NJAC Coaches exclude Lions from post-season party

When it comes to football, the ultimate team sport, there’s just no room for ‘I’. A team’s win/loss column proves a more telling statistic than even the most padded individual categories. And, frankly, collective success matters more to players than any gaudy final tally of yards, TDs or complex ratings.

But there is a lone exception, exclusive to a brief, single moment. Immediately after, focus shifts away from ‘me’ and back to ‘we.’

The occasion coincides with a time during which most reflect on the season that was, again, through the selfless perspective of their program’s success (or lack thereof). Still, if there’s any leeway for absorbing outside attention—rather than deflecting in usual smile-and-nod fashion—it’s when the powers that be dish out coveted post-season awards.

Unfortunately for several TCNJ performers, the decision to gloat (or how much) isn’t theirs.

Snubbed from a majority of the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s end-of-season picks for its top performers, a few notable Lions didn’t get daps for which they could have hoped. Maybe expected.

Possibly deserved.

In total, of the 87 student-athletes named, only four suited up for TCNJ in 2009. In contrast, Kean University had twice as many—on the league’s squad of first-teamers.

A credible argument against those picks would be tough, seeing as the Cougs’ decorated four-year starter (and All-NJAC performer) Jared Chunn (Kean) proved mutually beneficial to the rest of the unit, bringing home his second-consecutive Offensive Player of the Year award.

Kean University was arguably the most physically imposing team in the trenches, evidenced by its three hog-mallies honored, two of whom dominated box defenders and paved the way for the conference’s only 1,000-yard rusher and his 7 TDs (OL Shabazz Green, Kareem Johnson, DT Darryl Jackson). Only SUNY-Cortland rivaled in prominence of its unsung heroes (3), among them the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in DE Bryan Wiley (OL Chris Van de Wheert, DE Evan Wyler).

It was a tight squeeze, crowded by a montage of Rowan, SUNY-Cortland and Montclair State’s most outstanding. But one Lion managed to make the cut of the NJAC elite.

After sending footballs screaming off his right foot for 10 unrelenting weeks, Marc Zucconi represented a quarter of the league’s best third-dimension. Place kicker Marco Capozzoli (Montclair State) edged the Louisville-transfer out of its top specialist spot (1st-team K). But Zucconi’s 41.93 average on punting duties ranked No. 3 in D3—good enough for All-NJAC punter (HM in ’08).

Ensuring balanced representation throughout, the Lions’ reliable—though deceptively electrifying—possession wideout Colin Weber fell into the conference’s second-team ranks.

Quietly leading the NJAC in grabs and yardage for a healthy portion of the regular season, Weber’s production waned only when TCNJ’s depth-chart thinned. Persevering through the sting of TCNJ’s homecoming loss to eventual league champ Montclair State, the sure-handed senior held his ground among the Top 3 most prolific receivers (Weber-2nd in yds/gm, 3rd in rec/gm)—the last time the NCAA’s former No. 1 scoring offense competed in its entirety (RBs Donoloski, Misura; QB James; OL Mecca, Mason, Serrao all missed time).

His eligibility expired, Weber walks away from collegiate competition after finishing as the conference’s No. 5 yard-getter (582 rec. yds). But his other numbers immerse him in a conversation for one of the four the All-NJAC receiver corps slots.

Weber was the league’s fourth-most frequent touchdown recipient (7 rec. TDs), three more than first-teamer Felipe Diaz (Brockport). He was also more efficient with fewer opportunities, ranking higher in yards per catch than all but one of the Top 5 wideouts—another Golden Eagle in Matt Newman (Weber-16.6 yds/rec.).

Collective success of the Golden Eagle offense is irrevocable, which boasted the league’s second-team quarterback in Jake Graci, as well as honorable mention in slot receiver Hector Rosas.

But was its proficiency skewed?

Plenty a credit to its conference-worst defense—a glaring exception being first-team LB Nathan Bull—no NJAC attack saw more offensive snaps than The College at Brockport (819 plays). It wasn’t even close (Rowan-678 plays, 2nd-most).

To lead the synchronous movements for Weber and his honorable mention QB Chris James, the Lion offense may have well played two fewer games than their conference rivals, wrapping up the season with 150 fewer snaps. James blew away the rest of the pack in completion percentage (60.4%), and his 142.3 efficiency rating led created a 10-point disparity over its No. 2 (min. 200 att.). The only player with a more polished resume in either belonged to his understudy, and sophomore Jay Donoghue’s 61.4% accuracy rating (min. 2 starts).

Rowan’s pick-your-poison play-maker QB Frank Wilczynski elevated coaches’ blood pressure with his nearly 800 yards on the ground, and receded hairlines by finishing just shy of the 1,500 aerial yard-mark. His first-team selection was no surprise, so predictable that he, in a sense, might have been a snub for the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

But the nation’s former No. 2 in pass efficiency couldn’t crack the NJAC’s second team? Doubtful. Graci broke records and likely malfunctioned scoreboards, but his 18 picks are one more than the conference’s Top 4 QBs combined (James-8, Cortland’s Alex Smith- 4, Wilczynski-5).

Conservative tactician? Not so much. D3 football’s Jay Cutler? Kinda sorta.

Regarding James, the only more baffling matter is which victimized TCNJ’s four-year starter in the voting more: conference coaches or an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for his final 10 quarters of competition (missed 2 gms).

The jury might be hung on James, but it’s reached a unanimous verdict on his backfield. The Lions’ balanced (and bruised) tailback tandem of Justin Donoloski and Chase Misura likely would have ousted other conference RBs—had both been healthy down the stretch.

Scratched for their final three games of ’09, the group missed chances to validate their early-season brilliance against two defenses among the league’s premier flight (Rowan, SUNY-Cortland), not to mention another salivating, stat-padding outing against one of its cupcakes (Western Connecticut St.).

No back in the conference averaged more yards per carry than Donoloski (6.7 yds/rush, Wilczynski-8.7 yds/rush), a par he maintained for a brief first quarter of action against Montclair State—the nation’s No. 4 unit against the run. Fellow sophomore Marcus McKinney (William Paterson) reached pay dirt 11 times in ’09 and his per-game average yard total ranked third in the NJAC. But he crawled a 3.7 yards per carry—its second-fewest, only to Jeff Bliss (Montclair State) who picked up a dawdling 2.8 on his rushing touches. That duo of methodical drudgery filled the league’s second-team backfield, spots to be had for either Donoloski or Misura—maybe both.

Now, let me offer a preemptive warning that, yes, this graf raises an eyebrow at the lack of homage the list paid to TCNJ defenders, which was justified for a few.

DE Craig Meyer snagged a much-merited honorable mention bid, but two of his teammates were nowhere to be found on coaches’ ballots, and thus, this list.

No two players at the position recorded more tackles than centerfield FS Matt Kreider and ball-jarring SS Shawn Brown—neither of whom were recognized for their 85 (39 solo) and 69 (38 solo) respective tackles.

Their one pick a piece didn’t touch first-team selection Jamahl Williams (Kean) and his season’s five. But Brown forced as many fumbles (1) and brought two turnovers to the house for the Lions D (FUM rec., blkd punt), statistically outperforming its other first-team rep, Mario McLean (Montclair State)— a wideout on his roster. Both Brown and Kreider shared a similar edge over second-teamers Doug Dudek (William Paterson) and Jesse Shekner (Montclair State), although Shekner comprised a stout eleventh of MSU’s Top-10 defense among D3 competitors.

But the biggest slip-up of all involved Eddie Weiser (Buffalo State). No, the beef doesn’t stem from his selection as NJAC Rookie of the Year. Instead, it’s that his Top 10 conference tackle total and lone glimmer of promise for his Bungles’ abysmal D didn’t get him honors elsewhere–neither first nor second team.

OK. He’s still a freshman. But not even a consolation nomination as an honorable mention?

Come now.

I get it. It’s hard to reward a group whose second-half of 2009 had a doughnut for a win-column total. But, for once and only once, this isn’t about the team and what it couldn’t do. The matter is already addressed, something to the tune of Montclair State’s first Stagg Bowl tournament appearance in a decade, and the ECAC Bowl berth for which Kean University must be ecstatic (if nothing else, proud). It’s a shame that TCNJ’s blinding brilliance faded down the stretch, but it’s worse that NJAC coaches failed to tribute their accomplishments, and recognize their potential.

Talent that a crippled a few, and could’ve brought several others to their knees.

TCNJ Player: Rowan coach wanted to fight me

An unidentified man, believed to be a coach with the Rowan University football team, allegedly threatened The College of New Jersey strong safety Shawn Brown, 20, during an altercation after Saturday’s game between the two schools.

Two of Brown’s teammates – free safety Ryan Flannery and wide receiver Colin Weber – offered eyewitness accounts that the individual in question confronted Brown and put his hands on him during the post-game scuffle, which started when teams shook hands after Rowan’s 39-0 victory.

Brown supported the accounts in an interview.

“He grabbed my jersey and then he went to throw a punch,” Brown said Monday morning. “Then [TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton] stepped in between.”

According to player explanations, the physical nature of the skirmish started after Weber, 21, was pushed out of the line of TCNJ players by a dressed player on Rowan’s roster. The three identified the player as cornerback Malcolm Dock, listed as a senior on Rowan’s official roster, based on recollection of his jersey number (#9).

Weber said he believed the incident started after he walked by Dock without shaking his hand. Brown and Flannery stood in line immediately in front of Weber. When they became aware of the contact, they said they turned around and returned the shove to Dock.

Each instance of contact was confirmed as open-handed.

Both Flannery and Brown described their intentions as “defensive” and “protective,” rather than provocative.

“We were just being defensive of our boy,” Brown said Monday morning. “We just turned around having his back, but we weren’t trying to get involved or anything.”

“Me and Shawn pushed him,” Flannery said Monday afternoon. “[Malcolm Dock] fell back a couple yards, but not to the ground or anything.”

Immediately thereafter, the three TCNJ players said that the man they believed to a member of Rowan’s coaching staff “came out of nowhere” and involved himself directly with Brown.

“He was just screaming at us like, ‘Back the [expletive] up you pieces of [expletive]. You guys just lost, back the [expletive] up,’” Brown said Monday morning. “He came after us while he was saying this. That’s what I didn’t understand.”

Brown said Tuesday, during a follow-up interview that he and the man “would have been in a fist-fight if Matt Hamilton didn’t step in-between.”

Neither Flannery nor Weber saw the individual’s hand raised.

“As far as his hand being cocked back I didn’t see anything like that,” said Flannery. “It looked like he was going to hit him but I didn’t see that, specifically.”

Both, however, described his demeanor and body language.

“He came in ready to fight, not wanting to try and break it up at all,” Weber said. “He grabbed [Brown] and you could see it in his face. He didn’t seem at any point like he was civilized or anything.”

“He didn’t take like a peaceful and calm demeanor about it,” Flannery said. “He tried to escalate it, coming after Shawn Brown. That’s what I saw.”

Flannery continued later.

“The players were obviously heated, having just played a game and everything. But when a coach steps in like that, that’s not trying to diffuse the situation and trying to keep things under control. It looked like he was trying to fight more than the players. … He wasn’t in line with the kids or anything. Coaches usually aren’t in the line. I guess he saw the situation coming about and came running over. But he didn’t try to diffuse the situation. He tried to escalate it.”

When asked if he had any doubts that the individual’s actions were aggressive, Brown said he didn’t think so.

“Without a doubt,” he said. “He was physical with us—with me, particularly.”

Weber said he saw another individual, who Brown identified as assistant defensive line coach Justin Hinds, immediately rush over in an effort to stifle the matter. Another unidentified individual, believed to be an undressed Rowan player, also attempted to mediate, according to Brown and Flannery.

“Another coach on Rowan’s staff, he was being civilized,” Weber said. “[Hinds] was just like, ‘Break it up,’ whatever.”

Flannery said he did not see the other individual but confirmed that TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton was trying to intervene.

“I saw [Matt Hamilton] in there trying to break it up,” Flannery said. “But as far as the other coach, no. I didn’t see that part.”

Matt Hamilton was contacted during the preliminary investigation, though the conversations were understood as off-the-record. He, and all of the TCNJ assistant coaches, deferred comment to head coach Eric Hamilton when contacted for on-record comment.

Eric Hamilton, who was present during and after the game, said he didn’t see exactly what happened during the incident.

“I wasn’t there,” he said Monday afternoon. “I did my homework like anyone else trying to figure out what happened.”

Brown described the individual as “big,” referring to muscle definition. He was also described as having “long, brown, curly hair.” He could not be positively identified by players, who were asked to match his face to photographs available on RowanAthletics.com, under the site’s 2009 roster page that offers complete lists of players and coaches.

“He was dressed in the same uniform as the coaches, and he had a headset on the whole game,” Brown said Tuesday. “I don’t know why he wasn’t listed on the web site. He was definitely a coach.”

Photographs of four assistants—Sean Hendricks, Jeff Lewis, Ryan Stevenson Brian Wright—are not available under the team’s 2009 roster page. Photos of Lewis, Stevenson and Wright are available elsewhere, under varying archived roster pages dating back to 2006.

Players confirmed that none of those three were the man who they allege initiated physical contact with Brown.

According to Eric Hamilton’s understanding, the individual was “someone affiliated with the [Rowan football] program,” and could have been, though was not necessarily, a member of the coaching staff.

He offered no further comment on the allegations.

Hamilton, who completed his 33^rd year as head coach at the end of the 2009 regular season, did offer an explanation of what he called “protocol” for managing those scenarios.

“If there’s a situation that occurs, you never grab a player from an opposing team. You grab your own. That’s not the way you handle that.”

In an official e-mail issued by Rowan’s Sports Information Desk, Assistant Sports Information Director Jon McMenamin declined an opportunity to respond on behalf of the Rowan University coaching staff and athletic director.

“Our coaching staff has no comment on what happened after the game,” he said in an e-mail, sent Monday evening.

Sheila Stevenson, Rowan’s Sports Information Director, was contacted earlier Monday afternoon for media clearance for both head coach Jay Accorsi and athletic director Joy Solomen, and was notified of the exact allegations.

During the course of the game, New Jersey Athletic Conference officials threw 19 total personal foul penalties related to excessive aggression during and after plays.

TCNJ was flagged for eight unnecessary roughness penalties, while Rowan was penalized seven times for the same type of activity. The Profs were called for four additional unsportsmanlike conduct violations (TCNJ-0). Two players, one from each team, were ejected in the third quarter.

“I thought it was a chippy second half,” Eric Hamilton said Monday. Earlier in the interview, he called the possibility of an altercation “the downside of trying to shake hands after a game like that.”

The football aspect of the game was predominantly lopsided, in favor Rowan University, as the Profs outgained the Lions 541 yards to only 52, and led 28-0 at the half. “Extra-cirriculars,” did not seem to be correlated with the increasing point and yards totals, however, as 11 of the total personal foul penalties occurred during the first two quarters.

Rowan def. TCNJ 39-0 — Game gives Profs record the W, fight tarnishes everything else

GLASSBORO, NJ–Well…

You could argue the 60 minutes of regulation during “TCNJ vs. Rowan: 2009″ about summed up the past two decades of the rivalry.

But after watching tons of chippy extra-cirriculars between plays and a brief fight after the game, there just wasn’t a whole lot of leeway to describe this continuation of a historically heated series.

More so than not, Saturday was chaos.

Unprecedented and inexcusable.

After owning the Lions in 15 of the series’ past 20 installments, this latest meeting between the two programs ended after a 39-0 rout—advantage Profs. The deficit tied the margin from last year’s finish (TCNJ, L 42-3), both of which represent the largest single-game disparity in series history.

But long before scoreboard indicated the game had gotten out of hand, officials had lost complete control of its order—if they even had any in the first place.

The bitter mutual sentiment fueled a majority of the yellow laundry raining in Coach Wackar Stadium Saturday, which saw a combined 25 flags thrown (NCAA record-39, happened 4 times; offsetting fouls not counted).

There were a few infractions—holds, pass interference and others—that were actually related in some way the game’s limited moments of civilized competition. The rest, a combined 19 unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, had more to do with a collective lack of self-control than anything else (TCNJ 8, Rowan-7 PF; Rowan-4 unsportsmanlike conduct).

When officials finally had enough and tossed two players, both seniors, from their last game as collegiate athletes, it seemed as if the afternoon had sunk to its deepest trough. Not only did the skirmish–ignited while teams exchanged post-game handshakes–outdo those quid pro quo ejections. But it smudged any brief glimmers of a ride-off-in-the-sunset picture for which anyone could have hoped.

What instigated the altercation remains uncertain. No one was seriously injured.

Its uneven finish and saddening tone throughout made everything else seem moot. But, somewhere in between the madness, a football game was actually played.

After forcing a defiant three-and-out during the Profs’ opening possession, TCNJ players watched quarterback Frank Wilczynski deconstruct its defense from then on, himself accounting for 378 of his unit’s 541 yards of total offense (140 rush, 238 pass). The senior was in some way involved in each of Rowan’s five touchdowns (3 pass, 2 rush), capping its offensive scoring with a 2-yard carry near the end of the third quarter (Rowan led 28-0 at half).

Unfortunately for TCNJ’s offense, the conference’s No.1 D wasn’t as gracious.

The most potent attack in school history never seemed to establish a rhythm throughout the entirety of the contest, finishing with only 52 yards of positive gains (2009 team broke record for pts. in season last week).

It wasn’t clear whether the Lions offensive line was out-matched by Rowan or under-manned on account of injuries (two starters out). But the protection it provided—or couldn’t—made way for the Profs’ 15 tackles behind the line for 96 yards of losses.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta dialed up his distinguishing array of screens to take advantage of their aggression, but nothing worked against the Profs’ D-line.

