Box Score
Buffalo, NY---Quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) was 24 of 31 for 303 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 40 yards and two more scored to lead The College of New Jersey (1-1/1-0) past Buffalo State (0-2/0-1), 42-32, in the Bengals’ homecoming game today at Coyer Field.
Jeff deZutter (Bedminster, NJ/Bernards) led the Lions’ receiving corps with eight catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. Cam Richardson (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twsp.) added six grabs for 84 yards and a score, and Colin Weber (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) caught four passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Buffalo State was led on the ground by Sammy Smith (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) with 18 carriers for 109 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Mark Boswell (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore East) was 8 of 14 for 61 yards and ran for 80 yards and two scores. Ryan Harold (Levittown, NY/Division Avenue) led the Bengals’ defense with 12 tackles, including a sack.
TCNJ outgained the Bengals 424-370. The Lions had 303 passing yards, compared to 92 by the Bengals, but Buffalo State outrushed the Lions, 278-121.
TCNJ found the end zone on three of its first four possessions to jump out to a 21-6 advantage. Weber reeled in a 34-yard touchdown reception from James just 1:24 into the contest. Chase Misiura (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) added a 1-yard touchdown run on the next possession.
After the Bengals got on the board with a 7-yard run by E. Todd Hurlbut (Phoenix, NY/John C. Birdlebough) early in the second quarter, the Lions needed just six plays, capped by an 11-yard scoring play from James to deZutter.
TCNJ scored again to extend its lead to 28-6 on a 3-yard run by James. Boswell cut the deficit when he found the end zone from 3 yards out with 33 seconds remaining in the half, and a successful two-point conversion made the score 28-14 at the intermission.
The Bengals cut the lead to 28-20 with the lone score of the third quarter, when Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) sacked Bill Picatagi (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) and Joe Corning (Corning, NY/Corning West) scooped up the fumble and ran it in from 9 yards. The Bengals missed the extra point for the second time of the game.
TCNJ put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter, however, with an early 14-yard throw-and-catch from James to Richards, and then scored again on a 5-yard run by James.
Buffalo State attempted to mount a comeback with a 2-yard scoring run by Smith and a 10-yard quarterback keeper by Boswell with 41 seconds remaining. The Bengals could not secure the on-side kick, however, and the Lions ran out the clock.
Buffalo State will travel to Western Connecticut State next Saturday, and TCNJ will host Morrisville State.