PITMAN, N.J. – The TCNJ football team won three NJAC Player of the Week awards, announced by the conference on Sunday morning. Jacob Maurice was named NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week, Stephen Begen claimed NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week, and Joe Ciempola won NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
Maurice had six tackles out of the Lions' defensive backfield while also forcing a fumble at No. 11 Salisbury on Saturday. Five of his six tackles were solo stops. Maurice also forced a fumble at the end of the first half that TCNJ recovered as Salisbury looked to add another score. It's Maurice's second Defensive Rookie of the Week award after he earned the honor after Week 1.
 
Begen went 14-for-31 for 221 yards and a touchdown and an interception while also rushing for a touchdown in his first career start. Begen completed passes to five different receivers, including four each to Max Hayford and Matthew Macaulay. He found Hayford for a 77-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter that helped TCNJ get back in the game. It was the first of two TCNJ touchdowns within a minute to pull the Lions to within 23-16 of the Sea Gulls. His 6-yard touchdown rush early in the fourth quarter cut the Salisbury lead to 30-23.
 
Ciempola got the Lions on the board in the most unusual way on Saturday. After Salisbury scored to make it 6-0, Ciempola blocked the extra point and returned it for two points to make it 6-2. That three-point swing allowed the Lions to stay within striking distance and have just a one-score deficit for a large portion of the fourth quarter.
 
TCNJ finishes the regular season with a home game against Rowan on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.