Box Score

TCNJ BEATS WEST CONN TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN NJAC

FINAL SCORE: The College of New Jersey 42; Western Connecticut State University 21
W. Connecticut State University (3-4, 1-3 NJAC) vs. The College of New Jersey (6-1, 4-0 NJAC)
October 20, 2007; Lions' Stadium, Ewing, NJ

Ewing, NJ (10/20/07) – Sophomore quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) tossed a career-high four touchdowns passes as The College of New Jersey football team notched its sixth straight victory beating Western Connecticut University with a 42-21 on homecoming.

James was a modest 8-of-14 through the air for 179, but four of those completions put the Lions in the end zone. He also had one pass intercepted.

West Conn quarterback James Williams (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) also had a big game passing as the sophomore went 32-for-50 for 330 yards and three touchdowns and one interception.
The Colonials scored all 21 of their points in the second half and that marked the most points scored on TCNJ's top-ranked defense this season.

In addition to finding success using James' arm passing, the Lions had 268 yards on the ground with four different players getting more than 40 led by sophomore Lee Jones (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) with 52 yards on 10 carries.

The Lions opened the scoring on a 26-yard field goal by Matt Dalessio (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), which was set up by a fake attempt earlier in the drive. That score came 4:42 into the game.

TCNJ got on the board again thanks to a trick play as James got the ball back after a fake double-reverse and launched a strike to receiver Cameron Richardson (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) that covered 51 yards and after Dalessio made the point after the hosts had a 10-0 lead.

Dalessio booted a 25 yarder to open the scoring in the second quarter before classmate Dan Dornacker (Jersey City, NJ/Brick) increased the advantage as he bulled his way in from the seven. A successful PAT then made it a 20-0 game.

With just over a minute remaining before the intermission, the Lions added another score as James threw a 32-yard pass to Austin Misiura (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel). TCNJ added the two-point conversion as Zach Rinaldi (Burlington, NJ/Florence) went in untouched around the left end after a bobbled snap sending the hosts into the half with a 28-0 lead.

The Colonials came out throwing in the new half as Derrick Way (Norwalk, CT/Norwich Free Academy) made a diving catch over the middle on a 14-yard pass from Williams. Teddy Keyes (North Haven, CT/North Haven) kicked the extra point trimming TCNJ's lead to 28-7.

Three minutes later the Lions got the score back as James hit Erik Hendrickson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) on the near sideline on the pass covering 52 yards. Dalessio then tacked on the point after.

Williams again got West Conn on the board with 51 seconds left in the third finding Keith Rosedon (Stamford, CT/Westhill) from 53-yards out and following Keyes' extra point the Colonials trailed 35-14.
In the fourth, the teams traded 11-yard touchdown passes as TCNJ got its as James found Chris Updyke (Lambertville, NJ/Hunterdon Central) and the Colonials got theirs as Williams completed a pass to Way.

Lion defensive lineman Joe King (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) finished with a pair of sacks, while Joe Spahn (Burlington, NJ/Florence) paced TCNJ with eight tackles. Andrew Larkin (Hamilton, Square, NJ/Notre Dame) added to the defensive effort with an interception.

Defensively for the Colonials, Chad Milling Hartford, CT/Conrad) and John Hoke (Tomkins Cove, NY/North Rockland) each finished with 10 tackles.

West Conn running back Wayne Neal (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) led all rushers with 94 yards on 15 attempts.

TCNJ will play its home finale next Saturday hosting SUNY Cortland in a battle for first place in the NJAC. Game time is 1 p.m. at Lions' Stadium.