Box Score

Ewing, NJ …..On a day when quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick) became The College of New Jersey's all-time leader in passing yards, the senior saved his best for late in the fourth quarter firing a pair of touchdown passes as the Lions got past visiting The College at Brockport, 48-34 on Saturday at Lions' Stadium.

The win put the Lions at 3-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and 4-1 overall. TCNJ is also perfect at home winning all four of its games on the turf at Lions' Stadium. Not only have they won at home, they have been scoring in bunches averaging a whopping 55 points in those four contests. The loss knocked the Golden Eagles to 1-3 in the conference and 2-3 overall.

James finished the day going 22-for-36 for 313 yards and three touchdown passes. With those 313 passing yards, James moved into the top spot on the program's all-time list with 5,451 yards through the air. He moved past Bob Schurtz (2001-03), who finished his career as a Lion with 5,337 yards.

Those heroics were almost overshadowed by a late Brockport rally that saw the Golden Eagle offense score twice in the fourth quarter to tie the score at 34-34. Senior running back Aaron Zurn (Sidney, NY/Sidney) accounted for both of those scores on the ground with the first covering 12 yards and the second seven.

Brockport nearly took the lead on that second touchdown, but a key blocked extra point by Ryan Flannery (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) kept the score at 34-all with 5:11 remaining.

James didn't let the game stay tied for long as engineered a quick four-play 60-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard scoring pass to Justin Doniloski (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills).

TCNJ's defense came up with another big play on Brockport's ensuing drive as freshman Greg Burns (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) picked off a Golden Eagle pass, turning the ball back over to James and the Lion offense.

This time, James needed only two plays to put TCNJ back into the end zone as James connected with Colin Weber (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) on a play good for 29 yards.

Flannery, making his first appearance of the season, capped his return to the line-up intercepting a pass in the final seconds securing the win.

Not to be outdone, senior running back Chase Misiura (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) finished with a career-high 133 yards on 18 carries for the Lions.

Brockport opened the scoring late in the first quarter as Zurn ran his way into the end zone from three-yards out. After the point after by Emilio Genzano (Albany, NY/Guilderland) the Golden Eagles led 7-0.

TCNJ's high-powered offense then rattled off the next 17 points of the game with the first of those scores coming less than two minutes after Brockport took the lead. James hooked up with Weber from 40 yards out. Senior Marc Zucconi (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross) booted the PAT knotting the game at seven apiece.

Zucconi accounted for TCNJ's next points as he kicked a 37-yard field goal before freshman Kevin Brown (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) scored on fourth-and-goal from the one in the latter stages of the half. Zucconi again split the uprights on the point giving the Lions a 17-7 cushion.

Brown's touchdown was set up by TCNJ's defense as the Lions forced a fumble as the Golden Eagles were poised to get on the scoreboard. Craig Meyer (Far Hills, NJ/Bernards) popped the ball free as teammate Shawn Brown (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) pounced the loose ball.

Brockport did add another touchdown just before the half expired as quarterback Jake Graci (Farnham, NY/Lake Shore) raced to the far corner of the end zone on a play that covered 15 yards. The extra point then sent the teams into the half with TCNJ holding a 17-14 edge.

Doniloski and Misiura each added touchdown runs for TCNJ in the third quarter for the Lions, while Zucconi knocked through his second field goal of the day.

For the Golden Eagles, Graci completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Matt Newman (Unadilla, NY/Unatego) as the hosts led 34-17 going into the final quarter.

Graci had a busy game for Brockport lofting 56 passes and completing 33 of them for 307 yards, while Zurn churned out 145 yards on the ground on 30 rushes.

Defensively, TCNJ's Dan DeCongelio (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/St. Peters Prep) led all players with 13.5 tackles (seven solo) and Shawn Brown (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) added 10.5 tackles (five solo).

For Brockport, Chad Moore (Trumansburg, NY/C.O. Dickinson) had eight solo tackles and three assists.

TCNJ returns to the road next weekend heading to William Paterson University for a 4 p.m. showdown with the Pioneers on October 17. Next up for the Golden Eagles is a home date with Kean University. That game is also set for a week from today with a noon start.