Box Score

Ewing, NJ ….. Playing their lone home night game, The College of New Jersey's football team made sure there was plenty of fireworks by lighting up the scoreboard as the Lions racked up 58 points and set a school record in total offense in a 58-28 win over FDU-Florham on Friday.

The Lions racked up 708 total yards blowing past the old school mark of 618 set back in 1980 against Ramapo. TCNJ was extremely balanced gaining 369 of those yards passing and chalked up 339 more on the ground.

The Lions (2-0) set the tone early as they reeled off touchdowns on each of their first four possessions with three of them coming from the arm of quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial). James came out firing connecting with senior Colin Weber (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) for 71 yards on the second play of the game.

After a one-yard plunge by Justin Doniloski (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills), James went back to the air and again found Weber with this play covering 44 yards. TCNJ increased its lead to 20-0 with that score.

The Lions weren't done in the first quarter as James threw a strike to Mark Gardner (Flemington, NJ/Bishop Dunne (TX)), who then outraced the FDU-Florham defense for a 66-yard scoring play.

TCNJ then switched to its potent ground attack in the second quarter as Doniloski bolted to a career-long 90-yard touchdown run giving the hosts a comfortable 34-0 lead.

The Devils (0-2) then countered with a long air strike of their own as quarterback Bill Winters (Brick, NJ/Brick) tossed a 57-yard pass to Kyle Bukowiec (Howell, NJ/Howell) for a score.

TCNJ didn't let the Devils keep that momentum for long as Chase Misiura (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) and James each scored rushing touchdowns before the end of the half. Misiura's touchdown came from three-yards out, while James ran the ball in from the 11. Those scores sent the Lions into the half with a 48-7 lead.

Winters directed the Devils to three scores in the second half as they closed to within 51-28, with kicker Marc Zucconi (Marlton, NJ/Holy Cross) accounting for TCNJ's points with a 20-yard field goal in that span.

Freshman Kevin Brown (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) capped the scoring for TCNJ as he rushed for his first collegiate touchdown with a 34-yard scamper.

James had a monster game for the Lions going 14-for-19 for 358 yards and three touchdowns, with Weber on the receiving end of six of those passes for 199 yards and two scores. Gardner also had over 100 yards through the air going for 119.

The ground game was equally as impressive as Doniloski finished with 131 on only nine carries, while Brown rushed for a career best 84 yards on seven rushes.

For the Devils, Winters had a big game in defeat throwing for 342 yards hitting on 27-of-41 passes. He also topped the team with 69 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

TCNJ's defense also came up with some big plays as Phil Gatti (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) and Scotty Mathurin (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) each had interceptions.

For FDU-Florham, Steve Hoverson (Middleton, NJ/Iona) led all players with seven tackles.

The Lions play their third straight home game on Saturday, September 26 returning to New Jersey Athletic Conference play hosting Morrisville State College in a noon start at Lions' Stadium. FDU-Florham is also at home next Saturday hosting Newport News Apprentice School at 1 p.m.