2025 Central Connecticut Blue Devils football
The Blue Devils lost to the Warriors in a close contest.
NEC champion
NCAA Division I First Round, L 19–27 vs. Rhode Island
Conference	Northeast Conference
Record	8–5 (6–1 NEC)
Head coach	Adam Lechtenberg (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Caleb Gelsomino (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Ron DiGravio (7th season)
Home stadium	Arute Field
Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

2025 Northeast Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Central Connecticut $^		6	–	1					8	–	5
Duquesne		5	–	2					7	–	5
Mercyhurst*		4	–	3					5	–	7
LIU		4	–	3					6	–	6
Wagner		4	–	3					5	–	7
Stonehill		3	–	4					4	–	8
Robert Morris		2	–	5					3	–	9
New Haven*		0	–	0					5	–	5
Saint Francis		0	–	7					0	–	11
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant * – Ineligible for NEC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II. Rankings from STATS Poll

Preseason

Preseason coaches' poll

The NEC released their preseason coaches' poll on August 4, 2025. The Blue Devils were picked to finish in first place.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	2:00 p.m.	at UConn*	Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	WFSB	L 13–59	37,594
September 6	12:00 p.m.	American International*	Arute Field New Britain, CT	NEC Front Row	W 34–7	3,122
September 13	12:00 p.m.	Saint Francis	Arute Field New Britain, CT	NEC Front Row	W 31–7	2,211
September 20	6:00 p.m.	at Merrimack*	Duane Stadium North Andover, MA	ESPN+/NESN+	L 14–16	4,129
September 27	12:00 p.m.	Dartmouth*	Arute Field New Britain, CT	NEC Front Row	L 28–35	4,019
October 4	12:00 p.m.	Sacred Heart*	Arute Field New Britain, CT	NEC Front Row	W 42–35 ^OT	2,044
October 11	2:00 p.m.	at Robert Morris	Joe Walton Stadium Moon Township, PA	NEC Front Row	W 24–12	2,789
October 18	5:00 p.m.	at Wagner	Wagner College Stadium Staten Island, NY	NEC Front Row	W 24–17 ^OT	2,468
November 1	12:00 p.m.	LIU	Arute Field New Britain, CT	NEC Front Row	W 10–7	2,323
November 8	12:00 p.m.	Stonehill	Arute Field New Britain, CT	ESPN+/YES	W 40–10
November 15	12:00 p.m.	at Duquesne	Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field Pittsburgh, PA	ESPN+	L 33–38	1,150
November 22	12:00 p.m.	Mercyhurst	Arute Field New Britain, CT	NEC Front Row	W 35–28	2,015
November 29	12:00 p.m.	at No. 9 Rhode Island*	Meade Stadium Kingston, RI (NCAA Division I First Round)	ESPN+	L 19–27	2,680
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time Source:

Game summaries

at UConn

Central Connecticut Blue Devils (0-1) vs. UConn Huskies (1-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils	7	3	3	0	13
Huskies (FBS)	14	21	10	14	59

at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT

• Date: August 30
• Game time: 2:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: NW at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
• Game attendance: 37,594
• Referee: Jerry Magallanes
• TV announcers (WWAX/UConn+): Randy Brochu (play-by-play), Marc Robbins (analyst), Joe Zone (sideline)
• Box Score