Starting for the second-consecutive week in place of injured four-year letterman Chris James, quarterback Jay Donoghue was sacked 4 on four drop backs, hit on countless others. Profs’ linebacker Andrew Yezzi recorded his career’s two last sacks at the youngster’s expense and intercepted a frenetic pass (also FF).

Even the few plays when he had enough time to get it out of his hands, a blanketing Rowan secondary only offered tight spaces for the sophomore to fit the football—slimmer throwing lanes to get it there.

The lone exception was an electrifying catch-and-run for 46 yards by wide receiver Cam Richardson, one of only three successful completions on the afternoon (Donoghue 3/13, 66 yds, INT). Three other players took snaps from the position, though none of them completed a pass.

Utility play-maker Bill Picatagi received a few direct snaps from shotgun, putting forth undiscouraged effort on runs from the team’s Wildcat formation (2 rec., 20 yds). True quarterback Nick Tyson was used with hopes of adding a similar dynamic, though the hard-nosed freshman wasn’t any more successful with the rock.

Both players gained nine yards on their respective seven carries. Kevin Brown’s 27 yards was the most picked up by any Lion ball-carrier.

The lopsided victory snapped a two-game skid for Rowan (7-3, 6-3 NJAC), though it also capped a winless second-half for TCNJ (4-6, 3-6 NJAC).

It might have padded stats and had regular season implications, but there wasn’t a winner Saturday.

Not after that.

***Rowan University policy prohibits on-field interviews after games. Once TCNJ players and coaches had left the playing field, they changed in the locker room and boarded buses shortly thereafter.***

Profs’ Yezzi earns NJAC award after shutout

Closing weekend for New Jersey Athletic Conference competition encouraged iron-willed efforts from all its fourth-year performers—two in particular manifesting statistically.

Fittingly, conference selections for Week 11’s most outstanding included two seniors.

Given the nod as the conference’s most exceptional defensive performer after its weekend finale, linebacker Andrew Yezzi became the second honoree among Rowan’s collectively stout D this season.

He recorded double-digit tackles in the Profs’ shutout victory over TCNJ (W 39-0), including 4.5 for a loss (12 total). The Franklinville, NJ native accounted for half of the unit’s 4 sacks in the win, during which the NJAC’s least lenient group allowed all of 52 yards of Lion offense.

Yezzi’s contribution included two glimmers of opportunism, complete with a forced fumble and an interception. Neither resulted in turnovers—the Lions safely recovered its own cough-up earlier, and later fell on an unforced fumble during Yezzi’s 33-yard return.

All the same, it seemed every aspect of his afternoon’s collaboration disrupted an already struggling TCNJ offensive attack (-25 rush yds in first half).

Upon the conclusion of the conference’s regular season—and several careers—Yezzi’s 18 tackles for loss stands as the NJAC’s best.

***

The College at Brockport’s opponents may have owned the team and its regular season record (finished 4-6, 3-6 NJAC). But after dicing his final opponent of 2009, Golden Eagles quarterback Jake Graci captured two of the school’s single-season marks for his three-month body of work.

And his third NJAC Offensive Player of the Week award.

Leading the program to a 48-20 victory during the latest installment of its storied rivalry with Buffalo State, Graci produced 404 yards through the air through 25 completions on 39 attempts.

After 10 games, the local product from Farnham, NY now holds the school record for most passing yards in a season, finishing his senior campaign with 2,668.

Graci’s five touchdowns during this year’s I-90 Bowl bolstered his season’s total to 23—a Brockport single-season school record. His afternoon’s scoring total—which capped gains of 88, 7, 20, 66 and 14 yards—also tied the program’s single-game mark.

At season’s end, Graci ranks No. 1 among NJAC quarterbacks with 266.9 yards per game.

***

Since he’s still only a sophomore, Montclair State University can look forward to two more years of production from punter Steve Layden, the lone underclassman listed on the conference’s Week 11 release.

But for those that won’t be coming back, the youngster  helped detract some bitter from senior farewells, compensating with a whole lot of sweet.

Layden dropped two kicks inside the Cougar 10 (downed at 1-yd line, 6-yd line) during the league’s unofficial championship match, breaking a tie between the NJAC’s two No. 1 programs (Kean, MSU entered 7-1 NJAC). Both primed Montclair State’s only offensive touchdowns in a predominantly defensive bout, one that ended 14-6.

A notable contributor to the Red Hawks’ 2009 NJAC championship, Layden’s 11 punts helped the program revisit its first taste of glory since 2003—its 18^th all-time.

***

No offensive or defensive rookies were selected.

Wilczynski: Will the real TCNJ D please stand up?

For anyone with a vested interest in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, Frank Wilczynski might be one of the group’s collectively worst kept secrets. If it’s true—the first available supporting evidence to be released when the conference dishes out post-season awards—it’s for good reason.

The Rowan quarterback’s 2009 campaign doesn’t fit the bill of an accomplishment that should be kept hush-hush. But even for the program, maybe hoping his capabilities catch opposition by surprise, keeping his successes under raps just isn’t practical.

Not numbers like his.

His 233.9 yards of total offense accumulated during every appearance are good for third in the NJAC, inferior statistically to only two conference competitors (No. 1 Graci, Brockport-288.3 yds/gm, No. 2 James, TCNJ-236.3 yds/gm). He’s completed 57% of his season’s 179 attempts, averaging just over 12 yards for every successful connection—worth, together, over 1,200 yards in nine games (152.25 avg. yds/gm).

Rowan play-callers have learned to expect these glimmers of above average adequacy when Frank Wilczynski drops back to pass. But for the amusement of fans, and a workout for statistician’s fingers, coaches are well-aware of the senior’s niche.

The Prof’s electric signal-caller might have only carried the rock 80 times on the year, but he’s produced with remarkable efficiency on his few opportunities—something to the tune of, oh, say, 8.2 yards a pop. Speaking relatively, the only other conference performers with that kind of average production are, coincidentally, two athletes listed at different positions (Tariq Gaines WR, Rowan; Bill Picatagi WR/TE, TCNJ).

Neither of the two rushed more than 26 times in 2009.

Multi-faceted, indeed, Wilczynski’s versatility is apparent in his irrevocable stats and the attention his presence demands.

But, fittingly for an athlete of his elite flight, limiting his role to that of a dual-threat playmaker—a commonality in this day and age—sells his abilities short.

He’s also proven one hell of a reliable litmus test for NJAC defenses.

The Profs early-season loss to SUNY-Cortland aside (Wilczynski DNP), the distinct contrast between his performances parallels that of opposing unit’s measurable caliber. In the team’s six wins, all against arguable cupcakes, Rowan’s reveled QB dazzled, averaging more than a first-down every rushing attempt (11.06 yds/rush) and just six yards shy of a guaranteed 100 every time he took the field (avg. 94 rush yds/gm).

Against those same teams, Wilczynski completed 59.8% of his balls, including a three-week span during which he connected no fewer than 67% of the time (vs. Brockport, Western Connecticut St., Morrisville St.). Sure, he threw for 148 every time out (13.31 yds/comp), but Wilczynski personally accounted for an average of more than three touchdowns in those games.

Remember what he did in Week 5? I can’t…it was something like 216 pass yards, another 146 on the ground—maybe six combined scores (3 pass, 3 rush)?

I’ll have to run those figures by Western Connecticut State. They’d know better (Rowan def. WCSU, 72-12).

But, as a brief aside, it should be noted that those teams—Lycoming, William Paterson, Brockport, Western Connecticut State, Morrisville State and Buffalo State—yeah, they’re win percentage wasn’t too hot in 2009.

Try 28% (combined 15-40).

And wouldn’t you know it, those NJAC units round out the bottom half of the conference’s worst groups against the run. William Paterson aside, they haven’t fared any better against opposing passers (rank No. 5-8, 10 vs. pass).

His prowess with the football is documented—on paper and opponents’ post-game thoughts. It just hasn’t been as profound against the conference’s top dogs.

In his last two appearances, both Rowan losses, F-Dubs had a combined 29 carries against Kean and Montclair State, but only manufactured 89 yards (3.16 yds/rush). He threw for 235 against the Red Hawks’ No. 6 pass defense (opp. avg. 196.4 pass yds/gm), but it required a heavy workload of 39 attempts.

Further, in neither game did he complete over 50% of his passes (43% vs. Kean, 49% vs. MSU) and threw only one touchdown to ease the blow of his three picks (8 TDs, 2 INT in other 6 gms).

“He’s been up and down, but he’s definitely the key,” TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton said respectfully of the team’s pending adversary.

“His strength is running the ball, running the option. Last year I thought he was the best quarterback in the conference. … Did he have the year he wanted? Maybe not, because he didn’t throw the ball as well as he probably would have liked. But I’ll tell you this… even though they’re not in the hunt they have and he has played some people tough. They’re a good team.”

Wilczynski could be susceptible to a stout front-seven, maybe even the conference’s best gauge in that regard. Problem is, for TCNJ’s defense, they haven’t passed a number of early-season inspections.

The group has managed to corral most opposing rushing quarterbacks.

FDU slasher Bill Winters gained 69 yards on 15 carries. But 31 of those were earned against TCNJ second-team players (TCNJ def. FDU 58-28). The TCNJ D gave up 71 yards on nine carries to Brockport’s Jake Graci, but Buffalo State QB Kenny Murphy actually lost two yards on his five carries in the Lions’ season-opener.

Formidable accomplishments, for sure. But none came against a player of his stature.

And, after allowing five teams to rush break the 200-yard barrier—two individual contributors (Kean’s Chunn-209 yds, 2 TDs; WPU’s McKinney-224 yds, 4 TDs)—if there were ever a time for the TCNJ defense to prove itself, now is it.

“This is the last test of the year. We’ll find out what we’re made of,” defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said of his No. 6 rush defense in the conference.

“We made a lot of progress over the course of the year—especially from the mid-way point on. But this week was definitely a let-down for us as a collective unit,” he said, alluding to the 388 yards garnered by Western Connecticut State (total offense 9^th in NJAC).

Disheartening, maybe. But it hasn’t been all bad for this much-maligned TCNJ defense.

Three times has the unit held opposing backfields to fewer than 140 total rushing yards—many of the others skewed by meaningless gains toward the tail end of blowout wins, like Morrisville State’s 189 team yards during a 67-34 rout (59 in 1^st half). It’s even happened with TCNJ on the wrong end of a lopsided finish (WPU-76 rush yds in 1^st half; 209 in game).

The group gave up only 116 against FDU-Florham (74 in 1^st half), another 130 to Western Connecticut State, and—its brightest resume buffer—32 against Montclair State University.

For now, early-season ups and downs are trivial matters. All that remains is Rowan.

And all its storied name implies.

“It’s Rowan. You know they’ve got the athletes. Big, fast, strong—you fill in the adjective. They’re all of it. But we think we’re pretty well-prepared. We’ve watched film for countless hours and the staff, we’ve watched every game they’ve played multiple times.

“We couldn’t possibly show them everything, but we feel we’ve prepared them as best as anyone could.”

And according to players, they say they approve.

“I feel where we’re at, we’re about the same place as Montclair State, and that was probably our best defensive performance,” rookie linebacker Greg Burns said.

“[Wilczynski]’s probably better than [Montclair State quarterback Tim Fischer], but our defense is ready, I feel really confident in the scheme and everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing.”

Still young and ambitious, Burns believes the unit fans saw take the field against Montclair State is the one that should be expected Saturday. And it’s because he thinks that’s the norm, whereas the rest of its shortcomings were anomalies.

Not the other way around.

“I think you’re going to see the real deal this weekend.”

Xs and Os aside, other players focused efforts on different dimensions of their game.

“[Wilczynski] puts the pants on just like anyone else,” defensive end and quad-captain Craig Meyer said.

“We’re going to come out and smack him.”

 

 

It’s Now or Never: For none more than TCNJ’s James

There’s no shortage of motivation for anyone listed on the Lions’ roster, entering the team’s scheduled trip to Glassboro to take on Rowan University.

But their might be one name with a heavier vested sentiment.

Try and draw up a hypothetical source of urgency for Saturday’s game, and it probably already exists—and pertains to TCNJ quarterback Chris James.

Not only does it represent the team’s last-ditch effort at salvaging par, now 4-5 and hoping to avoid consecutive losing seasons. But, should it drop this, the last date on its 2009 calendar, the team’s most recent L would extend the program’s recent skid to five games—among the worst such spans in its rich history.

For James, like the rest of his fellow seniors, the weekend offers one last chance to enter a competitive arena for his final dance as a collegiate athlete. Players bandaging a full season’s worth of wounds to their person have the off-season to heal—for some the rest of their lives.

But to their pride? Their legacy? Eternity won’t relinquish any of that breed of pain, though it offers plenty of time to wonder.

What if?

That question has the potential to resonate with a number of Lions, but many of them will have the forum to respond definitively. Still hampered from undisclosed injuries suffered against SUNY-Cortland two weeks back, his status for this weekend looms with uncertainty.

No official injury information is, or will be made available before kickoff.

Still, players and coaches agree, if there were ever a competitor capable of pulling off that kind of miracle return, it’s this guy.

Right here in Trenton.

“It’s definitely Chris,” wide receiver Cam Richardson said of his quarterback. “He wants to be out there. … I try to think he’s at least going to try and get out on the field at least a little bit. … He’s gonna bust his balls and try to get out there. He’s been rehabbing all week, taking care of his body. I think come Saturday he could be ready to play.”

“He’s proven it and he’s done it,” head coach Eric Hamilton said of his experience with James, though he realized the odds stacked against him. “You just don’t miss that kind of time, wave the magic wand and say, ‘I’m here to do it.’”

Though, according to James, if there’s even a glimmer of light illuminating a way, the stage and his opposition only bolstered his unwavering will.

“It’s your biggest rival, and it’s your last game,” he said. “Your threshold for pain is—you’d have to peel me off the field.”

Should he manage to get himself on the gridiron, the imposing challenge is a familiar foe.

Rowan’s defense is currently ranked first in the conference in nearly every measurable standard—among the Top 15 in the nation in four. Most pertinent to James are the Profs No. 4 pass efficiency defense (opp. avg. 84.34 pass efficiency) and its tightfistedness in aerial yards allowed, two spots outside Top 10 in Division III (133.89 pass yds/gm).

As time progressed—with it, his opponents’ caliber—James has twice encountered this kind of commanding defensive secondaries, neither of which went in his favor. Despite his stellar precision against the other five of his first seven, Kean and William Paterson’s No. 1 pass efficiency defenses proved an insurmountable challenge (both ranked 1^st in NJAC entering gm vs. TCNJ).

At the time.

“Yeah, you think about it,” he said of his combined 38-of-75, 423 yard, 3TD, 4 INT resume against the two (87/131, avg. 258 yds, 11 TDs, 4 INT in 5 other gms).

“You always want to put your best performance out. … But you wanna do it against the best. You don’t want anybody to be able to say anything. If you put your greatest performance together against the greatest team, that shows the real player you are.”

In more absolute terms, there’s a disjunction between James pristine 4-0 record against teams with “lesser” defensive prestige, and the doughnut in across from those two losses (TCNJ L vs. Kean, Wm. Paterson).

Fierce competitor he is, his discontent shouldn’t come as much of a surprise when he’s asked to look back on those two tarnishes.

“I think about that. It’s not the record you have against the lower teams. If you look at it—Rowan, [SUNY]-Cortland, Kean, Montclair [State], it’s all about those teams and your record against them.”

Buried somewhere in the backburner, James’ hunt for personal glory is also at risk. Already the school’s record-holder for attempts, completions and yards in a career—all accomplished this season—he lingers in antagonizing proximity to two more program milestones.

Approaching one final remaining game of his expiring NCAA eligibility, James is only 176 yards shy of TCNJ’s single-season yards mark, and three passing scores short of eclipsing its career TD landmark (James-1,757 yds in 2009, 45 TDs career; Schurtz-1,932 yds in 2001, Faherty 48 TDs between 1982-83). With 23 more completions on the year, he’d even surpass his own personal best of 154 he threw as a sophomore—also the Lions’ best (set in 2007).

But unlike the attention a looming Rowan demands, striving for individual achievements is—at this and any juncture—an afterthought for him.

“You have to keep in mind the best interests of the team, too.”

Whether he’ll suit up for his final weekend recital on the conference’s greatest stage is yet to be seen. But, when asked of his last words and wishes for the dead-end road ahead, he voiced a few ambitious requests.

Just not the kind you tend to expect.

“I hope everybody just leaves it out on the field, you know? No further questions. … I just want to see our senior class go out there and leave it all out there.

“When we’re done, just hang up the pads and say, ‘Bon voyage.’”

Lion Offense Missing its Big Uglies, Uber Productivity

So the story goes, TCNJ’s taken its lumps in 2009. Set back after a 3-0 start at Kean, the team’s been permanently grounded ever since its Week Seven win over Brockport. The Lions broke through the season’s point of no return at 4-1—without any real reason to be looking back.

Since? The team’s win/loss column itself look’s like destiny’s antagonizing face, winking it’s left eye (0-4 in past 4 gms).

The team isn’t quite what it was earlier, with regard to its palpable drop-off in performance. But also, more importantly, it pertains to its diminishing depth.

Names and faces have dropped from the Lions’ roster, but, as TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton put it, “What happens, happens.” But the difference therein—and, really, any coaching staff’s most imposing obstacle—is how to cope with those kinds of losses.

“Every time you lose somebody it hurts,” Hamilton said. “I don’t necessarily mean from a schematics standpoint. It hurts that you train and prepare and you want everybody to be out there. You would much rather have a problem trying to find ways to play guys than having to find guys to play.”

As shocking a suggestion as it seems, TCNJ’s defense has managed to fill its voids, the gaping holes torn in coordinator Matt Hamilton’s 4-3 scheme when, over the course of the year, all three of his starting linebackers missed substantial time due to injury (DeCongelio, Spahn, Jones).

