SALISBURY, Md. – For the first time since Week One, the TCNJ football team didn't have to line up against a team ranked in the top 10 of the national polls. Even so, the Lions still had a tough test as they traveled to Salisbury on Saturday night for an NJAC contest. The Sea Gulls entered the game receiving votes in the latest D3football.com national poll. TCNJ held tough with Salisbury for a half, but the Sea Gulls pulled away in the second half as they defeated the Lions, 38-7.

Both teams scored on each of their opening possessions. Salisbury took the opening kickoff, and on the third play from scrimmage, quarterback Jack Navitsky scored on a 69-yard touchdown run out of the Sea Gulls' triple option offense.

TCNJ responded, though, with a long drive that led to pay dirt. On the 13-play, 75-yard march, quarterback Andrew Donoghue completed his first six attempts. His seventh completion was a 26-yard touchdown connection with Vinny Guckin. Guckin and Jaiden Elliott each made two catches on the drive. The Lions also went for it on 4^th-and-1 on the drive, and they managed to draw Salisbury offside to get a first down.

The teams traded punts, but TCNJ's drive stalled inside its own 5-yard line. Because of that, Salisbury had excellent field position, starting at the TCNJ 44. On the third play of the drive, Navitsky again scored a rushing touchdown, this time from 18 yards out to make it 14-7 Salisbury with 14:53 remaining in the first half.

A bad snap on a TCNJ punt later in the quarter set the Sea Gulls up at the TCNJ 48. Salisbury made it to the TCNJ 8, but Bryant Sanchez had a 4-yard tackle for loss on second down, and Anthony Deieso forced an incompletion on third down to force a 29-yard field goal attempt. That kick went wide, and the score stayed at 14-7.

TCNJ punted again on its next possession, and Salisbury converted that drive into a field goal with 30 seconds left in the second quarter. That sent the teams into the half with Salisbury leading, 17-7.

Michael Siwak forced a turnover early in the third quarter. He intercepted a Navitsky pass and returned it 29 yards to the TCNJ 40. The Lions had to punt, though, and Salisbury responded with a 77-yard touchdown drive to extend its lead to 24-7.

Another punting mishap for the Lions gave Salisbury the ball at the TCNJ 25, and Salisbury capitalized by scoring a touchdown two plays later. The Sea Gulls added another touchdown in the fourth quarter to round out the scoring at 38-7.

Donoghue completed 17-of-25 passes for 159 yards. Elliott led the team with eight receptions for 55 yards. Jack Clevenger had five grabs for a team-high 69 yards. Guckin had four catches for 43 yards and the touchdown reception.

Gavin Liepe led the Lions' defense with 11 tackles. Siwak and Max Busca each had 10 tackles.

TCNJ enters its bye week before returning to action at Montclair State on Oct. 6.