EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – The TCNJ football team fell victim to an extended second-half run in its road opener at Wilkes, which scored the game's final 21 points to secure a 28-8 victory on Saturday.
The Lions (0-2) took the lead early in the third quarter of a defensive slugfest, when rookie running back
Sam Dech broke free for a 62-yard touchdown run to put the blue and gold on top, 8-7. The Colonels, however, went ahead for good with a 75-yard touchdown march later in the period, and the Lions never recovered.
Wilkes received the opening kickoff and promptly went 75 yards in 12 plays to grab a quick 7-0 lead. After a Lions three-and-out, the hosts moved the ball down to the TCNJ 24-yard line before
Ethan Kalinauskas broke up a fourth-down pass for a turnover on downs.
After a series of punts, the Lions got their offense going with 4:59 before halftime.
Michael Strachan took a short pass from
Walker Bailey for a 37-yard catch-and-run before a
Jordan Morrell run and a 12-yard catch by Dech set up the visitors with a 1
st-and-goal. Dech was stuffed at the goal-line on fourth down, but
Shane Walsh tackled the Colonels' ball-carrier in the end zone for a safety to get TCNJ within 7-2 at the break.
Dech broke one on the third play of the second half, sprinting 62 yards into the end zone on a third-down tote to give TCNJ an 8-7 lead.
After the teams traded punts, Wilkes covered 75 yards in nine plays and went ahead to stay on an 8-yard TD run by Trey Dogmanits. The Colonels forced a fumble on the ensuing TCNJ drive, and William Smith's 1-yard plunge put the hosts ahead, 21-8, with 12:04 remaining. Wilkes intercepted the Lions on the very next play from scrimmage and ultimately capped the scoring with another touchdown in the final minute.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Wilkes picked up 22 first downs to the Lions' 12 and held a 323-277 advantage in total yards
- The Colonels held the ball for just over 34 minutes of game time
- TCNJ rushed for 215 yards and nearly five yards per carry
- Wilkes was 7-of-15 on third down and 2-for-3 on fourth down, while the Lions 3-of-10 on third down and failed to convert on either of its fourth-down tries
STANDOUT LIONS
- Dech finished with 97 yards on 12 carries and scored for the second straight game
- Morrell rushed 10 times for 50 yards
- Bailey finished 3-for-5 for 54 yards through the air and picked up 36 yards on the ground
- Michael Cevetillo had a 26-yard reception, the first of his career
- Walsh led the Lions with nine tackles, including his safety
- Sean Gallagher had eight tackles and Matt Cassidy added seven
- Brayden Kelly collected six tackles and a pass breakup
- Remy Feniello registered a tackle for loss and forced a fumble
UP NEXT
- TCNJ goes into its bye week and will head to Juniata on Saturday, September 26
