EWING, N.J.. - The TCNJ football team put on a show on both ends in its game against Juniata Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 35-0, shutout win over the Eagles in their final tune-up before NJAC play.
 
The Lions' (3-0) offense had its way with the run game once again Saturday, using a game-high 89 yards from Jordan Morrell and the first multi-score game of Joe Visaggio's career to put the game away early, while defensively TCNJ racked up nine tackles for losses and had two turnovers caused by Christian Bennett to keep what had been an impressive Juniata offense scoreless for the first time this season.
 
The visitors' lone chance to get on the board was denied by the special teams unit and Sam Kuhns, who blocked an Eagles field goal attempt in the third quarter to preserve the shutout.
 
TCNJ elected to receive after Juniata (2-2) won the toss and elected to defer, but an opening-drive interception halted the Lions' trip downfield just outside the redzone. As has been the case to start the season, however, the defense came on the field and forced a quick three-and-out, with a shanked punt setting up the Lions once again at the Eagles' 40.
 
TCNJ would not waste their second opportunity, using a healthy mix of Morrell and Alex Dille before Visaggio punched in his first of the day from three yards out to give the Lions a 7-0 lead.
 
Following another Juniata three-and-out on its ensuing possession, it was TCNJ putting together a clinical, eight-minute drive featuring 14 rushes and just one pass to set up Visaggio for his second score to double the Lions' lead before the first quarter could end.
 
Morrell got himself on the board just over halfway through the second quarter, bulldozing his way into the endzone from a yard out before a five-yard scamper from Dean Licari – the senior also completed two passes for 37 yards – built TCNJ's lead to 28-0 at the half.
 
The Eagles threatened to spoil the shutout on a five-minute, 13-play drive midway through the third, but Kuhns was there to beat his man around the edge and block Juniata's 34-yard field goal attempt to keep them off the board. Instead it was the Lions tallying their fifth and final score on the ensuing drive, with a 33-yard deep ball from Kyle Vellis to Mikael Simon setting up Dille to score his first collegiate rushing touchdown and balloon TCNJ's advantage to 35-0.
 
Two more defensive stops – including an impressive pass breakup by Corey Baglivo on 4th and 8 to force a turnover on downs – and a pair of Lions first downs by Luke Dengler and Aaron Viray cleared the way for TCNJ to kneel out the game and secure the 35-0, shutout win at home.
 
STANDOUT LIONS

• Morrell did not lose a single yard on his 14 carries, finishing with 89 yards and a score
• Visaggio added 54 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns
• Andrew Spano shared the team-lead with 14 carries, finishing with 67 yards
• Dille paired his reception for 22 yards with four rushes for 25 yards and a score.
• Bill Westerby and Dave Giulian each finished with a team-high eight tackles.
• Clifford Dirkes added a game-high 1.5 tackles for loss
• Nick Surdo and Remy Feniello each registered a sack
• Bennett finished with four tackles – one for a loss – and caused two turnovers
• Tim Willever was a perfect 5-5 on PATs

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Lions produced a season-high 300 rushing yards on 64 attempts.
  • TCNJ's 399 yards of total offense was also a season-best mark.
• The Lions held a 25-15 advantage in first downs.

NOTES

• TCNJ is 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2011.
• This was the first meeting between the teams in program history.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are on the road to take on seventh-ranked Salisbury in their NJAC opener, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.