Newport News, VA… The College of New Jersey football team continued to excel on the road, winning their third road contest in four tries on the season, hanging on to win 21-19 over Christopher Newport University Saturday afternoon. The Lions are now 3-6 on the season and 3-5 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play. The Captains fall to 5-4 overall and 4-4 in league play.
 
The Lions defense was the story early, forcing three straight three-and-outs to open the game. On the Captains fourth drive, they faced a fourth-and-three on their own 12 yardline. Christopher Newport opted to go for it and TCNJ forced an incomplete pass. Three plays later, Trevor Osler (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) found Gabriel Rios (Union, NJ/Union) for an eight yard touchdown strike.
 
The Captains would answer with back-to-back field goal drive to close out the half, cutting the deficit to 7-6 at the break.
 
The Lions received the second half kickoff and went 67 yards in just five plays thanks to two 15-yards penalties assessed on the Captains. Osler threw his second touchdown of the game, capping the drive with a 25-yard pass to Thomas Koenig (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional). Koenig finished with a team-high four catches and 32 yards.
 
TCNJ would score again in the third quarter going 80 yards in just six plays, again aided by a pair of 15-yard flags. Osler would throw his third touchdown of the game, hitting Jack Clevenger (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) to cap the drive. Clevinger did a little bit of everything for the Lions, making four tackles and forcing a fumble on a punt return.
 
The Captains stormed back, going 90 yards after stopping a Lions fourth down to cut the lead to a single possession.
 
Following a punt and turnover from both teams, the Captains took over on their own 11 yard line with 4:19 remaining. Christopher Newport quarterback K.J. Kearney led the team on a 19-play drive throwing a touchdown with just 2.6 seconds remaining, but the Captains pass attempt on the two-point conversion fell incomplete. Clevenger recovered the onside kick attempt to secure the victor

Max Busca (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) led the defense with 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Shane Kelley (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) also made 10 stops. Kelley made 1.5 sacks and recovered a fumble. Xavier Santos (Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) was the third Lions with double digit tackles.
 
Khani Glover (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) finished with 90 yards on the ground for the Lions.
 
The Lions close out the 2017 season next Saturday at noon when they host Southern Virginia University. The teams senior class will be honored prior to the game.