Box Score

Montclair, NJ … The College of New Jersey football team turned the ball over seven times in suffering a 24-14 setback at the hands of Montclair State University on Saturday afternoon at Sprague Field.
 
The loss dropped the Lions to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while the Red Hawks improved to 3-4 and 3-2 in the conference.
 
TCNJ turned the ball over on its first two drives and three of the first five possessions in the opening half. Despite their generosity, the Lions managed to remain even with MSU at 7-7 late in the second quarter. But the Red Hawks rattled off 17 unanswered points, a deficit that was too large overcome on a day that the squad was minus-six on takeaways for the contest.
 
Senior Daniel Dugan (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) completed 26 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 42 yards, including a 12-yard scamper into the end zone. Senior co-captain Nicholas Tyson (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) hauled in a 16-yard TD reception, the first scoring catch of his career.
 
Linebacker Greg Burns (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) compiled a game-high 12 tackles, while teammate Nick Bricker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) amassed 11 takedowns in the contest. He also forced a fumble that was recovered by sophomore Thomas Masi (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South).
 
After forcing MSU to punt to open the game, the Lions' offense took the field on their own nine-yard line. They drove 62 yards to the Red Hawk 28, but Dugan was picked off by Matt Mancino at the MSU 11 on a third-and-seven pass attempt. The Red Hawks went three-and-out and TCNJ regained possession in opposing territory. But a fumble on the first play of the drive gave the ball back to the host. Montclair capitalized with a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
 
The Lions remained a touchdown back and turned the ball over again midway through the second period. Two plays later, the Red Hawks returned the favor with a fumble and TCNJ responded with a Dugan-to-Tyson 16-yard passing score.
 
Another fumble near midfield gave MSU the ball back with two minutes remaining. Kicker John Schubert booted a 35-yard field goal to give the Red Hawks a 17-7 lead the intermission.
 
Still within striking distance and receiving the kickoff to start the third period, the Lions were forced to punt. On the first offensive play of the second half for Montclair, Bill Roman raced 66 yards for a back-breaking touchdown and 24-7 advantage.
 
A 12-yard rushing touchdown by Dugan cut the deficit to 24-14, but it was not meant to be for TCNJ. They bettered MSU in nearly every statistical category, but turnovers and time of possession were the difference in the 79^th match-up between the two programs.
 
Senior Justin Doniloski (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) accumulated 120 total yards in the game. He rushed for 66 and had a team-high eight catches for 54 yards.  Senior Matt Rosati (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) had four receptions for 50 yards.
 
TCNJ returns home on Saturday, October 20 for 2012 Homecoming weekend. They take on Kean University in an NJAC battle that is schedule to kick off at 2 p.m.