Ewing, NJ …..Senior running back Victor Scalici (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) chalked up 222 yards rushing on 35 attempts with two touchdowns to lead The College of New Jersey football team to its third straight victory on Saturday. That win came with came via a 23-12 victory over Southern Virginia University.
 
TCNJ improved to 3-4 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play and 3-5 overall, while the Knights fell to 0-9 and 0-8 in conference.
 
While Scalici was busy running for a career high, it was the defense that made sure the offense had the ball as they limited the Knights to only 128 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers.
 
Prior to the game, the Lions recognized its senior class for their contribution to the program. Honored were Conor Mulholland (North Wall, NJ/Wall), Christopher Spellman (Mount Laurel, NJ/Bishop Ahr), Evan Costello (Sparta, NJ/Sparta), Kyle Anderson (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge), Zack Vasilenko (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan), Martin Flatley (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South), Jeffrey Skomsky (Maple Shade, NJ/Paul VI), Victor Scalici (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck), Nick Craig (Howell, NJ/Howell), Sean Kley (Titusville, NJ/Hopewell Valley), Mitch Miller (Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central), William Schwartz (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville), Benjamin Spinelli (Chester, NJ/Mendham), Rocco Dragonetti (Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park), Max Boerstoel (Boonton, NJ/Mountain Lakes) and Andrew Lachawiec (Belford, NJ/Middletown North), along with student assistant coach Brandon Brocklehurst.  
 
Each team scored late in the second quarter with the Knights striking first from the defensive side of the ball. Sophomore Tristen Burnett put Southern Virginia in front by intercepting a pass 54 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead. That gave the Knights the lead with 4:35 left before the half.
 
TCNJ executed a perfect two-minute drill later in the period as they got the ball back at its own 41 with 1:40 left to play. The Lions capped that drive when quarterback Michael Marchesano (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) found Mulholland in the far flat as the receiver raced to the pylon for the touchdown. Kicker Brian Nagy (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) added the extra point for a 7-6 lead at the half.
 
Scalici took over in the second half as he scored the first two touchdowns of the half with the first coming from 11-yards out and the other from two. Those two touchdowns give him a career-high six on the season.  Those touchdowns and successful PATs by Nagy put the hosts in front 21-6.
 
The game then produced a couple of unusual scoring plays, starting with another defensive score for the Knights. This time, Morgan Smith returned a fumble 98 yards to close the gap to 21-12.
 
The Lions quickly got two of those points back when they forced a fumbled on the ensuing point after and Shane Kelley (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 81 yards for two points.
 
TCNJ's defense put the finishing on the win with an interception with Troy Domenick (Marlton, Cherokee) getting this third pick in the last two weeks with 3:45 left.
 
The offense then ran out the remaining time to secure the team's third straight win.
 
In addition to Domenick's interception, Kelley and Vasilenko also picked off a pass. Corner back Jordan Rogers (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) was active on defense as well with three tackles and three pass break ups.
 
Southern Virginia was led by Andy Bair as the linebacker had a game-high 12 tackles, including eight solo.
 
TCNJ closes out the regular season on Friday, November 13 with a road game at Rowan University. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. Southern Virginia closes out its season at home a day later hosting Christopher Newport University.