Buena Vista, Va … Senior Brian Nagy (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) drilled a 25-yard field goal attempt to lead The College of New Jersey football team to a 28-25 victory in the fourth overtime period.
 
The Lions improved to 2-7 with their second straight win, while the Knights dropped to 2-7 overall.
 
The game was tied 14-14 at the end of regulation and both offenses traded punches during the overtime periods. Nagy booted a 22-yard attempt through the uprights on TCNJ's first overtime possession. The Knights matched it with a 20-yard kick from Sam Horman.
 
In the second overtime period, SVU missed on a 37-yard attempt, but intercepted a pass to keep the Lions off the board. In the third OT, Lions' quarterback Trevor Olser (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) hit junior wide receiver Thomas Koenig (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional) with a 25-yard touchdown strike. Osler found senior Jeff Mattonelli (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) in the end for the two-point conversion to extend the TCNJ lead to 25-18.
 
The Knights responded with a Ty Jones TD run from five yards out, and Simi Moala carried it in for two points to knot the score at 25.
 
The TCNJ defense held SVU to the 21-yard line in the fourth overtime period, forcing Horman to try another attempt from 38 yards. His kick sailed wide to give the Lions an opportunity to put the game away. Junior Chad Scott (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) carried for five yards and then eight yards to put the Lions in close range. On fourth down, Nagy lined up a 25-yard attempt and booted it clean through the uprights to end the game.
 
 
Despite a high-scoring finish, the game started slowly. After a scoreless first quarter, the Lions finally got on the board with a six-play, 63-yard drive. Starting on their own 37, Scott eluded the defense for a 15-yard guard to enter SVU territory. Osler completed a 25-yard pass to Mattonelli for a big gain. After another Scott rush, Osler connected with junior Khani Glover (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) for a 14-yard TD pass to give the Lions a 7-0 lead at the break..
 
The Knights tied it 7-7 on their opening drive of the third quarter. They traveled 77 yards on nine plays, capped by a Ty Jones 34-yard touchdown run.
 
The Lions went three and out on their next possession, but a punt by Zach Warcola (Mehdham, NJ/Mendham) put Southern Virginia at its 16-yard line. After a penalty, Jones dropped back and had his pass picked off by sophomore Anthony Leithauser (Township of Washington, NJ/Bergen Catholic) at the 23-yard line. Leithauser returned it the distance for a 23-yard touchdown to put TCNJ back in front, 14-7.
 
A pass interference call against TCNJ followed by a 20-yard rush by Michael Frye put the Knights at the TCNJ in fourth quarter. Moala punched it in from six yards out to tie the game with 10:09 to play.
 
Neither team could add to their total in regulation, forcing the series of overtime periods.
 
Osler had his best day of the season, completing 14 passes for a season-high 223 yards and two touchdowns. Mattonelli registered three catches for 91 yards, while Vincent Guckin (Chery Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) and Chase Vena (Tabernacle, NJ/Senaca) also finished with three receptions. Koenig had two catches for 57 yards.
 
Senior defensive lineman Abdelrahman Ragab (Edison, NJ/Edison) had a big day, compiling a career-high 13 tackles, including three tackles for a loss of four yards. Sophomore Connor Owen (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) racked up 11 takedowns, while Max Busca (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) finished with 10 tackles. Senior Robert Burns (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) recorded a sack for a loss of nine yards.
 
TCNJ returns home for its final game of the season on Friday night in Lions Stadium. The program will honor their seniors in a pregame ceremony, followed by an NJAC showdown with Rowan University at 7 p.m.