If Central Connecticut State's Gridiron Classic showdown with Pioneer League champion Butler comes down to the game's final minutes, don't be surprised if the Blue Devils are comfortable.

After all, the 2009 season was one extended Sweeps Week for CCSU -- cliffhanger on top of cliffhanger.

The Blue Devils won a program-best nine games in the regular season by a combined 61 points, or less than a touchdown per game. Take away its 42-21 defeat of Robert Morris, and the Blue Devils won by an average of five points per game.

And according to head coach Jeff McInerney, even that game was closer than the final score would indicate.

"They're used to it," McInerney said of his Blue Devils and tight outcomes. "That comes from great leadership. They get the game...and understand, 'keep your composure.'

"Part of making plays in the fourth quarter is believing in yourself."

Piling up one repeated heartstopping victories, CCSU found itself in the season's final weeks in striking distance of the Northeast Conference championship.

"[Winning the conference] means everything to us," said CCSU quarterback Aubrey Norris one week before the Blue Devils wrapped up an outright championship.

Two rallies gave the Blue Devils a share of the NEC title on Nov. 14, and the outright crown on Nov. 21. The combined point differential?  

One safety.

A safety, a layup, half-a-grand slam -- whatever you call it, two points separated CCSU from a trip this weekend to Indianapolis and an early end to the season.

It began in the fourth quarter of the Nov. 14 match-up against Monmouth. On that day, the Blue Devils dug a 19-0 hole through 45 minutes amid wind gusts of 40 miles per hour.

"Just put our head down and play. We knew we could execute, we just needed to do what we do best -- buckle down," quarterback Aubrey Norris said.

Perhaps CCSU needed to spot Monmouth those 19 points to reach its comfort zone?

No matter the case, the Blue Devils rattled off three consecutive touchdowns and the defense stood pat to keep the visiting Hawks from scoring.

The rally was complete when Norris connected with an open Josue Paul.

"It was corners coverage," Norris said of Monmouth's coverage. "I noticed [Paul] was singled up, and he broke back...and I thought, 'He's wide open.'"

"I got past the corner," Paul said. "The play broke down, and I saw Aubrey. He looked like he was going to run it, but I waved my hand...and luckily he saw me.

"There was one guy behind me, and I knew I was going to break that tackle."

Passing into those high winds, Norris said after releasing the ball his thoughts were, "'Please don't let me underthrow it.'"

He didn't.

Paul made the grab and 69 yards later, CCSU had taken its first lead of the game.

"I'm happy to play for the seniors and help them win," Paul said.

Fitting, given the comeback fell on the Blue Devils' Senior Day.

Those upperclassmen can depart winners of 10 games and with the Gridiron Classic trophy en tow Saturday. For McInerney, his upperclassmen have been vital to establishing CCSU as a winning program in and out of the stadium.

"Senior leadership. It comes within the core of the team," McInerney said. "A coach can explain it, but he can't do it. He can educate them and put them in positions to be successful, but they have to do it. It's not some...magic potion."

McInerney was on the sidelines with national championship winners at Troy and Georgia Southern, and said that this year's CCSU team had the same leadership those squads possessed.

"You could see it in camp. There weren't any bad days. The consistency was there throughout," he said.

Maintaining that consistency was something McInerney said doesn't come easy.

"Most of my guys have jobs. Only eight are on full scholarships. But we treat them like 1-A athletes, and they train like 1-A athletes. It takes leaders to develop that," he said.

In turn, the Blue Devils have consistency been in those tight situations, and have just as consistently been the victor.

To wit, in typical Blue Devil fashion, CCSU sealed its NEC title Nov. 21. The method? A touchdown in the final minutes to overcome a deficit against St. Francis and win 14-13.

There's no predicting what will happen in the Gridiron Classic, but CCSU's recent history does suggest a nailbiter. One certainty though is that in their swan song, the Blue Devil seniors will take the mindset they have throughout a dramatic campaign.

