Box Score Box Score

Wayne, NJ … After a promising start to a conference game on the road, The College of New Jersey football team ran into a magnificent individual performance by William Paterson University running back Marcus McKinney (Paterson, NJ/John F. Kennedy) as the Lions were chased by the Pioneers 43-28.

WPU (3-3, 2-3 NJAC) rattled off 29 unanswered points after TCNJ (4-2, 3-2 NJAC) built a 28-14 third quarter lead. McKinney ran for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 42 rushing attempts as the Pioneers stuck to the ground game on a cold and rainy October day.

From the opening kickoff, the Lions football team came out strong and took control. The defense made two stops in the first quarter and created two turnovers, while it took senior quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) and company just four plays to put points on the board. Junior Matthew Kreider (Delran, NJ/Delran) intercepted a pass midway through the first quarter shortly after James hit senior wide receiver Mark Gardner (Flemington, NJ/Bishop Dunne (TX) with a 57-yard touchdown pass to give TCNJ a 7-0 lead. Later in that quarter, Kevin Allgood (Chatham, NJ/Chatham) sacked Pioneer quarterback Matt Marshall (Burlington, NJ/Burlington City) and forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive end Terry Wolverton (Ewing, NJ/Ewing).

At the start of the second quarter and the Lions at the WPU 41-yard line, sophomore running back Justin Dolinoski (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) had back-to-back runs of 26 yards and then a 15-yard scoring dash to put TCNJ up 14-0. The Pioneer offense responded chewing up 71 yards on five plays. The big play coming off a 43-yard completion from Marshall to wide receiver Joel Rivera (Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken), who was tackled at the TCNJ 2 yard-line. McKinney barreled across the goal-line to cut the Lion lead to 14-7.

Later in the second, James was picked off by Chris Thomas (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) and senior defensive back returned it 22 yards to the TCNJ 1 yard-line. McKinney took care of the rest for his second score of the quarter and it was 14-14 game.

With 3:47 left before the intermission, the Lions went 55 yards on 11 plays capped off by freshman Kevin Brown's (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) 1-yard touchdown run to take a 21-lead into the locker room.

The Lions came out in the second half and remained in control. Wolverton recovered his second fumble of the game off another Marshall sack and the offense stormed 57 yards on seven plays. Doniloski punched in his second score of the game from three yards out and TCNJ was in command with a 28-14 advantage.

But WPU rattled off three touchdowns and a safety over the next 14 minutes while the Lions offense was unable to sustain their offensive rhythm. With an eight-point lead and possession of the ball with 9:16 remaining in the game, the Pioneer offense went one-dimensional and McKinney put on an impressive display. Starting on their six-yard line, McKinney carried 12 times for 94 yards culminating with a 1-yard touchdown to push the Pioneer lead to 43-28.

Wet conditions made it difficult for James who finished 14-of-34 for 189 passing yards and two touchdowns. Doniloski compiled 99 yards on the ground and touchdown runs. Gardner caught both of James' touchdown throws and finished the game with five receptions for 88 yards. Senior tri-captain Cam Richardson (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) had four receptions for 66 yards.

Matthew Kreider (Delran, NJ/Delran) had another strong game defensively leading the defense with 10 tackles (4 solo) and an interception. Greg Burns (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) also had 10 tackles (5 solo) and tri-captain Ryan Flannery (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) contributed eight tackles (2 solo).

Scotty Mathurin (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) had a solid all-around game returning three kickoffs for 56 yards and totaling five tackles (3 solo) on the defensive side of the ball. Senior Marc Zucconi (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross) booted eight punts averaging 43.5 yards per punt including one that was downed on the WPU six yard-line.

TCNJ returns home on Saturday, October 24 as they celebrate Homecoming Day with a 2 p.m. match-up against NJAC foe Montclair State University.