Game information

First Quarter CCSU - Howard, Elijah 2 yd run (Hennessey, Jack kick), 12:54. Blue Devils 7–0. Drive: 2 plays, 5 yards, TOP 00:43 CONN - Bell, Skyler 80 yd pass from Fagnano, Joe (Freeman, Chris kick), 10:15. TIED 7–7. Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, TOP 02:30 CONN - Bell, Skyler 12 yd pass from Fagnano, Joe (Freeman, Chris kick), 1:05. Huskies 14–7. Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards, TOP 04:04 Second Quarter CONN - Edwards, Cam 73 yd run (Freeman, Chris kick), 11:24. Huskies 21–7. Drive: 1 plays, 73 yards, TOP 00:13 CONN - Fagnano, Joe 4 yd run (Freeman, Chris kick), 8:21. Huskies 28–7. Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 02:20 CCSU - Hennessey, Jack 20 yd field goal, 3:20. Huskies 28–10. Drive: 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 05:01 CONN - Murphy, Reymello 3 yd pass from Fagnano, Joe (Freeman, Chris kick), 0:34. Huskies 35–10. Drive: 7 plays, 52 yards, TOP 00:54 Third Quarter CONN - Rosa, Victor 20 yd run (Freeman, Chris kick), 12:33. Huskies 42–10. Drive: 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 01:39 CCSU - Hennessey, Jack 29 yd field goal, 7:02. Huskies 42–13. Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 05:31 CONN - Freeman, Chris 29 yd field goal, 3:43. Huskies 45–13. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:15 Fourth Quarter CONN - Harper, Jackson 19 yd pass from Evers, Nick (Freeman, Chris kick), 13:02. Huskies 52–13. Drive: 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:54 CONN - Flowers, MJ 16 yd run (Freeman, Chris kick), 2:38. Huskies 59–13. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:21

Statistics	CCSU	CONN
First downs	13	26
Total yards	257	638
Rushing yards	128	250
Passing yards	129	388
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	9–23–0	27–38–0
Time of possession	32:32	27:28

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Connecticut	Passing	Brady Olson	8/19, 118 yards
	Rushing	Elijah Howard	11 rushes, 59 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Dave Pardo	2 receptions, 64 yards
UConn	Passing	Joe Fagnano	18/25, 260 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Cam Edwards	6 rushes, 115 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Skyler Bell	4 receptions, 135 yards, 2 TD

American International (DII)

American International Yellow Jackets (DII) (0-0) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (0-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Yellow Jackets (DII)	0	7	0	0	7
Blue Devils	3	14	7	10	34

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind: NE at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
• Game attendance: 3,122
• Referee: Lance Carlen
• TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Bruce Biel (play-by-play) and Marc Robbins (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (4:32) CCSU – Jack Hennessey 33-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 41 yards, 6:32; Central Connecticut 3–0) Second Quarter (10:28) AIU – Tra'Vion Singleton 0-yard fumble recovery, Santana Fonseca kick (American International 7–3) (8:07) CCSU – Davon Smith Jr. 5-yard run, Jack Hennessey kick (Drive: 5 plays, 76 yards, 2:11; Central Connecticut 10–7) (6:07) CCSU – Donny Marcus 54-yard pass from Brady Olson, Jack Hennessey kick (Drive: 1 play, 54 yards, 0:10; Central Connecticut 17–7) Third Quarter (8:41) CCSU – Donny Marcus 1-yard run, Jack Hennessey kick (Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 0:48; Central Connecticut 24–7) Fourth Quarter (13:52) CCSU – Michael Trovarelli 1-yard pass from Brady Olson, Jack Hennessey kick (Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:19; Central Connecticut 31–7) (4:49) CCSU – Jack Hennessey 26-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 50 yards, 5:07; Central Connecticut 34–7)

Statistics	AIC	CCSU
First downs	10	16
Total yards	200	375
Rushing yards	79	128
Passing yards	121	247
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	12–20–0	15–21–0
Time of possession	33:46	26:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
American International	Passing	Cephas Williams	7/9, 85 yards
	Rushing	Bo Catherwood	12 carries, 48 yards
	Receiving	Brian Lafrance	2 receptions, 23 yards
Central Connecticut	Passing	Brady Olson	15/21, 247 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Donny Marcus	11 carries, 34 yards, TD
	Receiving	Paul Marsh Jr.	3 receptions, 67 yards

Saint Francis

Saint Francis Red Flash (0-2) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (1-1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Flash	7	0	0	0	7
Blue Devils	7	0	14	10	31

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind: SW at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
• Game attendance: 2.211
• Referee: Jonathan Grande
• TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Bruce Biel (play-by-play) and Marc Robbins (analyst)