"It might not happen the first quarter, might not happen the second, but we know if we keep on chipping it's going to happen," Norris said. 

A share of the Colonial Athletic Association championship is on the line Saturday when Richmond hosts William & Mary for the 119th installment of their rivalry -- and first installment of the Capital Cup.

This year's duel marks the first wherein the winner will receive the new trophy, a replacement of the former I-64 Trophy.

"A lot's riding on this," said Richmond cornerback Eric McBride. "This is a good way to measure our team. We're playing this like it's our first playoff game."

The winner claims not just a share of the CAA crown, but makes a statement to the selection committee on the eve of the playoff bracket release.

Sunday, the NCAA announces the field of 16 teams that will vie for an appearance in Chattanooga, Tenn. and the national championship game.

Villanova already has an inside track from the CAA. The Wildcats control their own destiny, boasting wins over both Richmond and W & M. If it defeats 25th ranked Delaware, Villanova will share the conference championship with the Capital Cup winner.

So with a select few at-large berths to be had, and three CAA teams in the top 10, does the loser of the Capital Cup get that call Sunday with two conference mates already potentially locked in?

"I would think so," said William & Mary quarterback RJ Archer. "Coming out of the CAA with a 9-2 record would be enough to get you into the playoffs.

"I think the CAA is the toughest [Championship Subdivision] conference. I feel like any of the 12 schools can beat each other on a given day," he said.

That is a benefit, said Archer.

"It's fun. You want to play the best teams in the country when you can."

There's no hyperbole when calling the cream of the CAA crop "best in the country." Richmond is the defending national champion and spent the season's first 10 weeks ranked No. 1. Three of the conference's squads -- UR, Villanova, and W & M -- have hovered in or around the top 5 throughout the campaign.

"This is a quality opponent that could very well end up deep in the playoffs," said UR quarterback Eric Ward. "[William & Mary] will get us prepared for what we're going to face the next few weeks."

The Tribe are indeed a team that stack up favorably with the likely playoff field. W & M boasts a defense that ranks fourth nationally in yards allowed, and an offense that averages 28 points per game.

McBride had high praise for the Tribe offense, particularly its multifaceted ground attack.

"They've got two great runners: a power guy and a speed guy [Terrence Riggins and Jonathan Grimes]. The quarterback likes to boot out. He's real athletic," McBride said.

Archer's 20 rushing yards per game make him the fourth player to average at least that figure on the ground. Grimes leads the squad at 92.2, Riggins averages 24.6, and Courtland Marriner is posting 40.9.

Conversely, the Spider defense is yielding just 70.7 rushing yards per game. Mustering yards and scoring opportunities against UR is a challenge, said Archer.

"Everybody does their jobs. There's really not any missed assignments, so it's going to be our job to exploit little things," he said.

Ward had a similar assessment of the Tribe's defense.

"They'll bring a lot of looks at you. Up front, all four of those guys [are experienced], and they have one of the best defensive ends with Adrian Tracy," he said.

Tracy has found his way into opposing backfields for 10 sacks on the campaign. He is one of 14 seniors looking to reach two milestones this week that no W & M team has since 2004. The first, reach the playoffs.

The second?

"We haven't beat Richmond since [the senior class has] been here. One of our goals was to beat [James Madison], and we did that. Richmond was the team we've never beat, so in that way it's a big game for us," Archer said. "There's added excitement: big rivalry game, two teams that are 9-1 You could say there's a little more incentive."

Watch the Spiders and Tribe tangle on Richmond All-Access or follow via Gametracker.

AROUND THE NATION

Central Connecticut State rallied for 20 fourth quarter points last week to top Monmouth and put itself in position to win the Northeast Conference. The Blue Devils can seal the championship and an automatic playoff bid went it travels to St. Francis.

Wagner can still stake a claim to the NEC title. It hosts Albany in a matchup of two of the top three NEC squads.

