Box Score
Box score

Wayne, NJ … If head coach Eric Hamilton had questions going into the 2011 season, he should at least take the bus ride home knowing that his student-athletes passed their first test.

The College of New Jersey football team opened its season with an impressive 24-6 road victory over William Paterson University. The Lions (1-0, 1-0 NJAC) featured a solid running game, efficient air attack, and played dominant defensively.

TCNJ also held a heavy advantage on turnovers, which factor in heavily, particularly in contests early on. The defensive unit snared three interceptions on the day (all by linebackers), while the offense took care of the football from start to finish.

Senior captain Jay Donoghue (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) delivered a balanced performance that crystalized the efforts of his entire team. He completed 12-of-20 passes for 120 yards, which included a 33-yard touchdown strike to junior Matt Rosati (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) that iced the game midway through the second half. Donoghue also used his legs rushing for 70 yards, while controlling the ball and clock throughout the game.

The defense was spectacular shutting out the Pioneers (1-1, 0-1 NJAC) for nearly 54 minutes of the game. Junior captain Greg Burns (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) led the way with six tackles, two pass break-ups, and an interception. He returned his pick 23 yards, which set up a 1-yard touchdown run from junior quarterback William Friedrich (Berlin, NJ/East Stroudsburg South).

TCNJ got off to a quick start as Friedrich returned the opening kickoff to the WPU 46 yard-line. The offense picked up 23 yards enabling senior Tyler Olsson (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) put the Lions on the board early, drilling a 40-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

TCNJ stretched the lead to 10-0 as they converted four first downs while marching the ball 70 yards on 11 plays. Junior running back Nicholas Tyson (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) capped the scoring drive when he rumbled in from two yards out for his first touchdown of the season early in the second quarter.

The defense was stingy in the opening half, allowing just 110 yards of total offense. Sophomore linebacker Sean Clark (Mays Landing, NJ/St. Joseph's Hammonton) had one of many momentous plays for the defense intercepting a pass from WPU's Connor O'Leary at midfield.

With just over a minute remaining in the half, sophomore linebacker Nick Bricker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) picked off O'Leary again at midfield to stall any WPU efforts at getting on the board before the intermission. Bricker finished with a team-high seven tackles.

Junior Christopher Meliado (Ridgefield Park, NJ/St. Peters Prep) had an outstanding first half, catching four passes for 66 yards. He hauled in a 30-yard reception from Friedrich, who was completed two of three pass attempts for 33 yards on the day.

Late in the third quarter, Burns picked off O'Leary on 2nd and 15 and raced 23 yards before being dragged down at the Pioneer 17-yard line. Three plays later, Friedrich rolled into the end zone to give TCNJ a 17-0 lead.

Donoghue connected with Rosati for a touchdown on 1st and 10 from the WPU 33 to give TCNJ a 24-0 lead with 10:41 remaining and seal their first win of the season. Rosati finished with four catches on the day.

The Pioneers finally broke through when O'Leary hit Chris Manfredo with a 42-yard touchdown pass with 6:06 remaining.

Senior linebacker Michael Lambert (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel), sophomore defensive lineman Patrick Kimball (Seaville, NJ/Ocean City), and sophomore Justin Bruso (Verona, NJ/Verona) all had six tackles in the game. Senior captain Shawn Brown (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch), senior John Kinzel (Howell, NJ/Red Bank Catholic), and junior Thomas Hoppe (Manville, NJ/Immaculata) each recorded sacks.

TCNJ returns to game-action on Friday, September 16 under the lights at Lions' Stadium at 7 p.m. They will square off against their lone non-conference opponent of the year hosting Farleigh Dickinson University-Florham.

Note: Hamilton earned his first collegiate win as a head coach the Trenton State College against William Paterson in 1977. The Lions defeated the Pioneers 14-0. Hamilton is now 20-13-2 in his career on opening day.