Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey football team gift-wrapped a Homecoming Day victory for its alumni and friends as they defeated William Paterson University 42-28 on Saturday afternoon in Lions Stadium.
 
It marked the first win of the season for the Lions (1-7) and could not have come at a better time. After an arduous start to its early-season schedule and showing great progress in the second half last week, TCNJ erupted for five rushing touchdowns and a defensive score in front of its largest crowd of the season. It also marked the first head coaching win on TCNJ sidelines for Rocky Hager.
 
On a day that is steeped in history, junior Chad Scott (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) joined TCNJ football lore as he tied the record for most rushing touchdowns by a Lions' running back. Nate Woodward (1976), Joe Clifton (1987), and Jon Hedgepeth (2003) will make room for Scott as he ran it into the end zone four times in the contest, the most by a player in the 92-year history of the program. He finished the game with 137 yards on 29 carries, eclipsing the 100-yard mark for the third times this season.
 
The Lions rushed for 221 yards in the game and held the Pioneers to -19 yards on the ground. Four takeaways were also a major factor in the triumph, highlighted by a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior linebacker Shane Kelley (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee).
 
WPU did have an impressive afternoon through the air, amassing 389 yards and four touchdown passes. James Waldron completed 21 passes, while Anthony DiMarsico and Malcolm Robinson each caught a pair of scoring strikes.
 
Both teams experienced trouble handling the football in a sloppy first quarter. The Lions lost a pair of fumbles and William Paterson also coughed up the pigskin that was recovered Abdelrahman Ragab (Edison, NJ/Edison).
 
Early in the second quarter, Waldron dropped back for a short pass to his right. Co-captain Shane Kelley (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) anticipated the play and tipped the ball and secured the interception, racing 27 yards into the end zone as the Homecoming crowd erupted in cheer.
 
The Lions stretched the lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter. The 10-play, 67-yard drive was capped by a three-yard TD run by Scott.
 
WPU got on the board with a five-play, 75-yard drive late in the first quarter. Waldron led DiMarsico down the right sideline and DiMarsico made a great catch in tight coverage for a 57-yard scoring strike.
 
With under two minutes remaining in the half, the Pioneers got the ball back at their 20. On second down, Ragab wrapped up Waldron by his legs and Kelley hit him high to force a fumble. The ball was recovered at the WPU 19-yard line by freshman Erik Graham (Oceanport, NJ/Shore Regional) with 38 seconds on the clock.
 
Four plays later, Osler pounded it across the goal-line on a keeper. The extra point by Brian Nagy (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) was good and the Lions held a 21-7 halftime.
 
William Paterson came out quickly in the second half. They drove 75 yards on 10 plays in four minutes. Waldron found Robinson in the left corner of the end zone with a 21-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 21-14.
 
But Scott rattled off two more short TD runs to move ahead by three scores. Robinson countered with a 71-yard TD catch and run, but the Lions responded with their fifth rushing score of the day.
 
Kelley finished with a team-high seven tackles, an interception return for a touchdown, and a forced fumble. Ragab had 1.5 sacks for a loss of 11 yards and recovered a fumble.
 
Quarterback Trevor Olser (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) accounted for the other rushing score and also completed six passes for 59 yards. Senior Jeff Mattonelli (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) had two grabs for 31 yards.
 
TCNJ visits Southern Virginia University next Saturday and returns home for their season finale on Friday, November 11 at 7 p.m. against Rowan University.