Northern Iowa dropped back-to-back close calls to South Dakota State and Southern Illinois, two of the nation's top 10 teams. The Panthers have themselves been near the top of the rankings all season though, and could snag an at-large bid. A win Saturday over Illinois State would be a step in that direction.

Eastern Illinois' loss last night to Tennessee State opens the door for Eastern Kentucky to slip into playoff contention -- or for Jacksonville State to claim the Ohio Valley championship.

JSU is not eligible for postseason play, but at 5-1 would have the league's best record should it defeat the visiting Colonels.

Montana locked up its 13th Big Sky championship in the last 16 seasons, and the only thing standing between it and a perfect regular season is rival Montana State. The two tussle in Missoula Saturday.

At least six of the 16 available Championship Subdivision Playoff berths were filled Saturday.

Appalachian State won its fifth consecutive Southern Conference title in a win over a game Elon team. The Mountaineers jumped ahead of the Phoenix early, scoring 21 of their 27 points in the first half. Elon failed to get on the board in that time.

Making a case for a second straight Walter Payton Award, ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards scored each of the Mountaineers' three touchdowns, all on rushes.

Postseason aspirations weren't snuffed out for Elon, however. A top 10 team with one of the best scoring defenses in college football, the Phoenix can finish 9-2 with a victory over Samford this week.

With its rout of Missouri State, Southern Illinois finished the Missouri Valley slate undefeated and as conference champions.

The Salukis navigated their schedule with just one loss, that coming at Marshall 31-28 in Week 1. Since, only one team has even been within single digits of SIU.

SIU tailback Deji Karim had what one could call an OK Saturday - three touchdowns, including a 73-yarder.

Holy Cross escaped a Lafayette rally to knock off the Leopards 28-26, and take the Patriot League crown. UL scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, but a pair of failed point-after attempts would come back to haunt the homestanding Leopards.

As he has all year, HC quarterback Dominic Randolph powered the Crusader offense. He was involved in all four HC touchdowns through the second and third quarters, one rushing and three passing.

Meanwhile, the Crusader defense overcame a scoreless final period, holding Lafayette to a single touchdown - enough to preserve the win and conference championship.

South Carolina State's 37-13 romp of Morgan State, combined with Florida A&M's 25-0 loss to Hampton sealed the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for SCSU. Bulldog quarterback Malcolm Long threw for four touchdown passes in the SCSU win.

By virtue of its seven straight Big Sky win and a Northern Arizona loss at Weber State, Montana is again conference champions. For those keeping score, that's a share of 14 out of the last 16 and a 12th straight Big Sky title for the Grizzlies.

The Northeastern Conference became the (Blue) Devils' Workshop when leader Wagner suffered a 37-10 setback against Robert Morris. The two had been even at 10, but 27 unanswered Robert Morris points in the second half made the difference.

That loss allowed Central Connecticut State to jump back into first, and ultimately the championship, with its frantic comeback vs. Monmouth.

All 20 of the Blue Devils' points came in the second half, the final six on an Aubrey Lewis touchdown pass to Josue Paul.

While other league championships won't be doled out until this upcoming final week, the races certainly became interesting.

William & Mary put on a clinic against New Hampshire. It was UNH's second Colonial Athletic Association loss, putting them behind W & M, Richmond and Villanova, all of which have just one loss.

Two of those squads - Richmond and W & M - meet Saturday in the newly renamed Capital Cup. The winner will have a stake in the CAA crown, but only earn the conference's automatic playoff bid with a Villanova loss.

Villanova earned wins over both the Tribe and Spiders to control its own destiny.

Josh Lewis' 28-yard field goal gave McNeese State a road win over Texas State, and put the Cowboys in position to claim a share of the Southland Conference championship.

However, MSU might be scoreboard watching in its finale vs. Central Arkansas. The Cowboys' lone Southland defeat came to Stephen F. Austin, the team that shares the league lead.

Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil said earlier this season he believed the Southland would be a one-bid conference. If those words prove prophetic, the Cowboys need to defeat the Bears and hope for a Lumberjack loss at Northwestern State.  

Five conference championships could be decided in crucial tilts tomorrow, rendering this Judgment Saturday.

No. 1 Richmond puts its unblemished record and 17-game win streak on the line against No. 4 Villanova in the Colonial Athletic Association.

"Our goal is to make them a one dimensional, passing offense," said UR defensive end Martin Parker. Parker has four sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss to help anchor a Spider defense ranked 11th nationally in points yielded (15.4).

Parker and his teammates will have a full plate as they try to a stop one of the nation's premiere rushing games.

Villanova's found success with a balanced attack, showing opposing defenses shotgun spread option and Wildcat sets. Tailback Aaron Ball, wide receiver Matt Szczur, and quarterback Chris Whitney combine for over 170 of the Wildcats' 223 rushing yards a game.

And according to Parker, those Villanova rushers have plenty of opportunities thanks to the team's work in the trenches.

Villanova QB Chris Whitney

"That's a very veteran offensive line -- very big, very well coached. That's the No. 1 key to their rushing game. If our defensive line can stop their offensive line, that's going to be a big key to us stopping their rushing game."

UR has a match in the Villanova defense, which has held opponents below 17 points per game. Included on the Wildcats' defensive resume is holding Temple freshman sensation Bernard Pierce to 44 yards, his second lowest output and stifling fifth ranked William & Mary to 17 points.

This pairing of Top 5 foes is the culmination of Richmond's Homecoming Week.

Follow it online via Gametracker, and streaming live through Richmond All-Access .

Defenses take center stage in the Missouri Valley when Southern Illinois travels to South Dakota State. The Salukis and Jackrabbits both boast perfect MVFC records, and top 10 ranked defenses.

And for SDSU, a program that joined Division I ranks in 2004, it's a showdown that linebacker Derek Domino called "the biggest in program history.

"This could put us on the map. Hopefully we can show we're here, and we're here to stay."

Southern Illinois ILB Brandin Jordan

"Stop the run, put pressure on the quarterback, cause some turnovers, try to force them to make mistakes," SIU senior linebacker Brandin Jordan said of the Salukis' gameplan vs. SDSU.

Through eight games the Salukis have hit those goals. SIU opponents are averaging just 14.1 points per game and forced into 19 turnovers. Jordan has done his share with 47 tackles and three sacks.

But if there's any defense that has equaled SIU, it's the Jackrabbits'. In fact, SDSU is tied with Elon for the stingiest scoring defense in the Championship Subdivision.

"We always go in with the mindset, 'they can't score, they can't win,'" said Domino.

Chief among the Jackrabbits' challenges against a potent SIU squad: stopping tailback Deji Karim, the MVFC leading rusher with 139 yards per game.

"[Karim]'s a great running back. He's having an All-America type season," Domino said. "When he gets out on the edge, there's no one in the country that can catch him.

"Hopefully we can just contain him -- not let him get out on the edge, keep him in the box with limited space to move," he said.

Follow the action via SDSU Live Stats.

Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino said tomorrow's Flyer match-up with Butler is "one of the games, if not the game, that's going to decide the [Pioneer] League championship."

UD claimed the 2008 crown, and is gunning for a second. But the visiting Bulldogs are unbeaten on the campaign and tomorrow are seeking a measure of retribution.

"It's an unbelievable chance to play a championship game in November," said Butler quarterback Andrew Huck.

The Bulldogs had a similar opportunity a season ago, but dropped a late season road contest to this same Dayton bunch.

In that vein, Huck said Butler has "focused on finishing all week in practice."

"Butler's always a tough game, and last year I'm sure they think they should have won it," Valentino said.

The 2008 game featured a Butler rally from a two-touchdown deficit. That gap was bridged with less than a minute remaining in regulation, forcing an overtime wherein Dayton persevered.

