Ewing, NJ ….. The College of New Jersey football team used a potent ground game to start the home slate with a lopsided 49-21 win over visiting FDU-Florham on Friday under the lights at Lions' Stadium.

The win kept the Lions undefeated on the young season at 2-0, while the Devils slipped to 0-2.

TCNJ churned out 403 yards on the ground as a team with quarterback Jay Donoghue (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) leading the charge with his first career 100-yard rushing performance ripping off 126 yards on 12 carries. Senior Joe Falco (Ocean, NJ/Ocean Township) also eclipsed the 100-yard plateau as he gained 107 yards on 19 attempts. Freshman Brad Young (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) added to the ground attack with 72 yards.

The balance was also evident in who reached the end zone as five different Lions ran for touchdowns, while getting two more through the air.

Donoghue was also efficient in the passing game going 13-for-21 for 126 yards and a touchdown.

FDU-Florham got a big game from quarterback Ryan Cushman (Monroe, NJ/Monroe Twp.) as he accounted for 309 yards, with 120 coming on the ground and 189 passing.

The Lions raced out to a 35-0 halftime lead before the Devils made things interesting in the second half outscoring the hosts 21-14.

Four different runners found their way into the end zone for TCNJ in the opening half as the Lions bulled their way out to a 35-0 at the half. The team used a huge second quarter striking pay-dirt four times.

Falco was the first Lion ball carrier to score as he went up the middle for two yards and junior Nicholas Tyson (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) was next to cross the goal line with both scores coming from two-yards out.

Falco opened the scoring from two-yards out with 8:02 left in the opening quarter, before Tyson rumbled early in the second period scoring from that same distance.

TCNJ mixed things up on their next score as Donoghue threw a 10-yard strike to Brian Mills (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence).

The Lions went back to the ground as Falco notched his second of the game scoring from the eight, while Young scored his first career touchdown on a three-yard plunge. Senior kicker Tyler Olsson (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) had a busy first half going a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points.

In the second half, Cushman got FDU-Florham on the board with a 44-yard run, but Donoghue raced 11 yards for another TCNJ touchdown.

Cushman used a late touchdown pass in the third and another early in the fourth as the Devils crept to within 42-21, but William Friedrich (Berlin, NJ/East Stroudsburg South) capped the scoring as he scored on a six-yard run.

TCNJ's solid performance wasn't limited to offense as the Lions had several key performances on special teams. Olsson nailed all seven extra points, while defensive back Phil Gatti (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park) also blocked a field goal.

On the defensive side of the ball, Nick Bricker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) finished with seven tackles, including five solo, and Joe Laferlita (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) chipped in with six.

The Devils received a nice defensive play by Shane Roland (Brielle, NJ/Manasquan), who ripped the ball from a Lion receiver deep in FDU-Florham territory preventing another score. He led all players with 12 tackles.

TCNJ resumes New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday, September 24 hosting Morrisville State College at noon, while the Devils return home to host Delaware Valley State at 1 p.m.