Much a credit to the insta-maturation of its youth (Burns, Kleen, Lukaszewicz), the group’s improvement wouldn’t be feasible without big-time performances from some of its most unlikely sources.

“Defensively, because of what had happened so early, we didn’t have an identity,” Hamilton said. “We were able to grow, and hopefully, by the end of the year we’ll have one, since we only had two seniors out there to begin with.”

Offensively, however, the group has struggled as of late, unable to rekindle its early-season form that, for a time, boasted Division III’s No. 1 scoring threat (led NCAA after Wk. 4). After posting an unrelenting 42.5 points in each of its first six outings, the once commanding TCNJ offense has fizzled recently, only managing 18 good ones these past three weeks.

Even though its opportunities remained consistent.

After averaging just over 67 snaps in Weeks 1-7, the group’s workload actually increased, up marginally to 69 plays-from-scrimmage. But like its most ostensible quantification (points?), its micronized production has since dissolved, too, down to 4.41 yards per play from the nearly seven gained every snap before this mid-October slide.

On the whole?

The fallout from its early-season splendor took with it 145 yards of total offense, its unwavering 457 earlier starting to look a little more mortal at 312. And, less its 400+ yard jaunt against Western Connecticut this past weekend, the O combined for 492 against both SUNY-Cortland and Montclair State (avg. 246 yds/gm).

But no more in any other quantifiable category, the Lions rushing attack has suffered dramatically. Prior to same-game injuries to starters Chase Misura (sr.) and Justin Donoloski (soph.), the TCNJ ground game averaged over 200 yards, before both were knocked out with injuries in Week 8 during the team’s loss to Montclair State. That even accounts for two instances during which the tandem was shut down (TCNJ-58 rush yds vs. Kean; 105 rush yds vs. WPU)—both team losses.

After posting consecutive 300+ yard rushing compilations to start the season (TCNJ 312 rush yds vs. Buff St.; 339 rush yds vs. FDU) the team’s only 200+ performance was produced against the conference’s second-worst unit against the run defensively (TCNJ 250 rush yds. vs. WCSU; opp. avg. 193.1 rush yds/gm).

“…Offensively, why the offense has always been so far ahead, it’s because that’s where all the returners were,” Hamilton said. “When you start picking off returners that have the experience that you rely on, it’s probably more significant, it has more of an impact.”

Losing Misura and Donoloski haven’t done the team any favors, but missing bodies on the offensive line that have proven fatal.

The team’s replacements in the backfield have overachieved expectation, even for Mike Yetka, last year’s No. 10 NJAC yard-getter. In conjunction with the emergence of Kevin Brown, the two have proven their ability with real estate, never once failing to eclipse 100 yards of positive gains.

But, without the reliability of trench heroes LT Drew Mason, G Joe Mecca and C Joe Serrao—all of whom missing time since the team’s Week 7 loss to Willie P—Lions’ ball-carriers have been tackled for losses at an alarming rate. In three of those four games, the team has accumulated over 30 yards in the red, the lone exception versus Montclair State (TFL 8 yds). Earlier in the season, it happened only once, in large part due to a massive loss on a botched snap (TFL 62 yds vs. Kean).

“Again, you don’t worry about who you don’t have … you just have to try and do the best you can,” he said, alluding to utmost efforts by seniors Evan Arfuso and Andrew Ross. “And I think guys have tried to do that.”

The passing game has suffered as an arguable side effect, an overall diminish in production trickling over—not helped any by the loss of its four-year starter at quarterback. The progressing season has rolled back Lion aerial averages like the Wal-Mart man on excessive caffeine, cutting a guaranteed 256 a weekend to a 161.3 yards.

Touchdowns? Down (Wk. 1-7-avg. 2.2 pass TDs/gm; Wk 8-10-avg. 1.3 pass TDs/gm).

Ratios? Down (Wk. 1-7-avg. 14.64 yds/comp; Wk 8-10-avg. 8.34 yds/comp).

So it seems, the only apparent increase over the span is the team’s giveaways (Wk. 1-7-avg. 1.67 TO/gm; Wk. 8-10-avg. 3.3 TO/gm).

“We started off hot,” TCNJ quarterback Chris James said. “I don’t think we ever fully developed as an offense. That’s scary when you think about the kind of numbers we were putting up.”

Disappointing? Maybe. But, above all else, what’s lingered on the senior quarterback’s mind all season is what happened when misfortune didn’t strike a talented roster.

“I think this year more than ever before we got hit by the injury bug. Everyone’s hurt. … My sophomore year (2007 NJAC Championship season) we really didn’t get injured that much. And there weren’t any big injuries.”

Title aspirations aside, elaborating on last year’s 4-6 finish was still within feasible reach. But without results from the most integral facet of its offense, the TCNJ offense hasn’t managed to “get it done,” as they say.

But as TCNJ looks to this weekend, hoping to recuperate its health and win percentage at Rowan University for both programs’ season-finales, Hamilton insisted that the predicating challenge remains the same.

“… Going into Saturday’s game, it hasn’t changed. It comes down to what happens up front. … We’ve got different running backs in there, different quarterbacks … but, it comes down to what happens up front. If Rowan dominates the line of scrimmage like they did last year… we’re going to be in trouble, regardless.

“If we can’t…run the ball it’s going to be a tough day.”

TCNJ vs. Rowan: Need I say more?

It’s 5:25 on Thursday. A mob of football players drifts away from Lions Stadium.

Practice has just ended.

The air is brisk, a perceivable breeze drops the temperature a few degrees. It’s dark out, a probable materialization of winter rolling in.

And football rolling out.

With the crowd that approaches comes clarity. The diminishing distance accentuates individual dialogue, now distinguishable from the noise of small-talk banter.

Tired, bruised and spent—in each term’s every conceivable sense—there’s no energy left for filtering these vocalized thoughts.

Unencumbered reactions evoke truth, you’d like to think.

“The Rowan rivalry?” wide receiver Mike Camastra asks, his words skewed by a telling facial expression and all its insinuations.

“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” he continues, laughing and walking on.

Still a freshman, Camastra’s answering that kind of question—cordial, yet flippant—is understandable. Had he been around last year, his response might have sounded something like…

“Nah dude, they embarrassed us last year,” wide receiver Dan Syed said after, a halfhearted scolding for the irreverent dismissal. “We ain’t about to let that happen again.”

Pandemonium strikes Texas’ northern border once a year for the Red River Rivalry with the Sooners of Oklahoma—just as it does along informal state lines in Oregon, for annual installments in its on-again, off-again “civil war.”

Stanford has Cal, the Gators have the ‘Noles, and Notre Dame has…well…everybody.

And, pertaining to the New Jersey Athletic Conference, TCNJ has Rowan.

“If you haven’t been to a TCNJ/Rowan game, you haven’t seen a real football game,” Lions’ utility player Bill Picatagi said over the phone.

“Like I can’t explain it,” he continues, his words mirroring his distracted stream of consciousness on the topic.

“There’s so much emotion that goes into it, it’s ridiculous. … This last week of practice is supposed to be an easy week? No way. Not for TCNJ because we’ve got Rowan, and Rowan’s huge.”

“Since I’ve been here, Rowan’s been one of the biggest games every single year,” wideout Colin Weber said, recollecting his past three years of involvement.

“Records, they don’t matter or anything. Everyone practices hard all week, just because it’s Rowan.

“And everyone comes to play against Rowan.”

The rivalry is as heated as they come. No matter how harsh a toll the long season has taken on their bodies, players willingly bite down a little harder on those mandatory rubber mouthguards, hoping it can help muster up anything and everything within physiological possibility.

And then some.

“I’m gonna give it all I got on Saturday,” defensive end Craig Meyer said. “It’s gonna be another emotional day on my mind, it’s my last game ever. I’m gonna play my ass off.”

But, unfortunately for TCNJ, players’ “effort” isn’t a word that always translates in football’s most audibly aesthetic language.

Wins.

Over the past 20 years, the Lions have stolen all of five match-ups since 1989, three by a combined six points (28-27 in ’98; 22-20 in ’03; 10-7 in ’07). Over the course of the series, dating back to 1948, twice have the Profs dominated for half a decade, first putting together six consecutive wins between 1990 -95, before establish five-year streak of inter-conference authority between 1998 and 2002.

Through a grander scope, the series has seen about as much parity as the Fighting Irish’s win percentage against Southern Cal’s crimson army—under Pete Carroll or anyone else. After an even 50 confrontations, Rowan’s 32 wins exactly double TCNJ’s isolated glimmers of glory, rounded out by two unsightly ties (12-12 in 1949, 21-21 in 1974).

And “last year,” otherwise a trite irrelevance in conversation, refers to the 42-3 smack-down Rowan gladly inflicted upon the Lions in 2008, a blowout loss to cap a dismal 4-6 season tinged with mediocrity.

“Last year, we came out hard in practice for the entire week,” Picatagi said of the week prior. “And when we got on the field, we [messed] the bed. They came out and they whopped our ass[es]. One-on-one, they physically destroyed us. It’s the god’s honest truth.

“And you know what? We’re not letting that happen this year.”

Standing on that same precipice just three days before that anniversary, there exist only two focal points for eyes of TCNJ football players. Downward, just over the cliff’s sheer edge, exists nothingness. And the stark reality holds  true for returners, who’ll live to fight another day—“next year”—and seniors, whose eleventh-hour push to go out on top, as winners…better…spoilers is as exhausted as the group’s eligibility.

“It would definitely suck,” co-captain wideout Cam Richardson said, though he insisted he didn’t want a loss to mar his waning collegiate moments.

“I mean, no matter who you play it’s gonna suck because it’s your last game, you wanna go out winning and have a little bit of a bittersweet thing going. …. But it would definitely suck to lose to Rowan.”

But outward, a complimentary structure stands, too, a rare offering of a different avenue of fate.

As distinct a contrast between the beginning and end of the Lions’ season, the neighboring metaphorical hill offers hope for TCNJ’s youth—an irrevocable foundation upon which they can rebuild the program.

And grow as individuals.

“It’s never the last week,” head coach Eric Hamilton said. “It happens to be the last game, but it’s never over. You prepare every week for the next game. Well after this game, then we prepare for next year—and not before.”

As for those that won’t be back, well, the scene is about as cliché as it gets. In the present, the sun is set. But in this enticing image of timeless glory, there’s a stable of horses, waiting to be rode off into the horizon, that central star fixed forever in place, hours before dusk.

“We’ve had a little bit of a sour year, a little upsetting,” Weber said. “But it would be great to finish on this note. Yeah, we can’t change the past; we’ve just got to make the best of what we still have. Beating Rowan would end this on a good note.”

“Absolutely.”

Don’t blame it on the D: Numbers suggest vast improvement in TCNJ defense

I know, I know.

You must be thinking, Not again. Not another pass for this pillaged TCNJ defense.

But here’s the thing.

See, if I were handing out a “pass,” there’d be some insinuation that of naively looking the other way without any real reason or warranting, an unearned statement of vindication. The team has come up short where it matters the most since mid-October, but during that span—as irony would have it—the Lions defense has played remarkably stout football.

Taking a look through the scope at the entire season, the group has let opposition do pretty much whatever it’s wanted, the team’s challengers averaging 400.33 yards of total offense in nine appearances so far.

Now, it’s not the worst collective beating a New Jersey Athletic Conference competitor has taken. But at a humble No. 8 out of 10, the Lions defensive 11 are awfully close—way too much so for any defensible exoneration.

But that’s the beauty of numbers—they don’t have a questionable agenda. Or any other preconceived bias.

They just is what they is.

Oh, and while you’re reading, keep the following stat in mind: TCNJ’s first six opponents’ combined average win percentage is 36.85%.

And it’s past three, which include two years of conference leaders—Montclair State University (8-1 overall, 7-1 NJAC) the current co-No.1, and last year’s outright trophy winner, SUNY-Cortland (7-2 overall, 6-2 NJAC)?

Try 63%. And that’s after the two big dogs’ combined 83% win average was watered down by Western Connecticut State’s 22%. Good football against good football teams? Yeah, that sounds about right.

In its last three appearances the unit has held opponents to, on average, 302 yards of total offense, a stark contrast from the 480.67 allowed in its first six. If recent history somehow replaced its now-distant cousin, the Lions would sit at No. 6 in that category, ranked one higher than Buffalo State (opp.avg. 357.67 yds/gm) and one lower than co-NJAC leader Montclair State University (opp. avg. 276.56 yds/gm).

Cutting about an entire field-length during the span, the TCNJ defense has buckled down in the clutch, slicing a hefty chunk off its 3^rd down percentage as well. Allowing an extra ten yards 44.17% of the time, opponents have only successfully converted 13.65%.

In comparison, the current NJAC leader, Rowan University, only allows 21.5%.

Leaps and bounds. And the improvement shows in both facets of its opposition’s attacks.

After being walked on for 218.67 yards in its first six appearances, the Lions D has only given up 136 in these past three outings, none more impressive than the 47 yards allowed to Montclair State, picked up over a heavy 29 carries.

For a group that averaged 1.5 opposing running backs with more than 50 yards each game earlier in the year, the TCNJ’s defense has only permitted two such totals since—both in its blowout loss to SUNY-Cortland, during which the Red Dragons bled the clock for a majority of the second half. While opposing ball-carriers earned a daggering 5.67 yards per touch, Montclair State, SUNY-Cortland and Western Connecticut State skills players only averaged only 3.53 yards per carry.

Had that been the case all year, the group wouldn’t be ranked any higher in the conference, though it should be noted that the five teams ahead at this late juncture in the season are all among the nation’s top 75 best units against the run (235 total D3 programs). There’s a distinct rift at the midway point among the conference’s competitors, and it seems to be at about that spot.

If you take a look at the overall scoring, generally a pretty telling statistic, the gap between the NJAC’s No. 6 scoring defense and its two No. 4s is expansive. While SUNY-Cortland and William Paterson’s identical 16.56 opponent points per game round out its top half, the drop off thereafter nearly doubles, TCNJ’s 31.22 opponent points per game followed by Buffalo State’s 38.56. The numbers gradually increase until they hit 43.40 (Morrisville State over 10 gms.)—aka “rock-bottom.”

In part accounting for its marginal cut in opponent scoring—down about a touchdown these past three weeks, falling from 33.83 in its first six to 27.67 lately (opp. avg. 31.33 pts/gm)—the Lions defense has cut down on opponent rushing touchdowns resoundingly. After allowing backs to score an average of 2.83 rushing touchdowns in the team’s first six games, runners have struck pay dirt about that many times over the entire three weeks. That’s right, only one per game.

Keep in mind, that’s the performance of a front-seven less a vast majority of its second-level players. Key injuries to Lions linebacker corps include season-ending foot trauma to Joe Spahn—a senior leader, who outperformed the rest of the group in tackling when healthy—and less serious ailments to Dan DeCongelio, who’d done about as well when he was completely fresh.

With or without Lions LBs, passers haven’t fared much better.

After opposing quarterbacks put up an average of 262 yards against the team’s secondary—including The College at Brockport’s NJAC leading yard-monger, Jake Graci. Since then, quarterbacks have only thrown for an average of 166 yards against Lion DBs, completing only 55% of their passes, compared with the 62% completion rate earlier in the year (60% on the season).

There are a number of likely causes for the improvement.

One has to be the struggles of its offense, which has cooled off lately, its 42.5 point-per game attack after six producing only 18 in its three latest appearances. With teams no longer toiling to match those gaudy early-season point totals, opposing offenses have only run an average of 60.67 plays-from-scrimmage, as opposed to the nearly 75 offensive snaps taken in each contest earlier—many of them shootouts.

Coaches also seem to have made a conscious effort toward winning the field-position battle. After sending out the nation’s second strongest right leg only five times in as many games, coaches called for the services of utility kicker Marc Zucconi nine times in its sixth against William Paterson, a busy day for punters. Since, the team has averaged 5.3 punts per game—obviously alleviating pressure off its defense.

In part a side-effect of its offense’s crumbling efficiency on 3^rd down—down to 32% in its past three from the 46% conversion rate earlier—fully implementing the services of its Division I-transfer from Louisville seems to have proven effective. His 32 punts still rank ninth out of 12 NJAC punters, but the shift in strategy has undoubtedly helped lately.

The improvement is welcomed, for sure. But at what cost?

Whatever the cause, the Lions once-opportunistic playmakers haven’t lived up to their par down the stretch, forcing only two turnovers in their past three games. After averaging 1.33 interceptions and 1.5 fumble recoveries in their first six appearances, the unit has only come away with one takeaway in each category.

They’ve maintained a distinguishable hard-hitting physicality over the past three weeks, forcing 1.67 fumbles per game (avg. 2 FF in first 6 gms.). But the TCNJ defense hasn’t flocked to the football as effectively as it did earlier. Opponents only recovered 23.3% of fumbles earlier in the year, but lately, they’ve lived to fight another day 83.3% of the time after coughing up pigskin.

The group’s gradual development has manifested in the form of various numbers, but there’s still plenty of room for growth. Let-downs and blown assignments have been plagued the unit as much as it’s been walloped by injuries for about as long, and if SUNY-Cortland wasn’t a step back in that regard, its latest outing against Western Connecticut State was.

The “big play” classified, in this case, as single-play gains of 30 yards or greater struck against the team an average of twice in each of its first six games. After only allowing one against Montclair State University—a 41-yard touchdown reception after poor timing on a blitz left TCNJ’s secondary vulnerable—the group didn’t falter in that respect once against SUNY-Cortland.

Last week, though, TCNJ forfeited three 30+ Colonials’ gains—each through the air, and each for six. Less those three, worth 48, 53 and 44 yards, respectively, the Western Connecticut Offense only musters 243 yards on its 58 other snaps, good only for 4.18 yards a pop.

But, in restless advent of the biggest date on its calendar, if there were ever a time for a last-ditch effort at retribution, this weekend—at Rowan’s house—would be it. So, to all you Lions defensive players, don’t get down.