This time around the teams have new starters under center, but the implications remain the same. And as for Huck and Valentino, the two have registered almost identical numbers: 256.5 yards per game of total offense and 21 touchdowns for Huck; 255.6 total yards and 16 touchdowns for Valentino.

Similarly, the Bulldogs and Flyers boast lofty point differentials of plus-15.3 and plus-12.2 respectively.

According to Huck, that total could be higher for the undefeated Bulldogs.

Dayton QB Steve Valentino

"We've been able to get down in the red zone, but we haven't been able to get the points equivalent to the yards we're making," he said.

The ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities is vital for Butler against a UD defense giving up just 12 points per game.

"Our defense has carried us all year. We have one of the best defenses in the entire league," Valentino said.

Dayton has the game covered via Gametracker and All Access

The Keystone State is home to two key match-ups in the Patriot League. A week after pulling ahead of Colgate, Holy Cross travels to Lehigh with a chance to stay atop the conference. But fellow pace setter Lafayette takes on an 8-1 Colgate squad that just suffered its first loss.

HC quarterback Dominic Randolph has been among the nation's most prolific passers, but in Lehigh faces a passing defense that has ranked fifth in FCS. The cross-state contest features a similar angle, with Colgate's offense scoring just shy of 30 points per game but Lafayette yielding only 15.9 points.

Last but certainly not least in the Judgment Saturday lineup is a Northeast Conference bout featuring Central Connecticut State and Wagner, the league's two unbeaten leaders. CCSU has made a habit of winning nailbiters. Five of the Blue Devils' seven victories are by single digits, and the two most recent were by a field goal -- combined.

Wagner has won in similar heartstopping fashion, tallying three of its five conference wins by fewer than 10 points.

The formula could make for another classic as the two pursue an NEC title.

Defensive players for the Texas State Bobcats knew they would need an outstanding effort Saturday against then-11th ranked Stephen F. Austin.

The Lumberjacks' spread offense came into the tilt averaging better than six touchdowns a game, best in the nation, and according to Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil the Bobcats had heard criticism of their defense against such sets.

"We had performed better against running teams than against spread offense. The kids were tired of hearing we weren't playing well against spread offenses after Southeast Louisiana had done so well against us," he said.

Texas State answered those criticisms authoritatively, holding SFA 37 points below its season average and in the process, catapulting itself into the thick of the Southland Conference title chase.

"It's the best effort through all four quarters. We've shown what we can do, just not for four quarters," said linebacker Marcus Clark. Clark finished the day with 16 tackles and recovered a Lumberjack fumble with SFA driving, one of a few key stops Texas State made in the red zone.

"We've been a good red zone D throughout the year, so we were just trying to keep that going," he said.

SFA finished the day with 416 total yards, and while the Lumberjacks moved the ball effectively, there's one place the Bobcats kept them from where it mattered most -- the end zone.

"Bend not break," is how linebacker Joe Bell described the Bobcats' red zone defensive mindset. Bell finished the day with 15 tackles and a sack.

Bending for Texas State case meant forcing Lumberjack turnovers -- three to be exact, including the fumble Bell caused at the Texas State 11-yard line.

"We got breaks, but that's what you've got to do: work hard, and take those breaks," said Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil.

Getting breaks -- or causing them in the red zone has been a hallmark of this Bobcat defense, he added.

"We've not been a good yardage defense, but we've been a good red zone defense," Bleil said. "We may not have the speed in the back end, but once we get down there in those close spaces we can make some plays."

And showing what it was capable of was a motivator for this unit, Clark said.

"Keeping them to seven...that was a statement that we're a defense that can play against anybody."

Bell added that the Lumberjacks' ranking coming in and challenge they posed to the Bobcat defense was just icing on the proverbial cake, as this is a game Texas State marks on its calendar yearly.

"One of our goals that we make every year is to beat SFA and Sam Houston," he said.

The Bobcats are halfway to that goal. Sam Houston is Texas State's finale, Nov. 21 at home, and another important test in the conference race.

