Ewing, NJ ….. The College of New Jersey forced five turnovers and used a pair of touchdown passes from freshman quarterback Trevor Osler (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) to claim a 20-10 win over Kean University at Lions Stadium on Saturday.
 
The win put TC NJ at 2-6 on the season and 1-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while the Cougars are also 2-6 overall and 2-3 in league play.
 
TCNJ's defense set the tone in the first quarter coming up with a momentum-changing stop on Kean's initial drive. After the Cougars set themselves up with a 1^st-and goal from the 3-yard line following a blocked punt, the Lions stopped Kean on four straight plays to get the ball back.
 
On their next possession, the Cougars were once again in Lion territory, but TCNJ's defense held the guests to a 34-yard field goal Steve Ferlisi (Brick, NJ/Brick).
 
The Lion offense then heated up taking to the ground as freshman Khani Glover (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) turned the table on the Cougars, marching deep into opposing territory. Glover rattled off a 44-yard run and TCNJ capped off the 83-yard drive when Osler tossed a short six-yard pass to fullback Chris Spellman (Mount Laurel, NJ/Bishop Eustace).
 
Still in the first quarter, the defense again produced another big play that resulted in a score. Senior Matthew Fleck (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton) intercepted a Cougar pass at his own 36 and raced 64 yards for the touchdown. The point after by sophomore Colin Cazzetta (Slate Hill, NY/Minisink Valley) pushed TCNJ's lead to 13-3.
 
The second quarter saw the Lions come up with a series of key plays on defense with Fleck picking off another Kean pass, while defensive back Christopher Westenhiser (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) also pounced on a fumble.  TCNJ forced its third Kean turnover of the quarter on the final play of the half as sophomore defensive back Alshamiere Fields (East Orange, NJ/Bethel College) intercepted a pass in the end zone.
 
After a scoreless third quarter, the Lions added another touchdown when Osler threw a strike to Conor Mulholland (North Wall, NJ/Wall) that covered 27 yards. Cazzetta was again perfect on the point after extending the lead to 20-3.
 
Kean made things interesting in the late going when its defense came up with a touchdown. Defensive lineman Tom Winters (Brick, NJ/Brick) sacked Osler in the end zone, stripped the Lion quarterback of the ball in the process and eventually fell on the fumble for a touchdown. Ferlisi kicked the extra point cutting the difference to 20-10. That score came with 2:33 remaining.
 
The Lions then recovered the ensuing on-side kick and only gave Kean the ball back with less than a minute left, but TCNJ's defense made one last stand to secure the win.
 
Glover enjoyed his best day as a Lion with his first 100-yard rushing performance of his career. He had 101 yards 19 carries.
 
Osler was an efficient 8-for-16 for 88 yards through the air with his two touchdown passes.
 
Kean's Will Ingram (Linden, NJ/Linden) also eclipsed the 100-yard mark as he ran the ball 20 times for 109 yards.
 
Fleck finished with eight tackles and two interceptions, while linebacker Zach Vasilenko (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) had a game-high 13 tackles, including nine solo.
 
Linebacker Corey Miller (Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) topped the Cougars with 10 tackles.
 
TCNJ heads out on the road for the final time this season next Saturday when they play at Southern Virginia University, while the Cougars travel to Rowan University.