Get big.

TCNJ’s future brightened in spite of dismal present

Never would a football coach–at least not one to be taken seriously–concede any remnants of the present, shifting focal gears toward the future.

Never.

Well, maybe there’s a few extenuating exceptions.

“We have to put the pieces together and get ready for Rowan now,” TCNJ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta said Saturday, in the immediate aftermath of defeat. “That could be ours to win if we work hard.”

Daddies on the sidelines of Pop Warner scrums, or tenured (and salaried) collegiate football instructors might differ in prestige and popularity. But the attitude remains constant at all levels of the game.

Win, and win now.

So long as there is a snap yet to be played, there are goals to achieved, progress to be made.

Players feel no differently.

For some, the light at the end of the tunnel widens, the stark reality that their careers are finite becomes increasingly more apparent with every passing week. For seniors, there is no tomorrow. Still, the passage of time for others glistens the eyes of youngsters, well-aware of this reality:

Graduation empties shoes that need filling, chances for them to shine.

While TCNJ’s season suddenly spun in a downward spiral after its Week Six win against The College at Brockport, players have conducted their business without relent–kind of how fate and misfortune have treated them.

But, largely a byproduct of their hardships, the team has been forced to turn to its youth early. The epidemic to which all football squads are susceptible–the injury bug–has pillaged the Lions’ roster, robbing depth from its charts, and precious moments from elder players.

And in that continuous spin of the wheel, magnified during Saturday’s upset loss to Western Connecticut State, sometimes players’ chances are thrust to the forefront. Sometimes sooner than they’d anticipated.

“This is why you coach, because of challenges,” Acosta said Friday, in advent of a gut-check game for a few underclassmen. “That’s why you coach. To teach and see people grow. Our team’s been growing in a lot of different ways, and this is why you do this.

“We have a challenge tomorrow. And I’m pretty fired up about that challenge.”

For coaches–notably locked in on the season’s finale at Rowan with indelible fixation–when these players exceed even their most ambitious hopes, they’ll say it’s one of the game’s most rewarding facets.

“That’s the bright spot,” he said after, asked to gauge the performance of some of his emerging talents.

“A bunch of guys on the offensive line, they’re coming back. Running backs are coming back, quarterback’s coming back. … That’s the bright spot. Guys are working, young bucks are getting more playing time. You definitely are going to have a football team next year.”

If there was any positive to be taken from Saturday’s game—a disheartening three-point loss to wrap up several illustrious senior careers in Lions Stadium—the promise evoked by some of its youth put to bed a few of the question marks remaining at the season’s end.

“Our offensive line, I think this was one of their best games all year,” sophomore quarterback Jay Donoghue said, moments removed from his first collegiate start. “And most of those guys are coming back.”

Singing the praises of his protective barrier of bodies, Donoghue himself earned daps from some of the team’s most respected personalities after his outing last weekend.

“I was really impressed with Jay Donoughue’s play today,” wide receiver Cam Richardson said of the future-made-present’s 21-of-28 afternoon, complete with 194 yards and three gorgeous touchdown throws.

“I thought he played a very good game. Very calm, collected. He made a lot of checks out there. He really impressed me, going out there and doing some things working with the first team. I was really impressed at that.”

Well-deserving of the acclaim, Donoghue wasn’t the only one turning heads Saturday.

“Mike Yetka, hell of a running back,” Donoghue said of the Lions’ junior running back, who has led the team in successive weeks in his season’s only two starts, putting up 117 this past weekend (41 rush yds vs. SUNY-Cortland). Surpassing the century mark for the first time since the season-opener, the milestone marks only the third of his still budding career.

“Kevin’s a solid young guy too,” he continued, noting the stellar progression of the freshman short-yardage-option-turned-many-yardage-threat. In his past three appearances, the Atlantic City native has averaged a steady 7.6 carries, good for a reputable 34.4 yards—not much. But moving the sticks an average of 4.47 paces after every touch suggests that, when he’s given a heavier load he’ll be as productive as needed.

Both players have toiled to adequately compensate for the Lions’ backfield woes, losing starters in Justin Donoloski and Chase Misura for every snap since they each went down during the school’s homecoming loss to Montclair State University.

Across the line-of-scrimmage, a few notable faces among the preseason’s raw defensive talents have come into their own of late.

“We’ve had a lot of guys go down, a lot of guys step in,” TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said during the week before the team’s road trip to SUNY-Cortland.

“It’s going to pose some good problems for us as coaches down the road.”

For now, issues surrounding a gifted few aren’t ones the Lions’ staff needs to deal with. The biggest ones are those made for the other guys.

TCNJ linebacker Greg Burns, who has led all Lion tacklers twice over the course of his first collegiate season (10 tot. tackles vs. WPU, WCSU), finishing second in the unit’s stingiest outing to date (9 tot. tackles vs. MSU). His physicality and instincts established the freshman as a viable suitor for Hamilton’s intricate 4-2-5 scheme—reliant upon the run-stopping abilities of its second-level players.

Despite their prominence as a buoyant feature of what were ultimately losing efforts, Burns earned NJAC awards two of the three following Sundays, dubbed its Defensive Rookie of the Week twice in 2009.

Over that four-game span, that’s called upon unknown bodies to fill the roles of proven talents, the only other player to twice outperform his comrades was, coincidentally, linebacker Jimmy Kleen.

He shared locker room bragging rights with Burns during the team’s Week Seven road loss at William Paterson after blanketing the hash marks for 10 tackles of his own. A week later, onlookers gazed out in confusion, wondering if his team-leading nine stops against Red Hawk skills players was a palpable instance of déjà vu.

Both Burns and Kleen saw sparse action in the season’s first-six outings. But answering the call dialed in by linebacker Joe Spahn’s season-ending foot injury and chronic ailments to a warrior in Dan DeCongelio, the two have exceeded their foreseen capabilities–much to the delight of coaches.

“That’s the silver lining of a lot of guys being hurt,” Hamilton said, days preceding this weekend’s game against Western Connecticut. “It gives an opportunity to a lot of different guys to get playing time.”

Burns and Kleen on display as exhibits 1 and 1-a, their still minimal resumes have put his once-worried mind a little more at ease.

“So we’ve put in so many different guys, that no matter who we put out there we feel comfortable and we feel like we’ve got a complete package.”

And who stepped up during the only other game in that four-week period? Its leader in tackles against SUNY-Cortland—also the Lions’ most productive pass rusher—was defensive end Kevin Allgood, a monster compliment to team quad-captain Craig Meyer.

Allgood is a sophomore.

If a football season is a machine, one needing fresh oil and replacement parts on an annual basis, the off-season’s most pivotal challenge will be replacing experienced leaders, like Richardson and Meyer. It won’t be any easier to swap out the veteran savvy of four-year starting quarterback Chris James.

And, above all else, there’s no substitute for free safety Ryan Flannery, likely the program’s most entertaining superstar in recent memory—even though his chippy style of play and nose for extra-curriculars get him in trouble from time to time.

“We’re definitely gonna miss our senior receivers,” Donoghue said of the seasoned corps, including a montage of playmaking breeds in Mark Gardner, Erik Hendrickson, Bill Picatagi and Colin Weber—the latest of whom ranks fifth in the conference in receptions and yards.

“They’re some of the best there is.”

For guys like Donoghue, who—in time—might embody a similar description one day, the future is enticing to say the least. But, spanning from broken-in seniors to the fresh sets of kicks still in their freshman shoeboxes, that prospect will have to wait.

“It’s promising for next year,” Donoghue said.

“But we’re playing for this year.”

News and Notes from Lions’ practice: Lions’ WRs — pick your poison

In eager anticipation of a likely shootout against the team’s pass-happy NJAC foe Buffalo State (1-9 overall; 1-8 conf.), it was no surprise to see players pushing their teammates during a high-spirited Wednesday afternoon practice session, understanding that each passing day takes with it a precious opportunity to make final improvements prior to its Sept. 5 season opener.

But if you’d seen the way the wide receivers looked during the team’s one-on-one segment against the defensive backs, you’d have reason to think there was some kind of behind-the-scenes wager bankrolling (pun intended) the competitive atmosphere amongst the group, themselves.

Though I looked at my notes from time to time, scribbling a vague description of what looked like an upperclassmen-run clinic for aspiring wideouts everywhere, I can’t say I witnessed a ball intended for either Cam Richardson, Mark Gardner, Colin Weber, or Erik Hendrickson touch the turf.

In the few days prior to facing the nation’s 210th-ranked overall defense in 2008 (235 in Division III) four of the Lions’ projected starters dominated their opposition during the approximately 15 minute period. The display evidenced the extent to which the group has fostered and further expanded upon last year’s chemistry with its quarterback, Chris James, who enters his third season as the team’s primary passing option, exclusive of the limited action during his freshman campaign in 2006.

If this afternoon wasn’t a fluke, that won’t bode well for the Bengals’ defensive backfield in particular, that allowed an average passer rating of over 150 a year ago. Though the team didn’t perform statistically (or otherwise) well as a whole last season, it’s 225  ranking serves as just another item on an already long list of the team’s pedestrian (I’m being nice) 2008 campaign.

Though I wasn’t able to clear interviews with either coaches or players through the school’s SID office after today’s practice, the periodic instant-quotables (a la, “oh yeah, baby! Now that’s what I like to see!”) from offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta that echoed throughout the stadium suggested that my assessment isn’t too far from his expecations.

Here’s a brief synopsis of the news and notes from the afternoon.

• Did I mention how well the receivers played earlier?

As far as I saw, the only player to have success stopping any of the starting-four was…well…Gardner, who dropped an obvious touchdown opportunity after he’d gained some hard-earned separation early during a go-route. Don’t worry though, he followed up his bone-headed mental lapse with a reception on his next repetition, a post-corner that left an underclassman watching the tail-end of the completion from the seat of his football pants.

• Exclusive info: there seems to be glimpses of a James-Picatagi touchdown production in the making

The tandem connected on every transaction during the period, most notably the first three-out-of-four, which went for six. Must be those gloves his parents got for him. I’m not quite sure yet how he’s going to be implemented in this week’s opener, but use your imagination–it seems like Pic’s that versatile and James is that talented.

• Younger Lions aren’t showing signs of complacency

Usually after a long grind during training camp and when depth charts become more solidified, guys tend to fall off and develop some lazy practice habits. Aside from the afore mentioned highlight reel I got to see, I was most impressed with the spunk and gritty work-ethic of some of the younger guys, clawing (no pun intended) at every opportunity to maximize credibility with the coaching staff.

Wide receiver Mike Camastra continues to impress, not afraid to shake things up with some of the team’s core veterans–and sometimes getting the best of them. Though undersized, he’s a diligent route-runner and exaggerates fakes by throwing his entire body entering a cut–a more than adequate compensation for his height and weight.

Another young-buck at wide receiver, Luis Garcia, is a guy I’ve kept an eye on during camp and throughout the preseason. He’s a little on the lighter side too, but he’s got blazing first-step quickness and agility. His hands are nothing to frown upon and, dare I say it, he almost shows glimpses of similarities to a notable teammate, that guy named Richardson. I won’t be surprised if he’s given a chance to prove himself sometime soon.

• Who says kickers get no love?

This afternoon’s practice concluded with a special teams’ segment, during which last year’s All-NJAC performer Marc Zucconi casually booted a few PATs–most of which smashed into the stadium’s chain-link perimeter about 20 yards behind the goal posts. Though punting is undoubtedly his forte–the senior from Marlton, NJ ranked 33rd in the nation in punting, averaging 38.45 yards per attempt–the kid’s got no issue kicking from the turf. He converted every last extra-point attempt of the period.

Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: Meyer, Hamilton, not too shy to shun conventional wisdom

You’d think that entering this weekend’s NJAC showdown against tri-state-area-rival Buffalo State, the Lions’ defense would have its fair share of concerns–considering it allowed over 278 yards rushing in last season’s contest. You’d also be inclined to believe that the coaching staff would be even more worrisome of any rushing threat featuring a Bengals’ quarterback, in lieu of Mark Boswell‘s (listed this year at WR) 80 yards rushing and two TDs that fueled every last scoring drive of his offense’s 32-point handling of the unit in ’08.

With those kinds of numbers, they’d certainly have good reason to. But they aren’t.

In fact, they’re counting on it.

“We’re expecting them to run the option,” Craig Meyer–one of the team’s c0-captains and undoubted anchor on its defensive line–said via telephone interview. “As long as we can contain those backs on the option, and force the QB to hold onto the ball, we’d love for our middle linebacker to come up and lay a hit on him.”

Most of the looks that the unit expects to face this Saturday aren’t based on Buffalo State’s preseason game film–which wasn’t offered on account that it didn’t exist. Still, the defense’s feels it’s appropriately directing its focus toward neutralizing the Bengals’ projected impact players at running back, one of who–though he’s “not a football guy” in the Lions’ players’ description–he definitely fits the mold of a different adjective: fast.

Though his impact for the Bengals’ thus far has been limited (he carried four times in his five appearances in ’08) running back Willie Horge’s New York State Collegiate Track Conference’s “Track Athlete of the Year” honors in 2007 aren’t anything to scoff at. And that’s not mentioning those two NCAA championship sprints on his record during the same year (100m, 200m). Yeah, I know–dude can run.

The two-headed tandem–that includes team captain Sammy Smith, who gashed the Lions’ D for 109 yards and a score of his own a year ago–isn’t going to offer mercy in its first game after head coach Jerry Boyes return from his nine-year hiatus at the helm of the Bengals’ organization.

But Meyer’s okay with that–he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We’ve got a couple things we’re going to try out there with packages and see what we can do to stop that option and shut down the run,” Meyer said, correcting my assumption of the unit’s primary concern entering this Saturday’s home-opener. “We think they’re going to try and run the ball down our throats and that’s what we want.”

And the coaching staff feels well-prepared, should their opponents choose a run-heavy approach as its weapon of choice, as defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton expressed his confidence that his scheme can curb the potent Bengals option-run attack.

“It’s always a concern,” he said casually, in response to the posed statistic. “But, you’re not going to give up as many seams in a 40-front as you do with a 30. And that’s versus the run and the pass.”

The change from last year’s base-defense that featured only three-down linemen, according to Hamilton, offers accommodations to the unit’s most major area of weakness in 2008.

“If you saw, we got hurt with the run last year, but it was all inside. They would create movement, they’d run [certain plays] to create that movement and cut back where there’s more seams. In a 40-front, you just won’t have that many seams.”

Meyer echoed his coach’s assessment that the unit’s defensive tackles certainly had a burden on its hands. “We really need our defensive tackles to play well and not get blown off the ball. It’s definitely important.”

In spite of the challenges likely to wear helmets and shoulder pads this Saturday, the unit seems much more concerned with overcoming the most combative force it’s seen thus far–in practice and preseason action.

“It’s all mental for us. As long as we can execute things mentally, we’re going to be fine,” Meyer said about his team’s abilities. “We can hit. We’re gonna come out and we’re gonna smack them. We’re going to set the tone.”

“It’s going to be about keeping our mental mistakes to a minimum,” Hamilton said, a half-step short of jogging to the coaches’ locker room after Wednesday’s practice. “Physically we can handle everything.”

Entering his second year as official brainchild of the team’s defensive strategy, Hamilton believes the linchpin of the team’s success is, well, “just playing football.”

“We told them after Albright three things,” he said referring to the team’s scrimmage last Friday. “Be ready on the snap of the ball, alignment, assignment. If you’re ready to play at the snap and you’re aligned properly, it makes it easy to do your job. You do that, and you’re gonna be good.”

Meyer noted his defensive unit’s confidence in the wake of its simulated learning experience a week ago. Especially if Buffalo State’s preseason schedule was as vacant as its coaching staff suggested.

“We kind of have an advantage if they haven’t scrimmaged because we got to make mistakes and learn from them [in our scrimmage],” he said. “Looking at the tape [the points allowed] wasn’t because we played bad physically—we made mental mistakes. As long as we can fix those mistakes, we’ll be fine.”

Led by its three co-captains–Meyer, wide receiver Cam Richardson, and free safety Ryan Flannery–the Lions will open the season this Saturday, Sept. 5, at noon in Lions’ Stadium.

Former D3 Coach-of-the-Year Jerry Boyes back in [orange and] black

In the nine years since he’d accepted his passive role as athletic director–detached from directly control over the Bengals’ football program–former head coach Jerry Boyes helplessly watched the deterioration of one of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (ECAC, under which the NJAC is a subdivision) former top-tier competitors, epitomized by Buffalo State’s back-to-back substandard finishes in 2007 (2-8; 1-6 NJAC) and 2008 (1-9; 1-8 NJAC).

Now–after the better part of a decade–Boyes has decided he’s had enough.

For the first time since the 2000 regular season, Boyes will reassume his old position as head coach, likely presenting a wrinkle in Lions’ head coach Eric Hamilton‘s game day preparations for this weekend’s season opener.

His opponent’s staff didn’t adhere to the unwritten rule of professional courtesy among coaches, offering no game tape of his Begnals’ preseason  (on alleged account there wasn’t any), which doesn’t do Hamilton any favors while he develops a game plan for a Buffalo State team likely to look drastically different from the one it faced a year ago.

The last time he coached, Buffalo State enjoyed its fair share of success. After inheriting a fledgling program in 1986 (only six years as varsity sport) Boyes catapulted the Bengals’ status from “new kid on the block” to “king of the hill,” most evidenced by its 10-year run of consecutive playoff berths from 1991-2000–a streak that ended shortly after his departure as coach.

During his 15 seasons on the Bengals’ sidelines, Boyes maintained a consistent tradition of excellence throughout the entirety of his tenure, which translated into a .589 winning percentage over the span (89-62 overall). In addition to winning honors as three-time ECAC Coach of the Year, Boyes’ resume boasts a CNN Division III Coach of the Year award, which he earned in 2995.

