UNION, N.J. – The TCNJ football team cruised to its first NJAC victory in style, raining on Kean's Homecoming parade with a comprehensive 27-0 shutout on a wet Saturday in Union.
 
Stephen Begen tossed two first-half touchdowns, Jayson Schmidt and Ryan McKinney combined for over 200 rushing yards, and Jack Young snagged two interceptions deep in TCNJ territory to help the Lions (2-4, 1-2) secure their first shutout in an NJAC game since a 20-0 win at William Paterson in 2017.
 
Brayden Messinger put an exclamation point on the rout by blocking a punt and returning it 20 yards for a touchdown with 3:32 to play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lions got a huge break on their opening possession as Joe Aliano drew a roughing penalty on a punt to give the visitors a new set of downs. Three plays later, Ryan McKinney burst through the 'A' gap for a 35-yard run down to the Kean 13. The drive stalled there, but well within range for Bobby Wortman to boot a 29-yard field goal as TCNJ drew first blood
• After forcing a punt, the offense struck again as Ryan Gill came down with a contested catch on a deep ball from Stephen Begen down the left sideline and waltzed untouched into the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown. The extra point was no good, leaving the Lion lead at 9-0 with 5:36 to go in the first
• Kean threatened on its next trip, moving down to the Lions' 23 thanks in part to a roughing the punter penalty, but Jack Young stepped in front of a post route at the 5-yard line and snagged a critical interception to short-circuit the Cougars' promising possession
• Young came up with another huge pick on Kean's next drive, undercutting an out route at about the 15-yard line and tapping his toes for his second interception. TCNJ cashed in the other way, going 86 yards in eight plays – the big one a diving 28-yard catch from Malin Jasinski – and extending its lead to 15 as Thomas Burke used his big frame to 'Moss' a defender in the back of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown. Electing to go for two, Begen found Jasinski wide open for the conversion and a 17-0 advantage midway through the second
• The defense came up huge again just before halftime. Put in a tough spot after Kean sniffed out a fake punt bear midfield, Dave Giulian's third-down sack prevented the Cougars from capitalizing and sent the Lions into the locker room with a 17-point cushion
• The third quarter passed without a point, but TCNJ tacked on 10 more in the fourth. Wortman kicked a 36-yard field goal with 5:32 to go, and exactly two minutes later Messinger scored on his own blocked punt

FOR THE FOES

• Kean could get little going against a stout Lions defense, averaging only 2.07 yards per play and finishing with just 126 yards of offense
• Meir Pittman led the defense with a game-high 14 tackles and a forced fumble

FOR THE LIONS

• McKinney showed off his explosiveness from the get-go, gaining 47 yards on three carries on the opening drive. He had 71 yards on seven totes in the first quarter and finished with a career-high 93 on 16 carries
• Schmidt ran wild in the second half, ending up with 112 yards on 19 carries for his third career 100-yard rushing game
• Begen was terrific in the first half, going 8-for-12 for 133 yards and the two scores
• Gill had 61 yards on two catches, and Jasinski hauled in a game-high four receptions for 50 yards
• Burke's touchdown was his second of the season and fifth of his career
• Dave Giulian posted a pair of sacks and Jameson Sessa tallied a sack among his team-leading seven tackles
• Jacob Maurice forced a third-quarter fumble that was recovered by Amir Vick, and Teddy Osei also forced a fumble
• Young registered his first career multi-interception game and raised his career total to seven
• Messinger blocked two punts on the day; the first came on the opening possession of the second half and set TCNJ up at the Kean 8, but the Cougars snared an interception in the end zone on the next play

NOTES

• The Lions snapped a two-game skid to Kean, and the 27 points were their most in the series since a 34-30 loss in 2012
• Begen notched the first game of his career with multiple touchdown passes
• TCNJ also had a blocked punt for a touchdown in 2019 against Kean, when Joe Ciempola's 2-yard return proved to be the winning play in a 7-3 victory

UP NEXT

• The Lions wrap up non-conference play against Gettysburg on Homecoming next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.