STAT LINE: 299 yards total offense, 4 touchdowns responsible for (2 Rush, 2 Pass), 63.6 pass completion pct., 276 pass yards, 23 rush yards
Dolegala directed a fourth-quarter comeback that allowed Central Connecticut to erase a 13-point deficit and capture its first-ever FCS Playoffs berth. The junior signal caller accounted for 299 yards of total offense and was responsible for all four CCSU touchdowns in a 28-27 road win over NEC preseason favorite Duquesne. He went 21-of-33 passing for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Dolegala, who was not intercepted, also scored twice on the ground while gaining 39 rushing yards on six attempts (23 net yards). With CCSU facing a 27-14 deficit late in the winner-take-all affair, Dolegala twice guided the Blue Devils into the end zone. Kick-starting the comeback with 6:49 remaining, the veteran quarterback marched the Blue Devils 93 yards on a seven-play touchdown drive that took only 1:38 off the clock. Dolegala’s 43-yard connection with Jose Garcia on a seam pass was the key play of the possession, which he capped himself by rushing 16 yards for a touchdown on a QB keeper. Working with a short field on CCSU’s next possession, Dolegala and the Blue Devils needed only two plays to find pay dirt. He hit Cameron Nash on for an 18-yard screen pass that (with the ensuing PAT) gave CCSU a 28-27 lead with 2:17 to go. Dolegala opened the game’s scoring with a two-yard touchdown plunge 1:12 into the second quarter. He doubled the CCSU lead to 14-0 when he found Courtney Rush on a 36-yard scoring strike 4:48 later.