Box Score

Cortland, NY … The College of New Jersey football team suffered its first setback in New Jersey Athletic Conference play as they fell at SUNY Cortland 20-7 on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions (3-1, 4-3) remain in solid contention for the New Jersey Athletic Conference title as four teams pack the top of the league standings with just one loss. They return home for a critical match-up with The College at Brockport next Saturday to start off an electrifying final three weeks of football around the conference.

Credit the Red Dragon defense as they did not allow a single point the final 52:55 of the contest. Lions' running back Victor Scalici (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) gave TCNJ a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter, but 20 unanswered points propelled Cortland (4-1, 4-3) to its fourth conference win of the season.

The Lions' defense held their own in the game, limiting the Red Dragons to 275 yards on offense. But a specials teams touchdown and three interceptions by the Cortland defense was too much to overcome for TCNJ.

Scalici and sophomore Brad Young (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) each ran for over 100 yards in the loss. Sophomore Christopher Spellman (Mount Laurel, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) completed 6-of-13 passes for 114 yards.

TCNJ took a 7-0 lead going 80 yards on eight plays on their second possession of the game. Spellman rifled a 46-yard pass completion to Jeffrey Mattonelli (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) on a third-and-three that put at the Cortland 25. On third-and-10, Frederick Sprengel (Brick, NJ/Brick) caught a 25-yard pass to put the Lions inside the five. Scalici did the rest for his fifth rushing touchdown of the season.

The Red Dragons responded with three consecutive scores. Nick Daley connected on a 30-yard field goal before the host took the lead when John Babin snared a 16-yard touchdown pass.

A controversial call midway through the second quarter affected what may have been a 10-point swing. A 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked by the Lions and recovered by TCNJ for a potential touchdown. The play was ruled dead by the offiicials, allowing the Red Dragons to re-take the kick. Daley knocked it through the uprights to give Cortland a 13-7 advantage.

Perhaps the backbreaking play for TCNJ came at the start of the second half. Senior Justin Autera took the kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. That pushed the Red Dragon lead to 20-7. (Autera returned a kickoff for 98 yards earlier this season.)

The Lions' offense struggled to find rhythm throughout the third quarter until Scalici broke through the middle for a 31-yard gain. But going for it on fourth-and-two from the Red Dragon 23-yard line, the Cortland defense came up big with a stop as the Lions were forced to turn the ball over on downs.

TCNJ got the ball back and with 11:37 remaining in the game and entered Red Dragon territory on a big play. On third-and-three from their 27, Young cut left and found daylight, sprinting 55 yards to the Cortland 27. But the Red Dragon defense picked off their third pass of the day, the second by Ke'shaun Stallworth as he intercepted a lofted pass in the end zone.

Cortland was able to run down the clock and secure the home victory. Quarterback Tyler Hughes was efficient, completing 11-of-18 passes and one touchdown toss. He also compiled a team-high 52 rushing yards.

Mattonelli finished with four catches for 86 yards. Sprengel also had three catches for 41 yards.

On defense, senior Nick Bricker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) had another standout game, making 17 tackles. He also had 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Junior Ryan Lowe (Howell, NJ/Howell) finished with nine tackles, while Joseph Urcioli (Matawan, NJ/Matawan) had two pass break-ups.

TCNJ will host Brockport next Saturday in Lions' Stadium at noon. The Golden Eagles also have a 3-1 league record after defeating Kean 17-7 today. Rowan also moved to 3-1 with a 20-9 decision over William Paterson University.

Morrisville State College suffered its second loss of the season as they lost to Montclair State University by a score of 34-21.