MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The TCNJ football team saw Montclair State score 11 unanswered points in the final six minutes, including the go-ahead field goal in the final minute of a 30-27 NJAC setback on Saturday night.
The Lions (6-3, 3-3) trailed 19-13 at halftime but appeared to be in firm control when
Joe Visaggio's 1-yard plunge capped a second consecutive touchdown drive and gave the blue and gold a 27-19 advantage with 11:58 remaining.
The Red Hawks (4-5, 3-3), however, converted a trio of third downs on a 14-play, 68-yard drive that ended in a touchdown and a game-tying two-point try. After a quick TCNJ three-and-out, Montclair State drove down to the Lions' 20, and Roger Rubinetti was good from 37 yards out as the timer ticked down to 53 seconds.
The Lions converted a fourth down with a 13-yard pass from
Kyle Vellis to
Erik Garv near midfield, but their last chance went begging as Vellis was sacked.
TCNJ found itself in an early 9-0 hole as the hosts scored on each of their first two possessions, but a 55-yard kickoff return by
Albert D'Alessandro III, who ran one back for a TD the week prior, set the Lions up with a short field. Visaggio cashed in with the first of his two touchdowns, a 14-yard rush to the right side in the final minute of the opening frame.
Montclair State made it 12-7 with a short field goal, only for
Dean Licari to connect with Garv for a 69-yard touchdown on the very next play from scrimmage.
The Red Hawks made it 19-13 with a 1-yard TD rush by Diante Wilson with 7:15 to go in the second, and took that lead into intermission.
The score stayed there until late in the third, when
Jaiden Johnson's 4-yard touchdown run finished off a 9-play, 52-yard march and gave the Lions a 20-19 lead.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Montclair State outgained the Lions, 338-209, thanks in large part to a 225-yard day on the ground
- TCNJ's prolific ground game was bottled up to the tune of just 79 yards on 43 carries (1.8 YPC)
- The Lions were 7-of-13 on third down
- The Red Hawks racked up five sacks, while TCNJ did not have one
FOR THE FOES
- Wilson carried 24 times for 101 yards and a pair of touchdowns
- Christopher Arnold had 11 carries for 77 yards and a score
- Luke Henrich finished 14-of-18 passing for 113 yards
STANDOUT LIONS
NOTES
- Visaggio's 11 rushing TDs are tied for fourth-most in program history for a single season
- Giulian became the ninth player in school history to eclipse 200 career tackles
- Sessa now has 27 career tackles for loss
UP NEXT
- The Lions wrap up the regular season against unbeaten Christopher Newport on Friday, November 14, with Senior Day celebrations to precede kickoff