While responsible for recruiting duties, Boyes integrated 12 All-Americans and four Academic All-Americans over the decade-and-a-half, establishing the upper-New York institution’s football program as a perennial playoff contender.

This off-season development adds yet another component to an already dynamic NJAC showdown, set to be settled this weekend, Saturday Sept.5 at noon, in Lions’ Stadium.

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: Mason, O-line locked, loaded, and ready to deflect Bengals’ pass rush

On the eve of his first game in year-two as Lions’ offensive coordinator, Bobby Acosta doesn’t have a whole lot to say about speculations, statistics, expectations–none of that. He’s squarely focused his attention on–in his opinion–the only thing that really matters.

Gameday.

“There’s no turning back now,” he said Friday, wearing a wry grin on the walk back from the team’s ritual pregame walk-through. “We’re good to go.”

In spite of the circumstances–tomorrow’s opponent, Buffalo State, had ample success rushing the quarterback throughout the 2008 regular season (two sacks per game; fourth in NJAC) as well as against the Lions during the two teams’ meeting in New York last fall–Acosta’s thrown up the blinders in apathy to what happened a year ago. And there won’t be any faltering in his concentration this late in the game.

“There’s no thinking now, we just gotta play. There’s no ‘what if’s and ‘what’ll happen’s. We just gotta play. You know what I’m saying?”

During the Bengals’ homecoming last fall, the Lions’ offense attacked its opponent’s defense with the relent of an ancient Greek, scoring 42 points on a rout of the conference’s ninth-ranked pass defense–dead last in the NJAC (allowed opposing QB pass rating of 150.7 per game).

Adhering to the earlier comparison, though it was in defeat, Buffalo State also identified the Lions’ Achilles heel.

The last time the teams met, the Lions’ scored on all of its offensive possessions, with a few exceptions.

In spite of his success at various other times during the season, the Bengals’ defense simply had Bill Picatagi‘s number. The two drives during which he took snaps from center resulted in a punt, a turnover and a whopping zero combined points (three plays, seven yards; four plays, seven yards and a fumble lost).

Another drive, a valiant two-minute drill attempt, ended as time expired in the first half (three plays, 19 yards).

The only other two stagnant offensive possessions–one in the second quarter and another with two minutes remaining in the contest–stalled after the team allowed a sack. Should the team’s ability to score hinge upon its ability to block for its quarterback, Lions’ fans should seek comfort in the resounding confidence with the man most responsible for keeping Chris James‘ jersey clean.

“We’re going to look good tomorrow,” said left tackle Drew Mason–who’s going to be responsible for protecting James’ backside against a Bengals’ pass rush that returns two of its three sack leaders from a year ago, team c0-captains in linebacker Jermaine Rose and defensive end Joe Perez. “We’re confident in what we’re going to be able to do [against them].”

Nothing short of annoyed at the mere question of his and his unit’s abilities, Mason spit some statistics of his own.

“Our entire offensive line didn’t give up a sack against Albright,” he said in reference to the unit’s success in its simulated scrimmage against the Lions’ of Reading, PA, the team’s annual preseason adversary of Division III’s Middle Atlantic Conference.”I’m absolutely confident in our abilities. That’s why you go out there and play the game.”

Though he’ll have to prove it on the field, Mason didn’t seem timid when faced with a potentially daunting task, largely due to his experience and familiarity with the position–a rarity among offensive linemen who are often asked to swap roles to fill holes vacated by injury.

“Personally, I feel great at left tackle,” he said after Friday’s light practice. “It’s the only position I’ve played in position my entire life.”

Chris James, who will undoubtedly be the greatest beneficiary should Mason live up to his own hype, echoed the strong words of his teammate.

“I trust in every offensive lineman we have,” said the three-year starter from Central Jersey Group IV’s Brick Memorial High, mindful of the unit’s extensive youth that’s going to be broken in come kickoff. “You know that’s why we go through the preseason. There’s a couple new guys, a couple new positions, but I trust them. I trust them with everything I have.”

A student of the game and an apparent realist, James isn’t blinded by his confidence and recognizes that–from time to time–miscues are bound to happen.

“Sometimes a sack gets let up, sometimes the defense just gets to you,” he said, frankly. “Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the defense. In those cases all that matters is the next play.”

Should he find himself under duress, James’ isn’t likely to make errant throws that jeopardize the offense’s ball security. Last season he ranked first among all of the conference’s passers in attempts per interception (seven INTs on 257 attempts; 36.7 ATT/INT).

Entering his final season in Trenton, James describes his maturity as throughout his career, a learning experience that has taught him–more often than not–less is more.

“When you’re younger as a quarterback coming into college, you always want to gun the ball,” he said, remembering his youthful mistakes. “You always try to just throw it as hard as you can. After a while you realize, you can always gun the ball, but it’s more about precision and accuracy. You have to learn to just let the ball go on time and make sure you hit those windows when they’re open. If you don’t, that’s when you get interceptions.”

All things considered, with the next mornings sunrise comes a new chapter in the team’s 16-month journey back to greatness, as it seeks to return to its 2007 role as top-dogs in the NJAC. Kickoff to the ’09 regular season marks the culmination of the team’s unremitting preparation, following a disappointing finish from a year ago–a fresh start with fresh hope for an unencumbered quest for glory.

Tomorrow’s season opener is scheduled to begin at noon, hosted by the suburban liberal arts college in Lions’ Stadium.

Halftime adjustments prove too much to handle for Buff St. on opening day–Lions win, 47-31

After a close first half that featured dominating rushing attacks and quick scoring strikes on offense, it was the Lions’ coaching staff’s ability to adjust on defense that allowed its team to break away Saturday afternoon in Lions’ Stadium, earning a decisive win, 47-31.

Entering his third season as head coach, Eric Hamilton sounded pleased with his team’s ability to hit the ground running (pun intended) to start the season in an opening-day victory.

“You’re never disappointed when you win the first game,” he said afterward. “You’re never disappointed when you win any game. It was more important that we get off on the right foot, especially when you’re playing someone you haven’t seen.”

Hamilton reiterated the importance of his team’s ability to respond against any opponent, especially one so drastically different from the Buffalo State team it faced a year ago.

“I know it’s Buffalo State I know we’ve played them. But with a new coach, new program, new philosophy, we’re guessing on some things that we’re going to see. We guessed fairly accurately in the first half but we were able to adjust at halftime.”

Both teams entered the locker room at halftime in the midst of a heated offensive battle with no end in sight, as the scoreboard read 35-24. The Lions’ defense struggled early against an option-run attack led by Buffalo State’s two-headed running back tandem, co-captain Sammy Smith and its track champ Willie Horge. Riding the back of its two impact players, the Bengals offense managed to amass 92 yards and two scores on the ground.

Though it maintained an 11-point cushion at halftime, defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton recognized the necessary changes his staff needed to make in order to hang on to the lead for the rest of the outing.

“We knew we needed to make adjustments, specifically to our option rules based on some info we got,” he said after the game. “For two weeks we’d been practicing [stopping] it a certain way. It took us a little bit, a few drives, but in the end we were able to correct it.”

Not only did the changes solidify its run defense, allowing only 39 yards on the ground in the third quarter, but the the immediate intensity with which the defense stormed the field materialized after only :43 in the period in the form of a Joe Spahn interception deep in Bengals’ territory.

Aside from delivering the afternoon’s game-changing performance, Spahn–who returned to the team this off-season after he left the team in 2007–let his experience allow him to assume a role as the defense’s anchor, an asset that his head coach described as invaluable.

“I know he didn’t play last year, but when you have a guy that just gets it, that sees the big picture–that’s how you turn things around.” Eric Hamliton said after the game. “Last year we couldn’t do that because we had so many new faces out there. Any game that we can get guys in there that have that kind of experience–that’s clutch.”

After an 18 yard field goal by kicker Marc Zucconi to extend the lead to 14 points (38-24), Buffalo State never restored an offensive rhythm, scoring only seven fourth-quarter points with the game already out of reach.

The Lions’ offense managed to score early and often throughout the afternoon, finishing the day with a combined 421 yards, 312 of those by way of its running game. A number of weapons contributed to the dominating effort, as four different ball-carriers broke the 50-yard barrier during the game.

Michael Yetka–the conference’s statistically 10th-best back a year ago–led a three-headed running back beast with 101 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns (8.4 avg). Providing consistent production throughout the afternoon included  strong performances by Justin Donoloski and Chase Misura, who gained 74 yards and 51 yards, respectively. Even wide receiver Bill Picatagi managed to make an impact, his 43-yard touchdown run on a triple read-option sealing his team’s opening day victory in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

“The offense definitely carried us through the first half,” Spahn said outside the team’s locker room, citing his offense’s relentless success. “In the second half we knew we had to come out a lot stronger and play a lot more physically. It was definitely a mindset. We knew we had to come out and stick it to them and that’s what we did.”

The spark provided by Spahn’s personal effort may have escalated the amended game plan’s success, but the outside linebacker ensured that his coaching staff received credit for putting his unit in the best possible situations to excel.

“It was a lot of just changing up what we needed to do with our personnel,” he said. “The coaches knew what we needed to do and we just listened to them, we did what they wanted us to. They did a great job with that.”

Moving forward, the Lions’ head coach sounded optimistic to see his team continue to develop on a week-to-week basis throughout the season.

“If you ask any coach, usually the biggest comes from Week One to Week Two,” he said in anticipation of his team’s next test–Sept. 18 on the road against Fairleigh Dickinson University. “You get a chance to see your team in action. You get to teach based on what you see on film.”

Though next week’s bye gives the unit an opportunity to breathe, Hamilton noted the importance of making periodic changes in an effort to provide a learning experience through an idle thirteen days’ rest.

“The biggest difference now is that we have a bye between Week One and Week Two,” he said. “That’s going to be the hard part–making the changes yet pacing it since it takes two weeks to play. We’ll take some time and come back the following week and get ready for that Friday night game.”

The Lions’ opening day victory marks its first in five years–an unusual feeling to some of the team’s players.

“Since I’ve been here I’ve never had a win opening game,” said defensive end Craig Meyer–a senior and team co-captain. “It’s great for morale. Getting that first win really helps.”

The Lions will look to establish a winning streak entering its contest against FDU-Florham in two weeks, a Friday night game scheduled for 8pm.

Lions’ postgame analysis: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Yesterday’s season opener included far too many story lines to detail in 1,000 words or fewer. I’ll offer a closer look at the fuel behind yesterday’s victory against conference rival Buffalo State, as well as cite its implications moving forward.

THE GOOD

In case you hadn’t guessed, there’s going to be a few bullets under this one…

• Justin Donoloski

His impact is felt by this Lions’ offense by far more than the stat sheet. That’s quite a compliment, considering he averaged over 10 yards per carry (seven car, 74 yds).

The Lions’ two key contributors at the position last year, Chase Misura and Michael Yetka, couldn’t be any different. Chase is a larger body and a more powerful runner, making one or two distinct cuts and squaring his shoulder pads to the line of scrimmage. He’s by no means a robot, but he’s just not that kind of athlete. Nor is that the way he plays the game.

Yetka is a much more explosive, compact ball carrier–a nice change of pace from the downhill running an opponent gets used to with Misura.

Donoloski seems to be a unique fusion of both running styles. He runs with about the same toughness that Misura does, though he’s got the first-step quickness of a Mike Yetka. Aside from what he’s able to do when he has the ball, his versatility allows offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta all kinds of play with his personnel packages. Yesterday we saw Donoloski and Misura swap between tailback and fullback in the I-formation–a few times even on the same drive. Donoloski entered the game as a lead blocker for Yetka, as did Misura. If you’re a defensive coordinator this is a gameplanning nightmare.

Not only does this keep all three backs fresh throughout the entirety of the contest, but because Acosta gets all of them the ball so frequently, they’re always hungry–and always productive.

• Dominance in spite of injury

If I told you–a head football coach coming off of a 4-6 finish a year ago–that you’d have to open your season in front of your home fans against a team you know very little about AND you weren’t going to be able to rely on the services of two of your team captains, you’d likely have concerns–if not outright worries.

Undisclosed injuries to both free safety Ryan Flannery and wide receiver Cam Richardson sidelined two of the Lions’ biggest impact players on their respective sides of the ball.

Flannery’s presence as a field general from deep in the defensive backfield is invaluable–and difficult to replace. Fortunately, Matt Kreider had himself a game later in the afternoon after defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton made adjustments to his defense’s zone coverage responsibilities as well as its option rules. He’s a fiery competitor–a lunatic like the rest of his defense–and he loves to hit (sometimes too much, evidenced on a questionable unnecessary roughness call for leveling Bengals’ quarterback Kenny Murphy on the sidelines). Most comforting about his performance is that he was able to learn as the game progressed. It’s one thing to make mental mistakes. It’s an entirely different issue if you’re just not good enough. His issue was the former, and it didn’t linger for long.

On the other side of the ball, Cam Richardson is a dynamic asset to the team’s passing game, and contributes on occasion on slot option (variation of triple option). The passing game didn’t struggle yesterday, in fact Chris James (11/16, 109 yds, INT) flashed glimpses of the accuracy and efficiency that people have been expecting from him. Colin Weber’s number wasn’t called often (three catches, 54 yds), but he made it count when it was, coming up with big catches both down the field and on high-percentage passes. Reiterating his dependability yesterday only bodes well for this Lions’ offense moving forward.

• Pass protection

I said Friday that if the Lions’ offensive line couldn’t protect its quarterback, the team would be in for a world of trouble on its 2009 debut.

The unit forfeited one sack. The offense scored a bunch of points. See?

• Third-down defense

The Lions’ defense only allowed Buffalo State to convert four of its 15 third down tries yesterday. Especially in the second half, this allowed the offense to feed off of its own momentum for a longer period since there was such a short time between offensive possessions.

THE BAD

• Penalties
  

Any time you give up a football field’s worth of penalty yardage, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Though the Lions managed to overcome these potentially costly mistakes, that won’t always be the case. This is especially true for yardage on drive-extending flags and dead ball fouls–both of which the team surrendered Saturday.

THE UGLY

• Chris Jones’ post game interview

As a reporter, you figure out pretty quickly who’s going to give you the can’t-miss quotables.

Though he was great between the lines (led team with eight total tackles), Chris Jones is not one of those players.

BREAKING NEWS: Yetka, Zucconi named NJAC Players of the Week

Hot off the presses came an e-mail from conference commish Terry Small, releasing to a number of media affiliates its selections for NJAC Player of the Week.

Michael Yetka, whose 101 yards and two touchdowns carried the Lions to victory during its season debut, delivered the conference’s top offensive performance. At weeks’ end, he’s tied for the conference lead in points per game (12.0) and rushing touchdowns (two), while also ranking second in rushing yards (behind Riedrick Alceus of The College at Brockport, 114 yds against William Patterson).

Marc Zucconi also earned player of the week honors for serving double-duties as the team’s punter and kicker. Zucconi was perfect on PAT attempts Saturday (6/6), while also adding three points via an 18-yard field goal early in the third quarter. His profound contribution to the field position battle was certainly appreciated, as he averaged 40.0 yards per punt on two attempts–one of which sailed off of his foot 57 yards downfield.

Brockport linebacker Nathan Bull earned the conference’s weekly award for its top defensive performer, recording a career-high 17 tackles in a down to the wire victory against William Patterson, 22-19 (FG attempt converted with :11 remaining).

No nominations for offensive nor defensive rookie of the week were released in the report.

Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag: Defining the detriment of Saturday’s special teams’ strategy

Every Monday, I’ll take a minute to respond to you — Lions’ Nation — answering questions and offering my predictions and insight surrounding the team’s 2009 campaign. Here’s this week’s installment of Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag.

Saturday’s victory against Buffalo State told a vivid story about this Lions squad–plenty more than the numbers alone might suggest. I’ll try my best to help make better sense of what has already happened, and what’s to come moving forward.

• Matty, the defense definitely stepped it up a notch in the second half, but how can you rave about a unit that allowed 31 points? Aren’t you concerned at all–especially considering what happened last year against TCNJ’s next opponent, FDU-Florham?

I’ll give you that the defense’s performance last year against Fairleigh Dickinson was atrocious. But that was last year–if I’ve learned nothing else already in one week of the season, this isn’t the same Lions team that it was in 2008.

At first glance, as you mentioned, 31 points allowed isn’t normally anything to write home about–especially considering 24 of those points were surrendered in the first 30 minutes of play. In the hopes of seeing the forest through the trees, allow me to offer analysis to better explain the root of Buffalo State’s early “success”–if you can even call it that.

One of the first, most glaring statistics that jumps out after watching the game and skimming the box score is Buffalo State’s starting field position during the first half. You can march the best starting-11 in the country onto the field, but if they’re backed into a quarter at the beginning of a drive, there’s too little room for error to stave off any kind of formidable opponent. The team plays too stressed, opening the door for mental mistakes (of which there was plenty Saturday) and the coordinator’s game plan can become a non-factor.

Early in the afternoon, the Lions’ special teams coaches instructed kicker Marc Zucconi use a squib kick–a low line-drive delivery that doesn’t have the same range as a normal approach, though its much more difficult to handle for the first two lines on the return team. This strategy was likely an effort to keep the ball away from Bengals’ running back Willie Horge during kickoffs–hoping to prevent an 82-yard touchdown return, kind of like the one ripped by Scott Mathurin in the first quarter. As a result, the Bengals started most of its first-half drives a few yards away from Lions’ territory, creating a handicap, in a sense, against the Lions’ D.

On all of its first-half scoring possessions, the Bengals averaged only 51.7 yards per drive, the longest of which–a mere 58 yards. Once Zucconi was given free reign to blast his kicks as far as he’d like–two of which soared out of the end zone–the Bengals’ offense couldn’t replicate its earlier success when it found itself in the red zone after only a few plays. Three-and-outs, turnovers–even a safety after it committed a holding penalty in the end zone–soon replaced the big plays and quick scores that characterized the Bengals’ earlier “dominance.”