Bleil said he believes winning the conference title is essential to earning a postseason berth. The next challenge in that quest comes this weekend against Central Arkansas.

The Bears are not eligible for postseason play until 2010 as a provisional member of the Southland, but have made themselves at home in the conference. UCA is 5-3 on the season, with a win over a Bowl Subdivision opponent (Western Kentucky) and a four-game win streak earlier this season to its credit.

Blue Devil Magic
Central Connecticut State continues to find ways to win games late. One week after defeating Bryant by a point in the final stanza, the Blue Devils rallied for 20 second half points to topple Albany, 31-29. The win keeps CCSU atop the Northeast Conference at 5-0, 7-1 overall.

Sioux Fight
North Dakota blanked a prolific Cal Poly offense through the entire second half to down the visiting Mustangs, 31-17. UND forced three Mustang turnovers in the second half after battling back from a double-digit point deficit to move to 4-4 on the season.

Dukes Break Through
James Madison met some struggles through October, racking up losses to Colonial Athletic Association leaders Villanova and William & Mary. But JMU closed the month strong with a 20-6 defeat of 18th ranked Delaware, its first conference victory of the campaign.

Quarterback Justin Thorpe earned CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors for his 262 yards passing, 42 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Dukes' win.

An Honor for the Spiders
As Richmond chases down its second straight national championship, attention continues to come the Spiders' way. After defeating Towson 42-14, UR joined Appalachian State (2007) and Northern Iowa (2009) as the only teams in Championship Subdivision history to garner votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Spiders were a vote behind 7-2 Idaho and two behind the Southeastern Conference's Tennessee.

Latest Top 25

Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	Record	Points	Prev.
1	Richmond (28)	8-0	700	1
2	Montana	8-0	667	2
3	Southern Ill.	7-1	646	3
4	Villanova	7-1	614	4
5	William & Mary	7-1	580	5
6	Elon	7-1	552	6
7	New Hampshire	7-1	510	7
8	Appalachian St.	6-2	508	8
9	South Dakota St.	7-1	475	9
10	South Carolina St.	7-1	453	10
11	McNeese St.	6-2	419	11
12	UNI	5-3	374	14
13	Eastern Ill.	7-2	323	19
14	Holy Cross	7-1	317	17
15	Jacksonville St.	5-3	273	20
16	Eastern Wash.	6-3	225	21
17	Liberty	6-2	201	24
18	Stephen F. Austin	6-2	200	15
19	Central Ark.	5-3	181	12
20	Colgate	8-1	161	25
21	Weber St.	5-4	149	13
22	Prairie View	5-1	116	25
23	Florida A&M	6-2	81	NR
24	Lafayette	7-1	74	NR
25	Delaware	5-3	71	18

The special teams play of Eastern Illinois' Lorence Ricks was certainly special. He scored on an 87-yard punt return, forced a fumble on a Jacksonville State return and blocked a punt attempt in EIU's 28-20 win over JSU.

It was the Gamecocks' first Ohio Valley loss of 2009, and forced a tie atop the OVC. For his efforts, Ricks garnered conference Specialist of the Week honors.

While one league became deadlocked, another broke its tie at the top. Holy Cross jumped two touchdowns ahead of Colgate early in a battle of Patriot League unbeateans. All four of the Crusaders' first half scores were the result of quarterback Dominic Randolph.

South Dakota State maintained its perfect Missouri Valley mark and handed Northern Iowa its second consecutive loss. The Jackrabbits' stingy defense yielded just 14 points, almost 26 fewer than the Panthers' season average entering the game.

The Jackrabbits' win helps them keep pace with Southern Illinois, which employed its own brand of stifling defense in a 27-8 defeat of Youngstown State. The Salukis did not surrender a score until the final stanza.

While the Jackrabbits and Salukis jockeyed for MVFC positioning, conference mate Indiana State made its own noteworthy moves. The Sycamores topped Western Illinois 16-14 for the program's first win under head coach Trent Miles - and the first ISU win since October 2006.

