Sept. 27, 2003
Box Score
Freshman running back Cory Harge rushed for 144 yards on 16 carries, including scoring runs of 11 and 48 yards in the second half, to help Central Connecticut State defeat Siena College, 28-10 at Christian Brothers Academy Saturday afternoon.
In a game which saw both teams amass 673 total yards of offense, both teams failed to find the end zone until sophomore wide receiver Steven Bergeski ended a 14-play, 82-yard drive with a 2-yard scoring run to give the Blue Devils (1-4) a 7-0 lead.
After both teams traded punts, Siena(0-4) got on the scoreboard on a 19-yard field goal from junior kicker Charles Conklin (Newburgh, N.Y./Valley Central) with 4:55 to play in the first half.
Central Connecticut State took away any Siena momentum on their next possession, as junior quarterback Scott Dolch completed seven passes as part of an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Will White ended the scoring drive on a 4-yard touchdown run to give the visitors a 14-3 advantage with 0:02 remaining in the first half.
Both teams' offenses erupted right after halftime, as Siena and Central Connecticut State traded touchdowns. Sophomore tailback Sal Jeraci (West Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) converted a 4th down and 2 play by landing in the end zone to cut the visitors' lead to 14-10.
The Blue Devils immediately answered by scoring a touchdown 114 seconds later, as Harge scored his first rushing touchdown of the afternoon from 11 yards out to extend their lead to 21-10.
Harge put any hopes of a Saint comeback to rest in the fourth quarter, as he scored his second rushing touchdown from 48 yards away past a tiring Siena defense to end the game's scoring with 10:34 remaining.
Dolch had a sharp game at quarterback for the Blue Devils, completing 13 of 15 passes for 192 yards. Dolch had entered the game carrying a 39 percent completion ranking this season.
Freshman quarterback Alex Conlon (Northport, N.Y./St. Anthony's), starting for the first time in his career in place of injured signal caller Christian Karolus (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull), ran the option effectively and also rushed for 55 yards on 23 carries. Senior running back Joe Piascik (Salisbury Mills, N.Y./Cornwall) led the ground game with a career-high 140 yards on 12 carries.
Siena set a season high in both rushing yards (300) and total yards (320) in the defeat. The Saints return to action at Duquesne for a 1:35 p.m. game on Oct. 4.