• Considering that the game got out of hand a little later in the second half, we saw a fair amount of reserve players enter the game Saturday. Was there anyone that we should be looking out for as the season moves on?

There were certainly a few Lions that–between brief appearances this weekend and from their performance throughout training camp–should make an impact before season’s end.

Kevin Allgood is a guy that defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton has utilized as both an outside linebacker and a defensive end. Depending on the package, Allgood’s size allows him to go toe-to-toe with beefy Division III tackles, but his explosiveness and quickness coming off the edge is a force that Hamilton should be excited to implement in future contests.

Though he wasn’t able to record a sack, Allgood’s unremitting pressure manifested in the form of several incompletions by Bengals’ quarterback Kenny Murphy late in the game. This tenacity and determination on his pass rushes forced errant throws and disrupted the brief rhythm that the Bengals’ offense enjoyed–especially Murphy’s, who was quickly frustrated after being tossed around like a doll.

While the defensive line didn’t perform poorly, particularly after Hamilton’s adjustments, adding Allgood to a rotation at defensive end during obvious passing situations should enhance the unit’s ability to pressure the quarterback. Especially after we’ve spent so much talking about the youth in the defensive secondary, the team can’t afford to bring the heat if it can’t expect to at least disrupt timing between the quarterback and his receivers–though it would like to see him on his back.

• The Lions have a bye coming up this week. Do you think that this might diminish some of the momentum the team established in Week One?

In a word–no. And I’ll apologize in advance for the use of such a tired cliche, but a week off may be just what the doctor ordered.

The Lions only major concern thus far has been its injuries, as a few notables that we’ve talked about are still banged up from training camp. Time off only means time to get healthy–something the team will undoubtedly benefit from.

A mental break after this weekend’s early first-half struggles isn’t going to stir any complaints either. It’s hard to sustain such an emotional high for any prolonged period for a football team, especially one looking to take the conference by surprise. The team needs to maintain as steady a morale as possible if its going to be competitive down the stretch.

***

That’s it for this week’s edition of 4M.

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Lions’ Nation Weekly Poll: And Saturday’s game ball goes to…

Special Photo Journal Feature: Wednesday’s sights and…well…sights…

Scott Mathurin

Coach Matt Hamilton

Coach Andy Larkin

Chris James

Mike Camastra

Colin Weber

Matt Kreider

Chase Misura

misc. team

Colin Weber

Michael Yetka

Mark Gardner

Matt Kreider, Shawn Brown, Coach Andy Larkin

Mid-Week Practice Update: Vacation? Playa, please

There may not be anything on this weekend’s schedule implicit of substantial impact to the team’s regular season record, but you try and tell that to the TCNJ Lions after the physicality that has characterized this week’s training schedule.

Yes, I’m aware that I’m talking about practice.

Mother nature–sweet woman that she is–waited to pull the trigger on this afternoon’s thundershowers until the team finished its 100-yard wind sprints to wrap up Thursday’s afternoon session. Head coach Eric Hamilton stressed the importance of tactful and gradual mental preparation for the team’s next contest against Fairleigh Dickinson

the Lions' D-line during the unit's pass-rush-discipline drills

University-Florham (Friday, Sept. 18) in a post game interview last weekend, but he never made make mention of letting his squad get soft–then or now.

Today’s practice was the second of the week’s two workouts in full gear, following Tuesday’s uppers-only action.

High on the team’s prioritized list of goals it hoped to achieve during the 13 day’s rest was getting healthier for the upcoming home stand that features three of the team’s next four games in front of its fans in Lions’ stadium.

Duly noting that my awareness of repeated requests to limit disclosure and keep the specifics of player injuries quiet, I can’t help but make mention of how few faces linger on outside the lines. So it seems–so far, so good.

Here are some news and notes from this week’s action:

• Intensity, intensity, intensity

Coach Ham is no slouch–he’s not running his backs and linebackers in countless hours of Oklahoma’s this far into the thick of things. That said, he certainly knows how to maintain an up-tempo competitive atmosphere surrounding his facilities.

Chris James, Justin Donoloski during the offense's play-action pass segment

If you don’t believe that the team’s still hitting, ask center Joe Mecca. One collision in particular with linebacker Joe Spahn knocked the lineman’s helmet clear off, leaving the junior with a gash in his chin. No, Bruce Lee fans–he didn’t lick his finger after he’d realized what happened. Nonetheless, under threatening rain clouds, someone on that football field drew blood.

• Diversity in the offensive repertoire
  

Looking to follow up last week’s offensive rout with another statistically gaudy performance (hopefully with win-column implications), offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta’s dismissing any ideas that he’s become complacent or that he’s tipped a fingernail worth of his playbook’s hand.

Yesterday, the team worked extensively on continuing to develop its spread option attack, conjuring up new ways to fully implement every asset provided by three-headed monster it unveiled last week against Buffalo State (RBs-35 att, 255 yds, four TDs).

In contrast, today’s project-du-jour included a 30-minute goal-line segment, designed to assess the offense’s ability to finish from within the five yard-line. Power run, play-action bootlegs–this team’s short-yardage formation is far from the one-dimensional fronts used in a number of clubs at this level.

Though the two packages couldn’t have been any more fundamentally different, they looked plenty similar–pretty damn good.

• Remember kids, school first
  

  offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta dictating last-minute expectations to Mike Camastra during the receivers' stalk-blocking period

Often in the back-burner at larger universities–like Michigan, for example, that doesn’t seem like it allows its players to enjoy life’s little splendors (i.e. the light of day)–the football team at this highly-accredited liberal arts college encourages its players to allocate precious time to excelling in the classroom.

Turn on the TV on any Saturday during the college football season. You’re all but guaranteed to bear witness to one of the frequent commercial-break ads that air between quarters in big-time DI contests, the regular expenditures of hot-air that painstakingly strive to create the illusion of  that ever-so-popular “commitment to academic excellence.”

Take a quick look around the Lions’ practice facilities during the same period, at roughly 5:30–just in time to watch the waves of blue and white jerseys leave organized team workouts to head over to class.

For TCNJ, located just outside the state’s capitol, the oft-idealistic fantasy isn’t your usual diplomatic display of  puffery. These men live and breathe what everyone else preaches.

That does it for this week’s practice update. Check back in tomorrow for Friday’s feature on the Lions’ strength and conditioning guru, John McKenna, and his 28-year journey to strengthen his athlete’s cores–both muscles protruding outside their ribs and buried beneath them.

Friday Feature–EARLY EDITION: “What it all means”–football (and life) according to John

When I finally came to after those deceivingly short minutes of utter bewilderment, I found myself standing on the rubber mats that blanket the floor in Notre Dame high school’s weight room. Sure I found some comfort in the instant-access to civilization that my GPS offered, all but a 30-second walk and push of a button away. But my disastrous misunderstanding of the instructions I’d been given minutes earlier left me struggling to remember what I was even looking for–let alone where I was.

See earlier, John sent me on a journey–a quest for meaning, if you would.

While we sat on the opened door of his GMC Sierra’s truck bed–bearing the scars inflicted by frequent transports of wheel-farrels, kettle bells, and tractor tires on his ultimate man-wagon–John McKenna told me the tale of his life’s

John's desk, tidy and undisturbed since he's so seldom there

inevitable twists and turns. In spite of his reputation–one of unrivaled success that’s now landed him in charge of TCNJ football‘s year-round strength and conditioning duties–John told me that if I hoped to get it, to wholly understand what he believed was most profound of all his residual impact smeared on combine records and newspaper archives throughout the tri-state area, I need only do two things.

Go inside, and look at the wall.

But here I still stood after I’d scoured every inch of the painted white cement encasing the area’s most storied high school training facility, dumbfounded and without the damnedest idea he’d meant. Everything I’d already seen filled its space with a definitive purpose, mostly local newspaper clippings and old photographs–the lone exception a Word document to which I hadn’t paid much attention.

In an effort to deduce some context clues from our earlier conversation, I tried to remember everything he’d said to me. Unsure if the cliche usage was deliberate or casual, I could only hope that “reading between the lines” would help me find this alleged “writing on the wall.”

John started where every story starts–the notable exceptions being artsy indie movies and various works by novice independent bloggers–the beginning.

***

For Coach McKenna, it all began square in the heart of the Mountain State–and what better setting in lieu of the finished product yielded in its midst. Alongside his then-college roommate at West Virginia Tech, Allan Johnson, the aspiring strength guru often experimented with various enhancements to the popular, yet stagnant approach adopted by many of his colleagues. Driven by the same childlike reverberation of “what if” that berthed his partner’s career–one that now boasts an unofficial title as “baseball’s first strength coach” inclusive of job ops directing S&C for Ohio State and West Virginia’s Division I football programs–McKenna couldn’t help but imagine ways to improve upon his craft.

“I remember being back when we were in West Virginia,” he said, in reminiscent description of his grass roots methodology. “We started using chains and just trying to throw them over a school bus. We were always looking for alternative methods back then.”

Though he hadn’t yet seen the picture in its entirety–and to this day claims he still quite hasn’t–McKenna’s first elaboration on the field’s so-called conventional wisdom featured what he calls “West-Side barbells”–a scheduled

one of the facility's two state-of-the-art training rooms

bi-weekly rotation between seven day periods of max-power exertion and light weight repetition to failure. McKenna couldn’t argue that heavy bench presses and squats worked, nor would he–every day he was surrounded by the approach’s avid believers and the definitive bulges protruding from the arms of his athletes.

But, through kettle bell training, he also saw an opportunity to build better football players, as opposed to sculpting better beach bodies.

“When I first got started as a strength coach, it was amazing. I used to have all these big guys and they put up big numbers,” he said, foreshadowing a troubling disparity between aesthetics and performance. “But all too often, I turned around and saw those guys standing on the sidelines. Sure, they thought they looked nice and pretty with their sleeves rolled up, but they just couldn’t move.”

It wasn’t long before his distinctive nack for innovating strength training set his career’s wheels in motion (or tires flipped down a high school parking lot). Making full use of equipment that looked like it better fit a tool shed than a weight room, years of the abstract images flashing vividly in the former Harry Truman high graduate’s imagination started to materialize–catching the attention of those in dire need of this kind of service.

***

In what now deteriorated into a perpetual back and forth patrol of the gym’s interior perimeter, I stopped in a narrow corridor connecting the building’s two compartmentalized facilities and the field’s schools of thought. One, featuring a 40-yard indoor track, lined with loads of handle-laden iron in five-pound increments. The other, a labyrinth of benches, dumbbells and dust.

I decided to take another look at the countless newspaper clippings of the team’s triumphs and a few notable shortcomings–both overtly displayed as side-by-side relics of “Irish pride.”

***

Entering his 44th year of a prestigious career that’s featured stints at a number of settings, most notably Villanova University, Notre Dame head coach Chappy Moore remembers what drew him to the savior of the school’s entire athletic program.

“A friend of ours recommended John, so I went over and saw him in Saint Mary’s hospital,” where McKenna himself was in the midst of a battle, fighting to recover from a crippling joint infection in his knee. “We talked for a while and we knew right away this was what we wanted.”

The harder he looked, Coach Moore saw a team, and a program standing, at a crossroads. Though he couldn’t decipher which was the right path to choose, in his mind he was in the presence of the embodiment of an otherwise faceless silhouette–just the guy he needed. But in a world dominated by the “big machine” in even the most humble of political realms, Moore knew he’d need to sway some important figures of influence–with feet firmly planted in opposition to this kind of change.

dumbbells and heavy-duty ropes implemented in McKenna's regiments

“See, we had to go through the phys-ed department to get this done,” he said explicitly, recollecting a simplified version of the board’s decision to his initial proposal. “They shot it down 8-1.”

He persisted, wedging the hopeful heir to the throne of his weight room/dungeon’s in the door–one with whom so much of his faith was already invested. Though it wasn’t initially the role he’d hoped for, it wasn’t long before everyone around him began to see what he had already so clearly perceived.

“We got him in here as a part-time director,” he said, detailing the initial move. “By January everybody started to realize that he was out of their league.”

Only a slight divergence from this much-appreciated trend of instant-gratification, it wasn’t long before McKenna’s genius–or madness, or both–started to translate into what matters most in football. Wins.

“It didn’t happen right away,” Moore said of the program’s steady metamorphosis. “But especially in the past five years we’ve started becoming increasingly competitive and we’re really starting to enjoy the foundation that he’s built for us.”

In an effort to quantify the team’s success, the men tossed the conversation back and forth, hoping to definitively cite the team’s winning percentage following McKenna’s arrival. After minutes of offering their closest speculations and clearest memories, neither could produce a precise record.

Though it couldn’t rival the valor of the effort itself, their best approximation (still reputable in its own right) was a 89-11 guesstimate of wins and losses over 11 seasons.

The exact number may have escaped him, but Moore wasn’t short for words to qualify McKenna’s impact–on the program and the community.

“He’s done a tremendous job building it here–building what [the program] is today. The kids are healthier, quicker, stronger–it’s everything I’d hoped it would be.”

***

I peered into the doorless walkway, giving a quick peek into the room housing the more traditional of the two styles of training. I found humor in the montage of pictures hanging on the wall nearest to me, unable to hold back an audible chuckle at the sight of so many signed portraits of  athletes on every level of competitive football. Some notable pros

photos of the players referenced in the graph

included linebackers Gary Brackett (Indianapolis Colts) and Lawrence Timmons (Pittsburgh Steelers)–a combined five timeless relics of Super Bowl hardware between them.

The school’s web site made no mention of any of these supposed famous alumni, with the lone exception of Rugers’ grad Tiquan Underwood. Phony photos–just like at Hooters, I thought. And why not, after all, there’s nothing wrong with a little puffery on one’s private resume.

The levity of my first-glance observation quickly transposed into a deluge of awe, once I noticed that for every gameday action shot of one of these highly-recognizable figures in NFL and DI college uniforms, two others featured images of the same personality wearing a cut-off tee shirt, John standing alongside.

***

Ask Lions’ defensive end Craig Meyer about McKenna’s workouts themselves and he’ll tell you–he’s a satisfied customer with the way his body’s responded.

“They’re definitely 10 times better than anything I’ve ever done before,” said the 6’1, 250-pound brute from Far Hills, NJ. “It’s given me speed, stamina–you name it. Its made the game slow down because you’re used to such a fast-paced atmosphere. Nothing has phased me thus far.”

Meyer cites his fitness level, one he calls “the best of his life,” as a direct product of grueling 7:00 am workouts–so early that beads of water glistening on the grass adjacent to the school served as a

indoor turf, located opposite of the facility's weight room

tantalizing reminder that while they toiled, the rest of the area’s 18-22-year old population slept off hangovers and wild college nights.

“He pushes you to the fullest,” one of the team’s co-captains said of the training sessions. “He doesn’t overdo it, but you walk in there and there’s no thinking. You do what he tells you to do and you get in great shape.”

Mark Gardner, a wide receiver and teammate of Meyer’s at TCNJ, remembers his first experience in the basement of Lawrenceville’s lone parochial school.

“The first thing I thought was, ‘Wow, I can’t believe there’s all this equipment at a high school,” the four-year letterman for the Lions’ out of Texas said via phone interview. “That was before I walked into the back and saw all the tires. Then my second thought was, ‘Damn, this is gonna be hard work. There’s no way I’m coming here all summer.’”

But come all summer he did, and he’s grateful for the opportunity that was provided for him and so many of the athletes that train alongside him in Notre Dame’s facilities.

“I didn’t have to pay for anything,” he said in appreciation of the off-season program’s financial implication–or lack thereof. “I could use the gym every day and just get in the best shape of my life.”

The season is still young, but for participants in the team’s first full year under McKenna’s instruction–so far, so good.

Against Buffalo State University in the team’s season opener, the offense managed to gash the Bengals for 421 yards of total offense, while the defense’s second-team unit surrendered the only points of the second half–a meaningless touchdown with the game already out of reach.

***

I trudged back across the strip of indoor turf, accepting in anguish my necessity to recede to square one. I snapped myself into a state of unbiased observation, absorbing every possible detail that might help me figure out whatever in the hell I was hoping to find.

I almost made it to the steel double-doors that led to the parking lot–ground-zero of the rebuilding of now two football programs and each’s athletes. To my right I saw a few pieces of construction paper taped to the wall. Stained with ink, rather than engraved with a chisel, the posters featured handwritten motivational quotables written by quite a collection of authors, ranging from Edward Everett Hale to Michael Jordan.

***

Though the players couldn’t be any more dissimilar in the demands implicit by their respective positions, both Meyer and Gardner paid ample attention to noting the ensuing mental toughness that began to harden the oft-flaky intra-training resiliency that’s so hard to shake for a majority of players.

“You think you’re working out hard, you think you train hard. And then you go there and he kicks the shit out of you,” Meyer said, waiving his right to disguise his summer as anything other than what it was–what McKenna had painstakingly intended it to be. “You learn what a hard workout is and you respect it. You have to. He’ll never push you too hard and he knows everyone’s limits, but he teaches you what ‘hard work’ really means.”

one of the five cardboard cut outs, referenced above

Gardner concurred his teammate’s observation–echoing that he too had become well-familiar with McKenna’s blunt redefinition of effort.

“It makes you so mentally strong,” Gardner said, reservedly expressing how fresh (and superstitious) he feels now two weeks removed from training camp. “Nothing I’m going through with football–all the line drills, all the sprints–none of that is as hard as that hour and ten minutes with John McKenna.”

Otherwise characterized as one of few words, Gardner couldn’t help but rave about the competitive edge he’d earned.

“My mental aspect is on a whole ‘nother level now. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever went through.”

