Program-record-matching 52-yard field goal as time expires lifts Skyhawks to NEC opening road triumph

Shelbred's program-record matching game-winner gave the Skyhawks a win in their NEC opener for the second-straight year (PHOTO BY JD Cavrich)

EASTON, Mass. (September 9, 2023) – Senior placekicker Perry Shelbred delivered a program-record matching 52-yard field goal as time expired to lift Stonehill College to a 33-30 triumph over Central Connecticut State University to open its second Northeast Conference campaign at Arute Field this afternoon.

Shelbred's career-best field goal matches the program-best set by Joe Crowley, '04 against Bryant University during the 2003 season and marked the Skyhawks first 50-plus yarder since Matt Haite, '20 converted from 51-yards at Saint Anselm College in 2019. The field goal also staved off a 23-point fourth quarter comeback effort from Central Connecticut who erased a 16-point deficit after three quarters of play to knot the score twice in the final 8:10, including a pair of two-point conversions, capped by a three-yard touchdown scamper by sophomore Ricky Ortega with 63-seconds remaining in regulation.

Stonehill marched 40-yards in eight plays, led by 30 yards on the ground from senior preseason All-NEC running back Jermaine Corbett, to give Shelbred the gamewinning opportunity as time expired.

Corbett racked up a career-high 238 all-purpose yards, including his fifth career 100-yard rushing game, with a touchdown to pace the Skyhawks offense (PHOTO BY Jim Pierce)

Corbett paced a Stonehill offense that finished with 399 yards of total offense with a game and career-high 238 all-purpose yards as he carried the ball 28 times for a season-high 182 yards and a score, while collecting five receptions for another 57. Senior Tom Comella added 147 all-purpose, contributing 64 yards on seven carries, including a 47-yard touchdown run, with another 83 yards on three kickoff returns.

Junior quarterback Ashur Carraha completed 17-of-30 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns, while Shelbred also added a 22-yard field goal in the first half for Stonehill.

Senior Micah Brown paced the Stonehill defense with seven tackles, including two key forced fumbles on the first play of the game and then at the goalline to prevent a second quarter CCSU touchdown. Classmate Devin Fortes finished with a career-high seven tackles (five solo) on defense for Stonehill, while classmate Anthony LaMonica added a career-best six stops (thee solo), including 1.0 tackles for a loss of ten yards, and a pass breakup. Senior Gardner Cousins chipped in five tackles (career-high four solo), including a career-best 2.0 for a loss of two yards, while freshman Mahkai Wilson had one of three fumble recoveries by the Skyhawks defense on the afternoon.

Junior CJ Duell passed for 299 yards by completing 18-of-28 passes with a touchdown to lead a Central Connecticut State offense that posted 420 total yards. Classmate Isiah Williams caught seven passes for a game-high 95 yards, while freshman Naj Johnson totaled 64 yards on two catches, including a 51-yard touchdown.

Junior Kimal Clark posted a game-high ten tackles (four solo) to lead the CCSU defense, while classmate Dan Toatley added six stops (two solo), including 2.0 for a loss of 13 yards. 

FIRST QUARTER

• Stonehill took advantage of a Central Connecticut fumble on the first play of the game, forced by Brown and recovered by junior linebacker Marc Christian Georges at the CCSU 47, and grabbed an opening touchdown as junior wide receiver Chris Domercant hauled in a 12-yard touchdown toss in the left corner of the end zone three minutes into the game.
• CCSU knotted the score with 5:42 remaining in the opening quarter as Duell connected with Johnson for a 51-yard touchdown to cap a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive.

Carraha tossed a pair of touchdown passes for the Skyhawks this afternoon (PHOTO BY JD Cavrich)

SECOND QUARTER

• Brown forced a second fumble to prevent a CCSU touchdown to start the second quarter.
• Stonehill reclaimed the lead 2:19 into the second quarter as Corbett capped a ten-play, 66-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown rush after CCSU missed on a 51-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
• Shelbred gave Stonehill a nine-point halftime lead (16-7) with his 22-yard field goal with 4:38 remaining in the quarter.

THIRD QUARTER

• Stonehill extended its lead to 23-7 with six minutes left in the third quarter with a 47-yard touchdown run by Comella on third and six on the Skyhawks second possession of the half.

FOURTH QUARTER

• CCSU got its comeback started with a 21-yard touchdown run from junior Davion Johnson with 9:26 remaining, converting the two-point conversion with a Duell pass to senior tight end Jadd Dolegala.
• The Blue Devils knotted the score when freshman Trey Howe was able to get a hand on a Stonehill punt, then scooped the loose ball and returned it 15 yards for the score. CCSU pulled even when Davion Johnson caught the two-point conversion from Duell with 8:10 to play.
• Stonehill responded to the shift in momentum with a seven-play, 67-yard scoring drive capped by a six-yard Carraha toss to junior Jake Newsham with 4:05 remaining for his first career touchdown reception.
• CCSU followed with its second tying score of the quarter, and third of the game overall, with the Ortega keeper with 1:03 remaining to wrap up an eight play, 77-yard drive.
• Corbett opened Stonehill's game-winning drive with a 13-yard gain and added a 17-yard run on third and four from the Skyhawks 44. Carraha completed a short four-yard pass to Domercant to the CCSU 35, but the drive stalled there, before Shelbred delivered his record-breaking game-winner as the clock expired.

Comella added 147 all-purpose yards, including a career-long 47-yard touchdown run (PHOTO BY JD Cavrich)

Noteworthy

• Stonehill has won its NEC season-opener for the second-straight year with today's win after notching a 24-20 win over Duquesne University in the first NEC contest in its inaugural NCAA I FCS season.
• Shelbred's game-winning, program-record matching field goal is the longest by an NEC kicker since 2016, when Wagner College's James Cooper delivered a 52-yarder against Sacred Heart on October 1. Wagner's Piotr Czech owns the NEC record at 56-yards against Saint Francis (Pa.) University in 2007.
• Corbett surpassed 100 rushing yards for the fifth time in his career, moving into tenth place on Stonehill's career rushing list with 1,417 yards – surpassing Jeff Payne, '09 (1,363), while also moving into a tie for ninth all-time with 14 career rushing touchdowns.
• Carraha moved into tenth on Stonehill's career passing list with 1,906 yards, in just his 11^th career game, past Tim Morrison, '12 (1,859), and within 94-yards of becoming just the tenth 2,000-yard passer in program history. His 16 career touchdown passes are good for ninth all-time.
• Domercant's first touchdown reception of the season is the 12^th of his career to move into ninth all-time in Stonehill history.
• Comella's season-best 147 all-purpose yards this afternoon follows up his 155 all-purpose against CCSU in the 2022 season finale in Easton, while his 47-yard touchdown run is a career-long and his sixth career scoring run.  

Up Next:

Stonehill (1-1, 1-0 NEC) is back on the road next Saturday, when it visits Georgetown University for a non-conference matchup in Washington, D.C., at 12:30 p.m. Stonehill alumni, parents and friends can register to join president Rev. John Denning, CSC, for a pregame tailgate at Higgins Plaza on the Georgetown campus next Saturday through Wednesday to include game tickets or until gameday for the tailgate only at stonehillalumni.org/football2023. The Skyhawks next home game is Saturday, September 30, when they host reigning NEC Champions and NCAA FCS playoff participant Saint Francis (Pa.) University at W.B. Mason Stadium as part of Family Weekend and the kickoff to the College's 75^th Anniversary celebration at 1 p.m. CCSU (1-1, 0-1 NEC) visits NCAA I FBS Kent State University next Saturday at noon.

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