Box Score

Ewing, NJ (9/28/07) – The College of New Jersey received four field goals from senior kicker Matt Dalessio (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) as the Lions knocked off 17th-ranked Montclair State University 19-9 on Friday at Lions' Stadium in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

The game was the 75th time the two institutions have met on the gridiron with MSU holding a 46-27-2 lead. It is also the longest active intercollegiate rivalry in the Garden State.

In addition to Dalessio's efforts on field goals, TCNJ's defense also did its part picking off four Red Hawk passes. Once the Lions had the ball they kept it as they dominated time of possession holding onto the ball for a 40:14.

The Lions took charge on the scoreboard in the second half as quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) found Colin Weber (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) for a 32-yard scoring strike. That score came with 8:18 left in the third quarter and Dalessio booted the point after giving TCNJ a 13-3 lead.

Dalessio increased the advantage to 16-3 with a 35-yard kick after TCNJ's Dave Fontoura (Roseland, NJ/West Essex) intercepted a MSU pass in the end zone. That score came after a 15-play 69-yard drive that took 7:58 off of the clock.

The Red Hawks battled back with their lone touchdown of the game as quarterback Michael Jump (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) hooked up with receiver Brandon Fronjian (Palisades Park, NJ/Palisades Park) from 29 yards. A failed point after left the margin at 16-9.

Dalessio struck one more time for the Lions securing the win with his final field goal with 1:42 remaining and this one coming from 24 yards.

James had a very efficient game directing TCNJ's offense going 18-for-34 through the air for 209 yards and also led the team with 60 yards on the ground on 19 carries.

The Lion defense kept Jump in check as the Red Hawk senior completed only 15-of-43 passes with four interceptions and 220 yards.

Both kickers accounted for all of the scoring in the opening half as Dalessio got things started with a 33 yarder with 4:15 left in the second quarter. The Lions tacked on three more points with 56 ticks left on the clock as Dalessio this time connected from 37-yards out. That score was set up by an interception by TCNJ senior Andrew Larkin (Hamilton Square, NJ/Notre Dame).

The Red Hawks then took the ensuing kickoff deep into Lion territory capping the drive on a 32-yard field goal by kicker Marco Capozzoli (Bloomfield, NJ/St. Joseph's) with three seconds left sending the game into the intermission with the hosts holding a 6-3 edge.

TCNJ controlled the ball in the opening half running 43 plays and maintaining possession for 19:59. That number was aided by a pair of interceptions with one of them from Larkin and the other from Anthony Cortina (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert).

MSU's defense also came up with a big play as defensive back Mike Ajadi (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) blocked a TCNJ field-goal attempt in the opening quarter.

Defensively for MSU, John Valkos (Rumson, NJ/Rumson-Fair Haven) had a game-high 13 tackles with Derrell Sapp (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) finishing with 12 and Cornell Hunt (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) had 11.

Fontoura led the Lions with eight tackles in addition to his interception.

TCNJ returns to action next Friday with road contest at NJAC opponent, Rowan University at 7 p.m., while MSU faces Buffalo State at home on October 6 at 1 p.m.