Statistics	SFU	CCSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Saint Francis	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Connecticut	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Merrimack

Central Connecticut Blue Devils (2-1) vs. Merrimack Warriors (1-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils	0	0	0	14	14
Warriors	0	10	3	3	16

at Duane Stadium • North Andover, MA

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 4,129
• Referee: John Smith
• TV announcers (ESPN+/NESN+): John Avino (play-by-play), Jacob Vanryn (analyst) and Isaiah Voegeli (sideline)

Statistics	CCSU	MRMK
First downs	17	20
Total yards	262	314
Rushing yards	88	190
Passing yards	174	124
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	14–32–1	12–30–2
Time of possession	23:41	36:19

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Connecticut	Passing	Brady Olson	14/32, 174 yards, 1 INT
	Rushing	Elijah Howard	16 carries, 91 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Dave Pardo	2 receptions, 63 yards
Merrimack	Passing	Ayden Pereira	12/29, 124 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Ayden Pereira	13 carries, 71 yards, TD
	Receiving	Keshawn Brown	4 receptions, 50 yards

Dartmouth

Dartmouth Big Green (1-0) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (2-2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Big Green	7	13	0	15	35
Blue Devils	14	0	0	14	28

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

• Date: September 27
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind: N at 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h)
• Game attendance: 4,019
• Referee: Michael Davis
• TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Bruce Biel (play-by-play) and Marc Robbins (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter CCSU - Dave Pardo 6-yard pass from Brady Olson (Jack Hennessey kick), 7:30. Blue Devils 7-0. Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:15. DART - D.J. Crowther 2-yard run (Owen Zalc kick), 5:38. Tied 7-7. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:52. CCSU - Paul Marsh Jr. 12-yard pass from Brady Olson (Jack Hennessey kick), 1:23. Blue Devils 14-7. Drive: 9 plays 68 yards, 4:09. Second Quarter DART - D.J. Crowther 12-yard run (Owen Zalc kick), 9:24. Tied 14-14. Drive: 6 plays 53 yards, 2:19. DART - Owen Zalc 36-yard Field Goal, 6:24. Big Green 17-14. Drive: 7 plays, 17 yards, 2:14. DART - Owen Zalc 27-yard Field Goal, 0:00. Big Green 20-14. Drive: 15 plays, 76 yards, 2:54. Third Quarter No scoring plays Fourth Quarter CCSU - Elijah Howard 9-yard run (Jack Hennessey kick), 14:52. Blue Devils 21-20. Drive: 11 plays. 80 yards, 4:13. DART - Chris Corbo 26-yard pass from Grayson Saunier (Grayson Saunier run for Two-Point Conversion), 5:56. Big Green 28-21. Drive: 9 plays, 89 yards, 3:42. CCSU - Michael Trovarelli 5-yard pass from Brady Olson (Jack Hennessey kick), 0:58. Tied 28-28. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 4:57. DART - Ky'Dric Fisher 50-yard pass from Grayson Saunier (Owen Zalc kick), 0:16. Big Green 35-28. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 0:42.

Statistics	DART	CCSU
First downs	31	23
Total yards	524	289
Rushing yards	117	66
Passing yards	407	223
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	30–44–1	25–33–0
Time of possession	32:29	27:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Dartmouth	Passing	Grayson Saunier	30/44, 407 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	D.J. Crowther	24 carries, 86 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Grayson O'Bara	7 receptions, 128 yards
Central Connecticut	Passing	Brady Olson	25/33, 223 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Elijah Howard	14 carries, 69 yards, TD
	Receiving	Dave Pardo	6 receptions, 42 yards, TD

Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart Pioneers (4-1) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (2-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Pioneers	0	14	7	14	0	35
Blue Devils	7	13	0	15	7	42

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny
• Game attendance: 2,044
• Referee: Travis Barta
• TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Bruce Biel (play-by-play) and Marc Robbins (analyst)