William & Mary maintained pace in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 24-3 drubbing of James Madison. The Tribe attacked the Dukes primarily from the ground, registering 258 yards rushing on the day.

W&M trails league-leader Richmond, which easily handled UMass. 34-12. Villanova remains in a tie for second with W&M, though the Wildcats hold the tiebreaker thanks to their head-to-head victory Oct. 3. The Wildcats trounced Rhode Island 36-7.

Another team battling for playoff consideration and conference title aspirations, McNeese State, needed a dramatic fourth quarter comeback to battle past Southeastern Louisiana. The Southland Conference showdown was an instant classic that featured over 800 yards of combined, total offense.

MSU's Derrick Fourroux threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Richard Conner with 40 seconds left to put the Cowboys ahead. McNeese State needed two touchdowns and a defensively perfect fourth quarter to hand SELA its first Southland defeat.

More late game heroics were needed for Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils topped Bryant on the road, 24-23, when James Mallory punched in a one-yard rush with 47 seconds to go. CCSU remains atop the Northeast Conference at 4-0 (6-1 overall). Newcomer Bryant is not eligible for postseason play due to transition rules. The Bulldogs have, however, been a threat in the NEC with two conference wins.

INDIVIDUAL STARS

Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin Moses led a 42-3 Lumberjack rout of conference rival Sam Houston State with five touchdown passes and 372 yards through the air.

Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross The HC quarterback threw for 288 yards, rushed for another 116, and scored four touchdowns in the Crusaders' Patriot League win over Colgate.

Lorence Ricks, Eastern Illinois His forced fumble, blocked punt and punt return for a touchdown were integral in Eastern Illinois' road win over Jacksonville State.

Ryan Roberts, Indiana State Converted to quarterback this season as a measure to plug holes, Roberts answered his coach Miles' call with two critical touchdowns in the Sycamores' first win since October 2006: one a 91-yard rush, the other a four yarder in the fourth quarter.

Justin Rogers, Richmond Top ranked Richmond held UMass to 12 points in a Spider win, and doing his part was CAA Defensive Player of the Week Rogers. He had an interception and a recovered fumble in the decision.

VIDEO: Watch Marcus Dorsey's 100-yard touchdown interception return (Photo by Nick Kosloski/CCSU)

"I turned around and saw the ball coming, and I broke on the ball and it landed right in my arms."

That's how Central Connecticut State cornerback Marcus Dorsey describes his gamebreaking defensive play Saturday vs. Sacred Heart unfolding. Sounds simple enough.

"Once I got the interception, I just saw the end zone."

One-hundred yards and a cutback to the middle of the field later, Dorsey was in that end zone. His interception prevented the visiting Pioneers from taking the lead; his touchdown put the Blue Devils' margin out of reach for SHU.

"It was a close game, they were driving and about to score so I felt like I had to step up," he said.

And step up did he ever.

The pick-six was Dorsey's third interception of the season, a team best, and helped him earn both NEC and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week Honors. More importantly, it started CCSU off in NEC play with a victory.

Dorsey's coverage has aided a Blue Devil defense allowing just 19 points per game.

"Last year we had some trouble because we switched our defense during spring ball. It was our first year running that defense, but this year we have that year under our belt, so it's clicking with us. Everybody knows what they're doing, and when to do it."

While the Blue Devils allowed only three points per game more in 2008, the team did yield over 200 yards passing. That figure is down by roughly 40 yards an outing this season.

"It gives me a lot more freedom...and always me to show my talent more," he said of the adjusted defense.

Among those talents is an ability to read his opponents, which he said coaches and years of playing corner have helped him hone.

"My coaches told me when the ball's coming the receivers' eyes get big. If I can't see the ball, I'm watching the receiver's eyes," he said.

And if that leads to more interceptions for the senior, one can bet his eyes will be focused on a return trip to the end zone.