Tri-Captain
Elected a tri-captain for the 2008 season, Dave Fontoura was named the recipient 2007 TCNJ Football Lion Award for his contributions to the team as a member of the squad last year. Named to 2007 NJAC All-Star Second Team at safety, after a breakout campaign, he returns this fall with expectations to lead the Lions’ defense that took several hits due to graduation.
He was named the NJAC and ECAC’s Defensive Player of the Week mid-season after playing a key role in TCNJ’s 30-0 NJAC victory over Cortland. He notched four tackles from his defensive back position, and delivered the key play in the game with an 81-yard interception return for a touchdown which secured the Lions’ shutout. On the day, he was a key contributor to a Lions’ defense which held Cortland to just 214 total yards of offense.
He finished year ranked 27th in the league with his 4.6 tackles per game and helped the Lions defense earn considerable acclaim for their efforts in 2007. Fontoura was part of a defensive unit that by year’s end ranked rank 21st nationally in total defense with a 269.1 yards per game of total defense. TCNJ also held the opposition to just 70.5 yards per game on the ground and helped TCNJ rank seventh nationally in rushing defense , while also rankings in scoring defense (tie 37th, 17.3ppg), tackles for a loss per game (16th, 9.4), and pass sacks per game (tie 18th, 3.33).
He has played in 27 games thus far on his career and is poised to join the Lions’ 100 tackle club as he has racked up 94 tackles in three years and now has three interceptions for 143 return yards.
Year By Year Statistics
Year G UT AT Tackles TL-Yds. Sack –Yds. PD INT (Yds) Fumbles Blks.
2005 5 3 1 4 0-0 0-0 0 0-0 0 0
2006 10 23 12 35 3.0-6 0-0 3 1-49 2 0
2007 12 20 35 55 7.5-29 1.5-13 2 2-94 1 0
TOTALS 27 46 48 94 10.5-35 1.5-13 5 3-143 3 0