The more and more he elaborated on their perceived impact on morale and 4th-quarter moxy, Gardner’s description of his relationship with his strength coach (of all characters in his life story’s current chapter) illustrated an immeasurable impact–especially outside the thick white lines that so often showcase hell on earth.

“He helped me out–not just with working out–but I sometimes talked to him about some stuff that was going on at home,” Gardner said, about to struggle to duly accredit the man for everything he’d been given. “He just, like–I’d recommend him to anyone. He’s just a great guy.”

In fact, Meyer had much of the same to say as he concluded his recollection of his short time under John’s proverbial wing.

“What I learned, that’s going to carry out into everything I do,” Meyer said in anxious anticipation of pursuing a career in law enforcement. “When I go on to my academy training, nothing will shake me because of what I learned. If you want to ask me about life lessons and what he’s done for me–there you go. I can’t thank him enough.”

***

All of a sudden, it hit me like the droning screech of McKenna’s whistle that slapped his players’ eardrums in their summers’ most dire moments of angst–the Word document in the frame. That was it. It had to be.

I raced through the three rooms, likely bearing resemblance to the pre-edit footage of Adrian Peterson’s latest NFL Network ad–minus the speed, plus the shirt. I leaped over benches, dipped under squat racks and contorted my body in every which way I had to–hoping only to shave fractions of seconds off the time it took me to get to that seemingly

Larkin's letter--written in 2003, still hanging in the facility this day

frivolous piece of paper.

There it stood, a letter addressed to John, written the better part of a decade ago.

Encased in protective glass and cemented to the concrete, looking like it belonged more in a museum than in a musty and filthy gymnasium, Andy Larkin’s name tied attribution to the author of the formal thank you note. Now a former alumnus of Notre Dame and TCNJ, now The College’s defensive backs’ coach, Larkin’s letter thanked John for, among other deeds “seeing past the 5-foot-7 frame and seeing the heart I have.”

Signed “Mighty Mouse” Larkin articulated the words to John that Meyer couldn’t, verbalizing his unconditional gratitude for tying together two otherwise succinctly different games: life and football.

“That was a long time ago, but I mean every word I said of it,” Larkin said, letting slide a grin of mild embarrassment that permeated his definitive stone-cold expression of stoicism. “He’s a man of character and integrity, and he’s humble by definition–everything you’d look for in a friend and in a mentor.”

Once I caught up with John, he conveyed what he called the wonders that everything–all his years with all his players–had done, in fact, for him.

“One of the things I’ve been most proud of here at The College, of the closeness I’ve developed with [head] Coach Ham[ilton] and Larkin and everyone, is the friendships I’ve developed with the players,” he said, cracking a smile in revelation for what I’d spent the past hour rummaging the premises. “If we don’t have anything in our lives, there’s more value in the friendships that we make in our lives. This year I think I was able to make a few of those.”

Welcome to the World–Lesson #1: Thick Skin

Its no secret that, as with any first-time whirl in the public eye, there’s never going to be a shortage of swift judo kicks square in the jaw of your ego. Sometimes its your fault, sometimes its no one’s fault, and sometimes–believe it or not–someone’s doing you the favor of your life.

Yesterday, The Pride of Trenton was featured on DeadSpin.com‘s inaugural edition of “The Learning Curve,” a one-time only mass exposure opportunity for novice bloggers to field the advice of its audience–the largest in the nation for any independent sports blog.

In an e-mail sent by editor A.J. Daulerio–a man to which I owe many thanks–I was offered the following advice:

***

The Pride of Trenton featured on the first installment of "The Learning Curve" on DeadSpin.com

Alright, Matt. You’re about to get your first lesson — thick skin.  I’m running your email as is with a link to your blog and siccing the very opinionated commenters on  your ass. You will learn plenty.

Don’t take offense to their suggestions or them ripping you a new one — part of the deal. Everybody deals with it, including me.

Strap in. Gonna be a busy day for ya. Your site goes up at 3:15.

***

Now, if you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the web site, now would be a good time to familiarize yourself with it in order to better understand its readership. There’s certainly no shortage of quick-witted ball-busters–evidenced by some of the comments posted on TPoT and DeadSpin.

Though I highly doubt it qualifies as adequate thanks, it would be ungrateful to learn nothing from the experience. The lesson, entitled “Thick Skin” certainly has inherent benefits on its own, for sure. But why settle?–I’d like to take it a step farther.

Rather than deflect harsh and often crude criticisms, I’m going to embrace them, ranking the Top 10 quips and not-so-subtle jabs at my humble journalistic enterprise.

_______________________________________________________________________

Without further ado, here are the top comments from yesterday’s bombardment, “lecture.”

#10 – posted by Hit Bull Win Steak at 12:23am on DeadSpin

“This is hands down better than my “Trenton Makes Shit, the World Takes a Shit” blog”

#9 — posted by Theodore Donald on 9/10 on DeadSpin

“Hire a guy with a name that sounds like he used to play bass in an ’80′s hair band — like Bruce Biggs, Danny Silvia, or Tommy Craggs — and have him write righteous shit about TCNJ that always has some sort of political slant.”–in response to my probe for increasing my readership

#8 — posted by Sir Pantsalot on 9/10 on DeadSpin

“It all depends on if you are able to pay off the authorities and how young the girls are that you are ‘advertising.’”–in response to my inquiry regarding advertising regulations and consequential legal action

#7 – posted by Suck Alert on 9/10 on The Pride of Trenton

“Man, this blog SUCKS!!!” — prompted by mild distaste for the page’s content

#6 — posted by FEAST on 9/10 on DeadSpin

“Post all the for-your-eyes-only pictures you’ve amassed over the years.”–in response to my probe for increasing my readership

#5 – posted  by ClintonPortishead on DeadSpin

“Any fucking way you want to.
- Ben Roethlisberger” — in response to one of my questions to A.J. that sounded something like ‘How can I get a feel for my audience?”

#4 – posted by WaWa on The Pride of Trenton

“These kinds of photos warrant a visit from Chris Hansen” – in response to ‘Special Journal Feature: Wednesday’s sights and…well…sights…’

#3 – posted by Steve U on DeadSpin

“Renaming your blog after something other than the Guinness World Record for yearly murders per capita might help.”  — general response

#2 – posted by Karlifornia on DeadSpin

“Man Notre Dame looks shitty this year.” – general response

AND HONORS FOR THE NUMBER ONE COMMENT FROM YESTERDAY’S ASS-KICKING IS AWARDED TO…

#1 – posted by Fogg on DeadSpin

“This is bullshit. My dad is from Trenton. I asked him what the pride of Trenton was and he said whores and unregistered handguns.” – no explanation needed

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Again, unequivocal and absolute thanks to the editor of DeadSpin.com–the nation’s largest independent sports blogging web site–for making this all happen. I’m humbled–and clearly for good reason–and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you enough.

Until next time…

TCNJ Lions football photos now on Flickr

photos now on flickr

Now, I’m not entirely sure how many pairs of socks were torn off by last Wednesday’s photo feature, but for those of you that enjoyed it–maybe hoping for a little more–you’re in luck. You now have the opportunity.

Available starting today (and hopefully for a while, assuming I don’t break some fine-print detail of the site’s Terms of Use) I’ll be posting still images on Flickr for your viewing enjoyment.

Hell, since I’m in such a good mood, I’ll even give you guys the option for how you’d like to view them.

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OPTION #1

Click here to view Matty’s Flickr Photostream.

Nothing fancy–just a long, bland, scrollable list of pictures…womp, womp. Not too much fun.

OR!!!!

OPTION #2

Click here to view Matty’s Flickr Slide Show.

Now this is the good stuff. Allow your mind to wander free, while my tactfully ordered and photoshopped images massage your eyes like the sweet ambiance of smooth jazz rub down your eardrums–and your soul. All the while, enjoy the added splendor of the experience as an investment–one in your readership of The Pride of Trenton moving forward, having laid eyes on the vividly illustrated personality of the program.

Or something like that…

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Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag: Chances of the Lions loss in a post-bye skid?

Every Monday, I’ll take a minute to respond to you — Lions’ Nation — answering questions and offering my predictions and insight surrounding the team’s 2009 campaign. Here’s this week’s installment of Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag.

The Lions may have been idle on the schedule last week, enjoying a bye before its match up this weekend against FDU-Florham, but that hasn’t stopped readers from submitting their most pressing curiosities. Let’s get this party started…

• Matty, Fairleigh Dickinson University isn’t listed on the NJAC’s web site for competitors in the conference–they’re a member of D3′s Middle Atlantic Conference. One loss isn’t going to kill your season, but why even schedule the game when it can’t even help you win your group? What’s the point?

The simple answer would be, “well, why not?” but I’ll refrain from giving into that temptation. Fact of the matter is there’s plenty to benefit from penciling in a non-conference opponent.

The Lions offense has benefited from bye weeks in recent history, averaging 47.5 PPG following its last two rest periods

Aside from enriching your program with tradition by fostering an out-of-conference rivalry, non-conference competition does wonders for a team’s post-season preparations. Most conferences, in D3 as well as D1 and so on, have a characteristic offensive philosophy. In the case of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), that happens to be the spread. Now, there’s no question that different personnel options and distinctive play-calling strategies within an otherwise all-encompassing shotgun attack show its teams a number of different looks throughout the course of the season. Sure the spread’s become increasingly popular in recent years, but that’s not the lone offensive philosophy in the country–not even close.

So what happens in the playoffs–and unless you’re the general manager of the Denver Nuggets you’d like to think your team can get there–when all of a sudden, you’re hit with a balanced pro-style offense or a triple option rush attack? You can game plan all you want, but there’s a clear distinction between studying and taking the test itself. And that late in the game, you can’t afford seek refuge in “learning from your mistakes.” In the playoffs, it’s one and done.

Another implicit benefit of hosting non-conference competition is its inevitable role as a barometer of your team’s relative success. Let’s say–which won’t be the case as long as Rowan and others are members–the NJAC has a soft year. The Lions run the table, win the conference, and expect a high seed in the NCAA D3 Playoffs. Depending on what everyone else does, the team may not be awarded as high a starting spot as they’d like–especially if they’re the lone representative from the conference and the tournament’s scheduling body hasn’t seen them shake it up with foreign opponents. The same is true for the converse, as a team with a pedestrian regular season record could benefit from a dominating an opponent outside its conference.

That’s why big-time football schools, the USCs face off against the nation’s Ohio States on a yearly basis. That’s also a reason–among more, eh hem, financial considerations–that Notre Dame isn’t even in a major D1 conference.

• Well, that’s fine and good but the team lost last year, didn’t they? How is that going to help, should the squad make the post-season?

It’s well-noted that the team did drop last year’s contest against the Devils, a 41-42 nail-biter ending on a late touchdown that culminated an impressive nine play, 67 yard two-minute drill that left the Lions only :13 to answer before the final horn sounded. But historically, the team’s fared quite well against the Devils. Not so well to justify it as a “gimme,” but a contest that the Lions’ coaching staff had to feel good about entering the week.

Since it began in 2005, the Lions have edged the Devils three of the series’ four meetings by an average margin of 24.6 , while lighting up the scoreboard for a total average of 39 PPG. Not too shabby–especially in recognition of the team’s 2007 rout of its artificial MAC rival, 53-7. Especially after gradually terminating perennial play against its only other non-conference opponents in 2007 to accommodate for the NJAC’s continuous expansion (La Salle, formerly D1 FCS-disbanded program; Muhlenberg D3, Centennial) the Lions need to foster this relationship to maintain credibility with the NCAA. Especially when it’s so dominant against this particular foe.

• There’s been talk of a noted effort to keep the team focused coming off of the bye, hopefully preventing a let-down game against what you call a winnable game. How concerned should we–the fans–be on the 18th?

There’s no question that every coaching staff must imprint its players with the “stay hungry” football sermons during

image courtesy of StylusMagazine.com

this idle week–its an absolute necessity. Especially in lieu of the team’s second-half dominance of Buffalo State, an ensuing emotional rollercoaster could derail the team’s quest for a pristine regular season record–if not slap an “L” next to what easily could have been a “W”–the disparity between opening a Golden Girls calendar, surprised to find its not the 12-month planner of girls in golden bikinis.

That said, let me tuck these concerns in to bed for a long, long slumber. It’s just never been an issue for head coach Eric Hamilton‘s Lions. Since reinstituting bye weeks on the team’s schedule (staggered season-opener from 2003-06) the Lions’ record indicates the team doesn’t suffer from any post-vacation jet lag–especially the offense. In addition to 2007′s romp of FDU–which followed the bye–the Lions’ offense decimated the Buffalo State Bengals’ D, en route to a comfy 42-32 win in 2008.

Sure anything’s possible, but if you’re the type to get caught up in stat books and “what-have-you-done-for-me-lately”s, I wouldn’t be too concerned about the team blowing the team’s first game in 13 days–at least not because of its time off.

***

That’s it for this week’s edition of 4M.

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Special Monday Practice Feature: Chris James gets equipment makeover, crash course in “Sports Tech: 101″

quarterback Chris James, equipped with a mounted high definition camera on his helmet during today's practice

Chris James is not tech savvy.

There’s plenty of other descriptive alternatives to paint the picture of the Lions’ fourth-year starter at quarterback. You could say impassioned competitor, or established leader, or–if you wanted to get flavorful–resonating with a peculiar overt yet humble confidence.

But seasoned computer junkie? Not a chance–and he’ll be the first to tell you.

“Well,” he said via phone interview, carefully choosing his words for his self-description. “I’m not tech–technology…whatever you said. No. I’m not that.”

But enter Deric Raymond–a perfectly capable suitor of that illustration–and the scene explodes, revealing a picture unlike the students at TCNJ have ever seen.

Literally.

James, with quarterbacks' coach James Donoghue between reps during the team's pass-skel segment

For the first time in the program’s history, Raymond–a junior double-major at The College in journalism andinteractive multimedia–provided a well-deserved upgrade to the team’s technological repertoire, installing a cutting-edge helmet cam on the Lions’ signal-caller. And the senior from Brick Memorial couldn’t have been more excited about the rare opportunity.

“When I first heard about it, I thought would be cool,” he said, reflecting upon his initial impression. “I mean, anything of that stature–using technology in such a different manner–I definitely think its potentially educational.”

Well-renowned among the locker room as a dedicated student of the game, James couldn’t help but fantasize the numerous different advantages the technology offers to himself and the rest of the quarterbacks. Should the program begin to use it with more regularity, James stressed how much he’d benefit from breaking down his innate reactions in various offensive situations.

Raymond (left) and Tim Blashford (right) installing the compact digital imaging equipment

“I think if you look at [the opportunities], it could help you see everything out there,” he said. “I really don’t tend to see everything–a lot of times I’ll only see bits and pieces. Using that technology–especially when I’m running the ball–you can see what I’m seeing but you can also see what I’m not seeing and what I should be looking for.”

The camera implemented during today’s 5:00pm practice in Lions’ stadium– a product of GoPro, a sports media manufacturer–didn’t berth the innovation of TCNJ’s dynamic media arsenal. It’s yet another innovation in and of itself.

According to Raymond–a student affiliate of the school’s public relations department–the journey started a year ago, when he was employed to help expand the office’s coverage of the Lions’ various sports programs.

“Last year, it was my idea to start a sports highlight reel,” Raymond said via phone interview. “We decided to start posting on the school’s web page, featuring the different sports of the college, different achievements and so on.”

From his perspective, the overwhelming interest and feedback that ensued left Raymond only one option. Make it newer. Make it better.

“We saw very good numbers with those videos—hits from viewers. What we decided to do was go with our strength and post some more videos of what the students like.”

head coach Eric Hamilton on call to watch the GoPro camera's program debut

Raymond hopes that those videos–which capture action-shot footage made available by mounting the camera on extreme-sports athletes, including windsurfers and others–can help popularize The College’s various sports programs.

“What we’re hoping to do with the new technology is get more recognition on campus by using innovative techniques and different, unusual shots that you don’t normally see on a highlight reel,” he said. “We’re hoping that will bolster numbers, get more people looking at sports, bring in prospective students, even boost attendance at games.”

When he’d first heard about the opportunity from Matt Winkle–who’s gathered various keepsake footage for the team’s alumni–the idea initially humored head coach Eric Hamilton, who had a plenty reasonable reaction.

“He said, ‘hey we’ve got this camera that would be really cool if we put it on top of a helmet,’” Hamilton said via phone interview. “My reaction was, ‘yeah right.’”

As hypothetical shortly became tangible, Hamilton didn’t need much convincing to agree to the proposition.

“Well yeah, why not?” he said. “They’ve always been really good to us with all the different things they do through media relations and with the web site. We just figured we’d try something different.”

Though he didn’t guarantee that GoPro technology would become a staple in the program’s day-to-day ops, Hamilton expressed open-mindedness in gauging the compact digital imaging hardware as an eventual aide for the media’s coverage of his squad.

head coach Eric Hamilton looks on while Raymond (left) and Blashford (right) prep the GoPro digital media recording device

“We’re kind of just kicking the idea around and experimenting with it,” he said. “We’re going to look at it and hopefullythe goal down the road somewhere is to give people perspective, you know, ‘from the eyes of the quarterback.’”

Raymond hopes that he’ll soon be posting video footage of the school’s sports programs on the TCNJ web site, providing a segment like one of another popular media enterprise.

“Hopefully soon we’ll be starting to feature monthly highlights for all sports,” he said of his plans. “Kind like SportsCenter‘s Top 10.”

Lions’ Nation Weekly Poll: Who’s it gonna be?

Lions’ Offensive Pre-game Preview: James hopes to silence another year’s worth of friendly quips from familiar faces

Friday night–like every other rung on the team’s upward climb to return to the top of the New Jersey Athletic Conference–offers the 2009 TCNJ Lions an opportunity.

