Box Score Box Score
FINAL SCORE: The College of New Jersey 27; Buffalo State 14
Buffalo State (2-7, 1-6 NJAC) vs. The College of New Jersey (8-1, 6-0 NJAC)
November 3, 2007; Coyer Field, Buffalo, NY

Buffalo, NY (11/3/07) – No. 15-ranked The College of New Jersey (8-1/6-0) clinched the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) automati bid and at least a share of the NJAC's Championship crown with a 27-14 win over host Buffalo State (2-7/1-6) today at Coyer Field.

Since the first NJAC football was crowned in 1969, TCNJ has now won eight NJAC championships (1980, 1983, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1996 and 1998). With the title comes the league's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Division III Championships. TCNJ will be making the program's fifth appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. TCNJ has appeared in the NCAA's previously going 3-4 lifetime with outings in 1990, 1996, 1997, and 1998.

TCNJ's sophomore quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/ Brick Memorial) was 11 of 28 for 176 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also ran for a team-high 40 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Cam Richardson (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.) led the Lions with five receptions for 106 yards and a score in picking up his first 100 plus receiving game. Senior linebacker Nick Steffner (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater) led the Lions defense with nine tackles, including a sack and two for loss.

Buffalo State quarterback Dan Aquilio (Depew, NY/Depew) was 16 of 42 for 164 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Greg Meyer (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) had eight catches for 111 yards. Kevin Dukes (Buffalo, NY/Medina) carried 19 times for 65 yards and a score, all in the second half. Peter Nguyen (Buffalo, NY/South Park) had six solo tackles and his sixth interception of the season. Scott Forster (E. Otto, NY/Catt.-Little Valley) led the Bengals with 13 tackles.

TCNJ forced the Bengals into a three-and-out on the game's opening drive, and then marched 45 yards on six plays, capped by a Richardson 24-yard reception from James to take a 7-0 lead.

The Lions then survived four first-half turnovers to maintain the 7-0 advantage heading into the intermission, holding the Bengals to just 58 total yards and five first downs in the first 30 minutes.

TCNJ opened the second half with a nine-play, 71-yard drive that culminated with a James one-yard sneak for a touchdown on fourth down, extending the Lions' lead to 14-0.

Buffalo State drove into Lions' territory on the ensuing possession, but senior Andrew Larkin (Hamilton Square, NJ/Notre Dame) picked his sixth interception of the season and returned it 91 yards for the score.  After a blocked extra point try, TCNJ led 20-0.

Then Bengals finally got on the board on the next possession, when Dukes scored his first career touchdown on a 2-yard run. The score capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive that included four receptions for 49 yards by Meyer.

After a 58-yard kick return to the Bengals' 10-yard line on the kickoff by Matt Kreider (Delran, NJ/Delran), Bill Picatagi (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 10-yard quarterback keeper to restore the 20-point lead.

Buffalo State answered again with a 15-play, 60-yard drive that ended with an Antonio Speed (Buffalo, NY/East) 5-yard touchdown catch, closing the lead to 27-14 early in the fourth quarter, but neither team would score again.

TCNJ's defense held Buffalo State to only 79 rushing yards on the day. TCNJ allowed only 14 points, marking the eighth time the Lions have given up under 15 points on nine tries this fall.

TCNJ travels to Kean University for their 2007 NJAC finale at 1 p.m., while the Bengals will host SUNY Brockport on November 3 at 1 p.m.