Box Score
Senior Day Page
Ewing, NJ …..Western Connecticut State University held off a couple of late threats by The College of New Jersey football team as the Colonials rallied for a 37-34 win at Lions’ Stadium on Saturday.
The loss concluded the home portion of the schedule for TCNJ as they went 4-2 at Lions’ Stadium this season. Prior to the coin flip at the start of the game, the team recognized its 14 seniors for their hard work and dedication to the program.
The Lions also set another team record as the 34 points gave them 305 for the season topping the old mark of 295 points in a season set in 1989.
The hosts held a 34-26 lead in the fourth quarter, but WestConn crept to within 34-29 with a 23-yard field goal by James Campbell (Oakdale, NY/Connetquot) and running back Tyler DeRosa (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) capped the scoring on a five-yard run and then caught a two-point conversion putting the Colonials in front 37-34.
TCNJ came within a couple of yards of reclaiming the lead with a tremendous 14-play drive that covered 76 yards, but that drive ended when WestConn intercepted a tipped pass at its own five-yard line with just over a minute left on the clock.
The Lion defense held and turned the ball back over to the offense, but the Colonial defense again forced a turnover and ran out the clock.
The offensive shootout began less than five minutes into the game as Lion senior Bill Picatagi (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) rumbled for a 25-yard touchdown run, while the Colonials came right back with a 48-yard pass from James Williams (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) to Rich Spader (Oxford, NJ/Seymour) knotting the game at six.
TCNJ quarterback James Donoghue (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) lofted a 15-yard pass to Mark Gardner (Flemington, NJ/Bishop Dunne (TX) in the corner of the end zone, but again Williams pulled WestConn even as he connected with Steve Griffin (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley) from 53 yards.
The teams continued to trade scores as Picatagi scored his second touchdown of the game from four yards, with DeRosa scoring for the Colonials from that same distance.
Donoghue guided the Lions to a late score as he hooked up with Colin Weber (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) in the far corner of the end zone on a play that covered 22 yards. That score came with 21 seconds left before the half.
That proved to be just enough time for WestConn to pull within a point as Williams threw a 44-yard TD pass to Mike Keating (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) on the final play of the half. TCNJ held a 27-26 advantage at the break.
Donoghue was a very efficient 22-for-28 for 194 yards with three touchdowns, while Michael Yetka (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) ignited the ground attack with his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season going for 117 yards on 20 carries. Picatagi added a career-high 97 yards on 15 rushes.
Williams also tossed three touchdown passes as the Colonial signal caller went 12-for-19 and 259 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions were led by freshman Greg Burns (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) who finished with 10 tackles (four solo).
For WestConn, sophomore Greg Galasso (Brewster, NY/Brewster) had a game-high 22 tackles with five being solo.
The Lions wrap up the season next weekend heading to Rowan University on Saturday for a 1 p.m. start, while the Colonials return home to take on William Paterson University at noon.