CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE (2-3, 1-0 NEC) at MERCYHURST (1-5, 0-1 NEC)
Saturday, Oct. 17 – 12:00 p.m. (ET)
Erie, Pa. – Saxon Stadium (2,300)
TV: NEC Front Row/RYZ Sports Network
Mercyhurst returns to Saxon Stadium on Saturday to host Central Connecticut State in its second NEC game of the season and its first conference game at home. Kickoff is set for noon ET, with the game streaming on NEC Front Row and RYZ Sports Network. The Lakers come out of their bye week looking for their first league win after a 27-24 loss at LIU on Oct. 3. The Blue Devils have won both previous meetings, including a 35-28 decision in New Britain last season that clinched the NEC title, and they enter Erie riding a two-game winning streak.
Mercyhurst Lakers
Mercyhurst enters at 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the NEC after a non-conference schedule that included three FBS road trips. The Lakers scored the first touchdown in program history against an FBS opponent at New Mexico State. They also beat Glenville State 49-20 on centennial and homecoming weekend for Thomas Sydeski's first win as head coach. They nearly opened league play with a road win at LIU, but a late comeback fell short. Mercyhurst is 1-0 at Saxon Stadium this season and now looks to pick up its first conference win in front of the home crowd.
Junior quarterback Alex Gevaudan ranks third in the NEC in passing with 947 yards and eight touchdowns. He completed 25 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns without an interception at LIU. Senior receiver Dylan Evans is fourth in the league in receiving with 22 catches for 280 yards and four touchdowns, including two scores at LIU. Junior Evan Van Dyke has added 15 receptions for 143 yards, and Amare Lattimore caught the first touchdown of his career last time out. On the ground, sophomore Jameir "Mookie" Gamble is fourth in the NEC with 310 yards and two touchdowns, including a 105-yard, two-score game against Glenville State.
Defensively, junior safety Braylon Beckwith leads the Lakers with 45 tackles and four tackles for loss. He returned an interception for a touchdown against Glenville State and made 11 stops with two forced fumbles at LIU. Junior Mark Hawkins Jr. has 29 tackles and a 59-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Jeff Leavell has 26 tackles and a pass breakup, and he made a season-high 10 tackles against CCSU last year. Teddy McDuffie has 20 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The Lakers have scored three defensive touchdowns this season, all in the win over Glenville State. Punter Thomas O'Neill was named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week after a 58-yard long at Western Kentucky, and he is averaging 43.7 yards per punt.
Scouting the Blue Devils
Central Connecticut State is 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the NEC after consecutive wins over Wagner (45-14) and American International (51-14). The Blue Devils opened the season with losses to South Dakota (59-20), Toledo (63-10) and Montana State (35-30). They lead the NEC in scoring at 31.2 points per game and in rushing at 177.0 yards per game. They have also scored first in every game this season.
Fifth-year quarterback Brett Griffis has been a threat as both a passer and a runner. He has thrown for 695 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 229 yards and four scores. He has accounted for 12 touchdowns over the last three games, including five against AIC. Running back Davon Smith Jr. is averaging 7.7 yards per carry with 426 yards, and he ran for 220 yards with an 85-yard touchdown against AIC. Freshman Gabriel Wiggins returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score against Wagner and leads the NEC at 25.3 yards per return. Kicker Jack Hennessey is 6-of-7 on field goals and tied a school record with a 50-yarder. Defensively, Wayne Coleman has 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, Eric Jackson has 28 tackles, and Chris Jean is a preseason All-American. The Blue Devils gave up just one rushing yard to AIC and have allowed 148.6 rushing yards per game on the season. Adam Lechtenberg is in his fourth season at CCSU (20-22) and is a two-time NEC Coach of the Year. CCSU was picked first in the preseason NEC poll, and Mercyhurst was picked fifth.
Series History
Central Connecticut State leads the all-time series 2-0. The Blue Devils won 38-20 in 2024 and 35-28 last season, both in New Britain. This will be the first meeting in Erie.
Broadcast Information
The game streams live on NEC Front Row and RYZ Sports Network, with live stats available at hurstathletics.com.
Up Next
Mercyhurst travels to Robert Morris on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 2 p.m. ET.
