Box Score Box Score

FINAL SCORE; The College of New Jersey 30; Western Connecticut State University 20
The College of New Jersey (4-5, 4-4 NJAC) vs. Western Connecticut State University (2-7, 2-6 NJAC)
November 8, 2008; Westside Athletics Complex, Danbury, CT

Danbury, CT (11/8/08) – The College of New Jersey defense, led by junior defensive back Justine Beres (Galloway, NJ/Wall) took advantage of four Western Connecticut State University turnovers and went on to defeat the Colonials, 30-20 at Westside Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon at Senior Day.

Beres picked off three Chris App (Staten Island, NY) passes on three consecutive WestConn possessions in the first half. Then with under two minutes to play in the second quarter, Franklin Tapia (Passaic, NJ/Passaic) recovered a fumble when App lost control as he dropped back to pass. Tapia returned the ball 23 yards, down to the Colonials seven yard line. Two plays later, junior back Chase Misiura (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) dove in from two yards out and the Lions took a 24-14 lead, a margin that would not be challenged, into the locker room.

WestConn led in the game, 6-0 following a one-yard run by Wayne Neal (Poughkeepsie, NY) with 8:10 remaining in the first quarter. Teddy Keyes (North Haven, CT) missed on the extra point attempt. It was the first of two rushing touchdowns for Neal. Neal led the Colonials ground attack with 69 yards on 22 carries.

TCNJ took a 7-6 lead on a two-yard run by senior Dave Fontoura (Roseland, NJ/West Essex Regional) and added to it when junior kicker Marc Zucconi (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross), who converted the extra-point on Fontoura's score, booted a 41-yard field goal for a 10-6 visitor's advantage.

Midway through the third quarter, Neal scored his second touchdown, this time from five yards out and Lionel Assie (Bridgeport, CT) plowed in for the two-point conversion and the last Colonials' lead of the ballgame.

The rest of second half belonged primarily to the Lions.

They scored 20 unanswered points over the next 19:43 beginning with junior quarterback Chris James' (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) 12-yard TD pass to senior Kyle Gafgen (Robbinsville, NJ/Lawrence) to cap off a 10-play 64-yard drive with 2:35 left in the third stanza.

James completed 11 of 18 passes for 140 yards after taking over for starting junior signal caller Bill Picatagi (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) after the Lions' second offensive series. Picatagi, who came back into the game momentarily in the second half, did not complete a pass on five attempts.

Misiura bowled in from two yards out and sophomore running back Michael Yetka (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) added six more on a one-yard run later in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring for TCNJ, with a 30-14 lead. The sophomore running back led TCNJ in rushing with 16 carries for 54 yards. Misiura followed with 38 yards on 14 handles.

WestConn drew within 10 points, again, 30-20, but only 60 ticks remained on the clock following Allen Bowen's (Hamden, CT) 30-yard leaping catch on App's Hail Mary toss to the goal line.

Keith Rosedom (Stamford, CT) had four catches for 66 yards while Neal led the way for WestConn with six catches on the day. Allan Bowen (Hamden, CT) pulled down three catches for 55 yards and the one score.

TCNJ's rookie defensive back Shawn Brown (Long Branch, NJ) led the Lions' defense with 13 tackles and one pass break up. Senior linebacker Dan Polles (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) had 10 take downs on the afternoon.

Defensively for WestConn, sophomore Dean Hancock (Danbury, CT) had a solid performance with 10 total tackles. Angelo Mancini (West Hartford, CT), Chad Milling (Hartford, CT) and Deron Minor (Elmont, NY) added nine tackles each.

Colonials' junior quarterback James Williams (Wolcott, CT) was restricted to the Colonials' sideline after breaking team rules earlier in the week.

WestConn will wrap up its season at William Paterson University next Saturday. The Lions continue NJAC play on Saturday, November 15 hosting Rowan University in the season finale at noon.