Central drops opener to Southern

Jac Ostrowsky threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Southern Connecticut

State football team to a 28-21 win at Central Connecticut State in the season-opener for both teams on Friday night at Arute Field.

Southern won despite Central dominating in a number of statistical categories. The Blue Devils held advantages in total yards (445-290), plays (84-48) and first downs (22-12).

CCSU quarterback Romelo Williams was 24-for-38 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He threw an interception that proved costly as Owls linebacker Richard Williams Jr. returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.

Romelo Williams was also the game’s leading rusher with 49 yards. Tyshaun James caught eight passes for 75 yards for Central, and Everett Wormley had six catches for 63 yards.

Central jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 1:41 left in the first quarter when Williams connected with Kenyata Huston on a 42-yard touchdown,

completing a 14-play, 87-yard drive. Ostrowsky got Southern even with a 17-yard pass to RJ O’shea 3:59 seconds into the second quarter, then put the Owls ahead on a 19-yard scoring pass to Tyler Hodge at 6:32 of the second.

Williams pulled the Blue Devils even with a 13-yard TD pass to Wormley just before the end of the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, Southern put up two scores in 3:19 of the fourth to take the lead for good. After Richard Williams’ interception return, Ostrowsky connected on his third scoring play, a 51-yard pass to Izaia Sanders at the 7:27 mark.

Central closed the gap to a touchdown on a 41-yard Shon Mitchell-to-james scoring play with 5:29 on the clock. Central had a chance to tie the game, but turned the ball over on downs with 1:12 remaining.