Statistics	SHU	CCSU
First downs	22	25
Total yards	437	509
Rushing yards	219	186
Passing yards	218	323
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17–28–0	28–40–0
Time of possession	25:37	34:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Sacred Heart	Passing	Jack Snyder	17/27, 218 yard, 2 TD
	Rushing	Trey Eberhart III	14 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jason Palmieri	3 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD
Central Connecticut	Passing	Brady Olson	28/40, 323 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	Elijah Howard	18 carries, 102 yards
	Receiving	Elijah Howard	5 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD

at Robert Morris

Central Connecticut Blue Devils (3-3) vs. Robert Morris Colonials (1-4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils	14	0	7	3	24
Colonials	0	0	0	12	12

at Joe Walton Stadium • Moon Township, PA

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: NW at 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h)
• Game attendance: 2,789
• Referee: Jonathan Grande
• TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Chris Shovlin (play-by-play) and Ray Thomas (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (5:07) CCSU – Donovan Wadley 34-yard pass from Brady Olsen, Jack Hennessey kick (Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 3:13; Central Connecticut 7–0) (0:54) CCSU – Elijah Howard 29-yard run, Jack Hennessey kick (Drive: 5 plays, 57 yards, 2:30; Central Connecticut 14–0) Second Quarter No scoring plays Third Quarter (13:33) CCSU – Devon Anderson 55-yard interception, Jack Hennessey kick (Central Connecticut 21–0) Fourth Quarter (10:48) RMU – Chaz Middleton 6-yard pass from Jake Wolfe (Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 2:30; Central Connecticut 21–6) (8:54) RMU – Donta Whack 7-yard run (Drive: 4 plays, 53 yards, 1:52; Central Connecticut 21–12) (4:24) CCSU – Jack Hennessey 35-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 45 yards, 4:12; Central Connecticut 24–12)

Statistics	CCSU	RMU
First downs	22	19
Total yards	350	431
Rushing yards	163	75
Passing yards	187	356
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–34–0	25–42–2
Time of possession	27:37	32:23

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Connecticut	Passing	Brady Olson	19/34, 187 yards, TD
	Rushing	Elijah Howard	16 carries, 131 yards, TD
	Receiving	Michael Trovarelli	3 receptions, 41 yards
Robert Morris	Passing	Cooper Panteck	16/30, 223 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Donta Whack	12 carries, 40 yards, TD
	Receiving	Chaz Middleton	9 receptions, 186 yards, TD

at Wagner

Central Connecticut Blue Devils (4-3) vs. Wagner Seahawks (1-5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Blue Devils	0	10	7	0	7	24
Seahawks	14	0	3	0	0	17

at Wagner College Stadium • New York City, NY

• Date: October 18
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 67 °F (19 °C)
• Game attendance: 2,467
• Referee: Michael Davis
• TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Marc Earney (play-by-play) and Ray Martel (analyst)

Statistics	CCSU	WAG
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Connecticut	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wagner	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

LIU

LIU Sharks (3-5) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (5-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Sharks	-	-	-	-	0
Blue Devils	-	-	-	-	0

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

• Date: November 1
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (NEC Front Row): Bruce Biel (play-by-play) and Marc Robbins (analyst)

Statistics	LIU	CCSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
LIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Connecticut	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Stonehill

Stonehill Skyhawks (3-6) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (6-3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Skyhawks	-	-	-	-	0
Blue Devils	-	-	-	-	0

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

• Date: November 8
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• TV: ESPN+/YES

Statistics	STO	CCSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Stonehill	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Connecticut	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Duquesne

Central Connecticut Blue Devils (0-0) vs. Duquesne Dukes (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Devils	-	-	-	-	0
Dukes	-	-	-	-	0

at Rooney Field • Pittsburgh, PA

• Date: November 15

Statistics	CCSU	DUQ
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Connecticut	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Duquesne	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Mercyhurst

Mercyhurst Lakers (0-0) vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils (0-0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lakers	-	-	-	-	0
Blue Devils	-	-	-	-	0

at Arute Field • New Britain, CT

• Date: November 22

Statistics	MERC	CCSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mercyhurst	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Central Connecticut	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving