Box Score

Glassboro, NJ… The College of New Jersey football team dropped a 45-21 decision to Rowan University in its season finale at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium in Glassboro, NJ on Friday night.

It was a tough ending to an otherwise successful season for the Lions as they finished the season with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in New Jersey Athletic Conference play. Rowan clinched the NJAC title, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA championship tournament.

It was the final game for 15 seniors for TCNJ, a group that did a tremendous job under first-year head coach Wayne Dickens.

Freshman Michael Marchesano (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) threw his first two collegiate touchdown passes, tossing scoring strikes to senior Fred Sprengel (Wall, NJ/Wall) and freshman Christopher Napoli (Washington, NJ/Westwood). Sophomore Brad Young (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) also rushed for this second TD score of the season.

Marchesano had an impressive debut, taking his first snaps in a Lions' uniform. He completed 23-of-29 passes for 284 for yards. The number of completions and yards were both season highs for TCNJ.

Senior Nick Bricker (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) completed his illustrious career with 14 tackles and an interception. Bricker finished his four-year reign at TCNJ with 346 takedowns, which ranks second all time in the 89-year history of the Lions program.

Rowan scored on its first two possessions of the game. After stopping the Lions on their opening drive, the Profs marched 63 yards on 10 plays over five minutes. Sophomore running back Withler Marcelin pushed in from one-yard out to take a 7-0 lead.

Later in the first quarter Quarterback Bill McCarty connected with Todd Guillaume from seven yards out to stretch the lead to 14-0.

Midway through the second quarter, Bricker intercepted a pass for the second time in his career and returned it 11 yards to the Rowan 27. Two players later, defensive lineman Josh Popper picked off a pass and raced 63 yards for TD score to make it a three-touchdown lead. A 27-yard field goal by made it a 24-0 game at the break.

The Lions moved the ball on the ground in the opening half, but a pair of interceptions by the Rowan defense kept them off the board.

Marcelin dashed 45 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter. But TCNJ answered back on the ensuing drive. Marchesano drove the offense 68 yards on six plays to break through with a score. He hit Sprengel from six yards out for his first touchdown pass.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions drove 55 yards on 10 plays to score their second touchdown of the contest. Marchesano found Napoli in the end zone from four yards, recording the first career TD for Napoli.

Young then shaved the deficit to 45-21 when he raced in from 11 yards out to cap a drive that began at their own 11-yard line.

TCNJ produced 23 first downs and 414 total yards of offense, but Rowan capitalized on turnovers and made big plays to pull away early.

Freshman Jeffrey Mattonelli (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) caught a game-high six passes for 79 yards, while Sprengel snared five passes for 61 yards. Freshman Frank Fucello (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) carried six times for 54 yards.

Junior Ryan Lowe (Howell, NJ/Howell) finished with 10 tackles on defense. Senior Mike Barber (Hammonton, NJ/Absegami) produced six takedowns in the game, including two tackles for a loss of six yards.