NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) Brady Olson threw three touchdown passes, Elijah Howard ran for 169 yards and Central Connecticut rode a big lead to beat Mercyhurst 38-20 on Saturday.

Mercyhurst (2-5) scored first but the Blue Devils (3-3) took the lead for good on Olson’s first of two touchdown passes to Paul Marsh Jr. to go up 14-7, with the score coming three plays after a sack and fumble.

Olsen TD passes of 16 yards to Joe Crifasi and 39 to Marsh extended the lead to 31-7 before the Lakers rallied to cut into the lead with Brian Trobel finishing off two long drives with TD runs.

Howard's yards on came on 27 carries. Jadon Turner added 114 yards on 11 carries, including a late 59-yard score. Olson was 9 of 14 for 124 yards passing. Marsh had four catches for 67 yards with his two TDs. The Blue Devils had 425 yards offense but also 132 yards in penalties.

Adam Urena was 25 of 45 for 286 yards passing and a touchdown but also three interceptions and a lost fumble for the Lakers. Cameron Barmore made eight catches for 103 yards.

Mercyhurst is in its first year of transitioning to Division I and is a member of the Northeast Conference but is not playing every NEC team this season, thus the Lakers’ games versus NEC teams, including Central Connecticut, do not count in the standings.

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