It offers a shot to cultivate a culture of success–privately around the locker room, overtly surrounding the program. It forges the juncture to prove to fans–and themselves–that they’re capable of doing so.

Provided the deflating fashion of the team’s defeat versus this week’s opponent but one, deceivingly short year ago–allowing a touchdown with :16 remaining en route to a 41-42 tearjerking loss–this weekend’s inter-conference showdown also sets the stage for a long-awaited shot at redemption.

But for its quarterback, fourth-year starter Chris James, there’s much more riding on this week’s grudge-match against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham.

“Bragging rights,” he said simply, via phone interview.

See, James undoubtedly fit the bill as the type of guy you’d expect to circle the rematch on the calendar–regarded as a voracious team-first field general and a self-defined “stickler” regarding his individual performance. But he didn’t need to.

His hometown buddies–several of James’ high school teammates who play for the Dickinson Devils–wouldn’t let him forget it.

“When we lost, I heard about it a lot over the summer,” James admitted about the off-season barrage of not-so-subtle reminders. “You could say they let it be known.”

The jeers resonated from a number of notable names listed on the Devils’ roster, including quarterback Bill Winters among other Brick Memorial graduates. And James wasn’t shy about vocalizing what its meant to him.

“It’s fired me up,” he said, yearning to alleviate 365 days’ worth of bottled emotion. “I’ve been looking forward to this game since last year after we lost to them.”

According to him, the attitude isn’t his own. There’s a few other guys in the Lions’ locker room that feel the same way.

“This is about everybody–the whole team. We all know what happened, we know we slipped up, and it’s not gonna happen this year.”

Though his motivation of the rivalry’s 11th installment isn’t to settle a score, one of James’ closer buddies, Dickinson free safety Dan Labrutto, couldn’t help but vocalize his excitement to face his former teammate at the college level.

“This is one of the games I look forward to every year,” he said, via phone interview. “It’s one of those friendly rivalries that we play and [Chris and I] have been playing against each other since we were little.”

Sure their history on the field has its roots, as the two competed against or battled side-by-side each other since their Pop Warner days. But Labrutto and James have fostered a close personal relationship off the field, one that Labrutto openly admitted enhances his pre-game hype, in advent of this weekend’s contest.

Especially since Lions’ Stadium will likely spotlight the inevitable chess match between the two.

“It adds a lot,” he said. “He’s a quarterback and I’m a safety. I have to read him and he has to read me. It’s one of those things where it’s just gonna be fun out there. It really is. It’s exciting.”

Though neither would offer the ready-for-corkboard quote capable of igniting locker room fury, both players enunciated their eagerness to top the other–warm acquaintances outside the lines, cutthroat adversaries between them.

“There’s no doubt he’s one my best friends,” James said of his relationship with Labrutto. “But, come game day we’re not going to take it easy on one another. We’ll be pulling out all the stops.”

Labrutto managed to contribute two interceptions in the Devils’ season-opener, a 28-33 loss to MAC-rival Alfred University, and he’s hoping to reproduce a similar effort this weekend–especially against such a familiar opponent.

“Hopefully I can get a couple,” he said, the tone of his voice indicative of a wide-eyed grin. “Maybe one, but it would be exciting to get one against him. I’ve just got to go out there and do my best and we’ll see what happens.”

James, who delivered a steadfast 2008 performance against the Devils (13/25, 185 yds, 2 TDs), would certainly enjoy a gaudy individual stat-sheet finish, but yards, completion percentage and passer efficiency aren’t his priority. He cares plenty about the numbers–just ones located on a different page.

“I’ve got to prove to myself every week that I can continue to get better and better every week,” he said, prepared to hold himself accountable for his actions this Friday, like he did for last week’s third-quarter interception. “Stats-wise, it doesn’t even matter. It’s all about us winning the ball game.”

Players on both teams will look to settle scores–personal and otherwise–under the Friday-night lights at Lions’ Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.

Lions’ Defensive Pre-game Preview: Hamilton’s off-season words become defense’s identity–both under fire against versatile Devils’ QB

The Lions' defense, breaking down after today's walk-thru in preparation of perennial MAC rival, FDU-Florham

Every off-season it’s the same. Players train, and coaches plan.

There’s surely the likelihood of a disconnect during time away from school, one between the men employed to roam the sidelines and those yearning to compete between them. It’s not a loss of understanding between the two parties, but a mere side-effect of the physical distance inevitably spawned in the wake of summer–the students’ much-needed vacation from the classroom.

Not from the gridiron.

This summer, like the other 32 since he began his tenure, head coach Eric Hamilton mailed his players a letter, a reminder of the team’s ultimate goals–ones for which they’re toiling so restlessly now to enjoy later. Atop every letter to every player, like the other nine since the quote’s inception, reads a sentence-long mission statement that sets the tone for the words–and the coming season’s obstacles–that follow.

THE STRENGTH OF THE LION IS PRIDE.

BUT THE STRENGTH OF THE PRIDE IS THE LION.

Call it what you will–a single-serving of instant cliche, packaged only as long as it took for its two authors to recognize the duality of “pride” and its applicability to the school’s mascot. Or, call it an instant mantra–but one not spoken or sung, simply because it doesn’t need to be.

It’s embodied in every player–every day, every year.

“In essence, it’s all for one, one for all,” Hamilton said of his inference of the words’ meaning, inspired by Jim Valvano’s timeless farewell/dare-to-be-great rouse during the 1993 ESPY Awards. “At a program like The College of New Jersey, we have to rely on each other, we have to play as a team to get it done and win football games. That’s the best short answer.”

Pass judgment as you’d like, but do your opinion’s credibility the favor of waiting until after the Lions’ defense takes the field against Fairleigh Dickinson University, led by its army-of-one, dual-threat quarterback Bill Winters.

Winters style of play, likely to be showcased on every last Devils’ offensive down, demands discipline of its opposition. Capable of dicing a defensive secondary with his arm (23/39, 240 yds, 3 TDs last week vs. Alfred University) or gashing its front-seven with his legs (19 rush, 118 yds, TD in same game) his unequivocal talent leaves a defense little room for error, if any at all. Screw up, and he’ll make you pay.

And according to the defense–one that’s self-conditioned for this kind of test–that won’t be a problem.

“It’s always a team effort no matter who the opponent is,” linebacker Joe Spahn said before this evening’s 5:00pm walk-through. “Even if, say a team has a few receivers than the average team does, it’s really not just the DBs responsibility for that. We’re going to incorporate a game plan where everyone’s gonna be involved. We’ll go from there and make any corrections we have to. As a team.”

LB Joe Spahn (mid-right), alongside LB Dan DeCongelio (mid-left) and DE Craig Meyer (left)

According to Spahn, along with about every other notable face in the Lions’ defensive huddle, this season’s ‘team’ doesn’t particularly resonate with the feel of a competitive football program. It’s a group of friends, a family that occasionally wears helmets, shoulder pads and Adidas-sponsored jerseys during collegiate competition on weekends.

“Ever since camp started, its been there,” Spahn said, noting the importance of ‘it’ to this year’s TCNJ football squad. “It’s huge. The team camaraderie is amazing, on and off the field. I think to be a successful team you need that. And we have it.”

Defensive end and team co-captain Craig Meyer echoed his fellow senior’s perception of this 2009 Lions–one so drastically different from that of a year ago, a 2008 roster chock-full of 100-or-so individuals, coincidentally dressing alike on game day.

“We just gel,” he said after practice, walking toward his family’s ’08 Nissan Murano. “I feel good about it. We’re all boys on the field, but off the field as well. I think that makes a difference when you’re all so close.”

Their coach says he notices, too.

“The guys that are out here are 100% committed. There’s no agendas anymore,” second-year defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said after today’s light workout. “They realize that by staying together and playing for each other that they’re going to win ball games, rather than look around and ‘wax-poetic’ point fingers—doesn’t get the job done.”

Whether it stems from the unit’s recent ambiance of unity, or their hard-nosed grit, the defense’s confidence against this week’s opponent doesn’t go as unspoken as its aura of togetherness.

Safeties Matt Kreider (left) and Shawn Brown (right) between plays during this evening's pre-game walk-thru

Nor is it as warm.

“If we play aggressive and play like we know we can, we can dominate this team,” defensive back Justin Beres said, respectfully noting his adversary’s baller-esque game, but reiterating his squad’s eagerness to face it. “That quarterback is probably the biggest part of their offense. If he gets loose he can do some big things against us. Our defense just needs to step up and play how we play. I’m hoping we can shut this team out. I want a shutout tomorrow.”

Beres says he thinks this defense is capable of reproducing its half of the Lions’ commanding 53-7 performance from 2007–one indistinguishably dissimilar from a lousy 2008 outing that surrendered 415 yards of total offense and six TDs–and those were just to Winters. He says when they do it–which he’s sure they will–they’ll do it from believing within.

“We need to play with confidence in order to be dominant tomorrow,” he said via text message, frantic to emphasize the source of what described as an unshakable force. One composed of 11 Lions, playing as one.

One pride.

Whether you buy into Hamilton’s words (co-authored by Frank Cooper, former assistant coach to both of the school’s basketball programs, now the Director of Records and Registration) or his team’s voice, tomorrow night’s test will try validity of each.

And this defense’s ability to stop Dickinson’s human-highlight reel.

Lions’ Post-game recap: In Lions’ 58-28 romp of MAC rival FDU-Florham, all but one of Lions’ impact players able to bask in glory of lopsided victory

Receivers Mark Gardner (left) and Colin Weber (right) after one of their combined 3 rec. TDs Friday night vs. FDU, a performance inclusive of 318 combined yds

As the Lions strutted toward the locker room, heads held high and cleats only slightly grazing the asphalt after dismantling the Fairleigh Dickinson University Devils for 48 first-half points en route to a 58-28 triumph over the Devils, it seemed as if everyone snatched their fair share of the spotlight.

Everyone—except for Chase Misura.

The Lions’ defense earned acclaim on Friday night’s stage, proving impermeable to the multi-faceted offensive attack with which FDU quarterback Bill Winters crippled the unit in 2008.

The last time the teams played, the senior from Brick Twp. High personally amassed 415 total yards and 6 combined TDs (2 pass, 4 rush) on Sept. 5 a year ago.

Once Dickinson finally reached pay-dirt via a 57-yard strike from Winters to wide receiver Kyle Bukowiec (6:23 remaining), the Lions’ offense was well on its way to delivering a performance for the history books.

At the end of the first half—one of two dominating periods during the squad’s record-breaking performance of 708 total yards (broke previous team mark of 618 vs. Ramapo in 1980), the unit had already accumulated 545 yards of offense and tallied 48 points—two shy of the school’s single-half mark set in the same game nearly 30 years ago.

Chris James, who threw for a career-best 358 yds and 3 TDs, also rushed for 44 yds and a touchdown

En route to a career-high 358 yards on 19 attempts (14 completions) Lions’ quarterback Chris James massaged more than ample production out of two different Lion receivers, Colin Weber and Mark Gardner, who combined for 318 of the team’s total yards through the air.

While the team undoubtedly waits in restless advent of Cam Richardson’s return—the  two-time All-NJAC performer and team co-captain remains sidelined with injury, the Lions don’t seem to mind, relishing in the safety net provided by two of its accessory beacons of senior leadership.

“Losing Cam has been tough,” Weber said after the game. “He’s one of our biggest contributors on offense—just his talent and his presence on the field.

In spite of his role in the team’s instant-classic finish, Weber didn’t seem all that phased at the group’s collective supremacy in the victory.

“I think its just business as usual. We worked really hard through the week and the week we had off. We came out and we just executed.”

Nor did he of his own personal best—an evening’s compilation of 199 receiving yards on six catches.

“I had a good game today but I don’t think it’s anything special. I just did what I was asked and I got lucky enough to have a good day.”

Craig Meyer rushing Devils' quarterback Bill Winters, who couldn't hurt the Lions in '09 like he did in '08, scoring six total TDs a year ago

Unlike last week’s one-sided barrage of the Buffalo State Bengals that exclusively showcased the Lions’ running game—only on account that it didn’t need to—the unit dissected the Devils’ D under the Friday night lights with a complete, balanced effort. And Coach Bobby Acosta’s post-game satisfaction resembled that of a child sitting next to an empty chest, all his toys scattered and readily available—should he feel like using one over the other.

“We did what we had to do,” said the second-year offensive coordinator after the game. “We wanted to feature the pass game this week and that’s what we did.”

Acosta explained that offensive philosophy, especially one implemented in a unit with this kind of talent, can’t be forced—predetermined by a coordinator’s personal preference.

“Every game has a personality. Last week’s personality was that we needed to run the football and this week’s was that we had to throw the ball. It’s all about what the defense gives you.”

Although it looked more like it was taken, the defense also offered running back Justin Donoloski a crack at repeating last week’s more-than-pleasant surprise, as the sophomore gashed FDU-Florham with 131 yards and two TDs—all on nine carries. Much like his outing a week ago proved to be a driving force in the group’s 300+ yards in its season-debut, Donoloski fueled an already proven ground game that totaled 339 yards’ worth of production against its perennial MAC rival.

Joe Spahn, abusing FDU-Floram quarterback Bill Winters during a stellar first half of defensive play

“The line did a great job again today, just like they did last week,” Donoloski said after the game, humbly deferring attention to the unsung heroes in the trenches. “They just keep making holes. And we’re just running hard.”

Donoloski’s gaudy statistical display reiterated that last week’s breakout performance of 74 yards on seven carries wasn’t an anomoly, a one-time capture of lighting in a bottle.

He’s here to play, and he’s here to stay—despite his reluctance to admit it.

“I’m just trying to run my hardest and keep this going. I just rotate in with Yetka and Chase and everything just seems to be going well.”

Though it surrendered a total of 469 and 28 points, the Lions’ defense established it could rise to the occasion when needed.

In the first half—with the contest already out of reach—the defense held the Devils to converting a mere 33% of its third-down conversions (2 of 6) and forced two turnovers.

Mark Gardner (left) celebrating with Justin Donoloski on one of the running back's two TDs during a 131-yard performance vs. FDU-Florham

While the textbook ball-hawking play of its free safety translated into the second of the team’s takeaways—a Phil Gatti interception in the second-quarter—its first seizure of possession also robbed FDU from a likely touchdown.

After Beau Reed simply dropped the football—well on his way to an uncontested score in the first quarter—linebacker Dan DeCongelio’s recovery in the end zone added an element of opportunism to the squad’s haughty establishment that it can hang with the Lions’ high-flying offense.

“We felt like the defense had something to prove,” DeCongelio said after the game. “We’d talked about how we’re always considered the weakest link and we didn’t want that anymore. We knew we had to pull it as a team. We came out, did our thing and shut them down. That’s it.”

When the dust finally settled in Lions’ Stadium–the turf more closely resembling the Roman Coliseum that entertained its fans with ostensibly winless battles—it looked like destiny had served everyone a piece of the pie.

DL Sam Dokus during a disciplined team effort on the defensive side of the ball, containing Winters--a proven rushing threat in addition to his renowned prowess as a passer

Everyone not named Chase Misura.

Though he broke the plain on a three yard scamper with 3:11 remaining in the second quarter to cap a eight-play, 62-yard scoring drive, Misura appeared to have cashed in on two other opportunities chances (two and 15 yards)–only to watch penalties negate his efforts.

Despite missing out on the acclaim of such an infrequent statistical performance, Misura didn’t seem to mind as long as his team left the stadium with a “W.”

“We won. I mean, come on,” he said, giddy when he’d been informed of his teammates’ stat totals. “If we lost I’d be bitching and crying all over the place but we didn’t. What do personal touchdowns really mean anyway? It’s whatever.”

Although they didn’t count toward the box score, Misura said he’d already internalized the satisfaction that accompanies earning six points three times in a game—and it’s good enough for him.

“I’ll see them when we watch film. As far as I’m concerned, I scored.”

Lions’ post-game analysis: The good, the bad, and the ugly

All smiles on the Lions' bench, far on its way to a record-setting 58-28 rout of FDU-Florham

The Lions’ rolled once again last night, plowing through its annual non-conference match-up against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham, settling a score rooted in last year’s tearjerking 41-42 loss against the Devils in ’08.

The numbers don’t always speak for themselves, nor do they adequately frame the story of a complex night of football. For those that were there and couldn’t put their finger on the driving force behind a number of the team’s successes, or those who couldn’t make it and would like to find out what went down, I’ll do my best to fill in your blanks.

THE GOOD

• Lions’ O-line

It normally doesn’t demand special recognition, but when a football squad posts consecutive 300+ rushing yard performances, it worth noting the hogs up front are certainly pulling their weight–and then some, considering the size it consistently forfeits against its opponents (starters average height-6’2.4; weight-265 lbs). And quarterback Chris James ensured that their importance was documented during his post-game interview.

“The offensive line played great,” he said, struggling in lieu of creaky vocal cords in the locker room after the game. “I had all the time in the world back there. I’m feeling comfortable and you can’t say enough about them. We go as they go–they play well, we do great things. They don’t, and we can’t come through.”

The O-line protecting a Zucconi PAT, fresh after it earned its offense 6 points

The group was dominant on zone-blocking schemes, schematically designed to create multiple running lanes for guys with exceptional vision–kind of like the peepers on all three of the Lions’ tailbacks. Inside zone and stretch were equally effective, which forces a defense to remain balanced. It can’t load the middle, nor can it commit to hard outside rushes on run blitzes. The only headache bigger than gameplanning for that kind of a diverse attack is the cumbersome task of rearranging it at the half–especially when the score’s already 48-7.

Perhaps more impressive than the performances themselves are the circumstances under which they were delivered. Only two of the front-five penciled in on opening day entered 2009 with ample starting experience, LT Drew Mason and C Joe Mecca, and this regular season is christening Mecca at center, considering the 6’2, 285-pounder started all 10 games for the Lions at tackle a year ago.

In addition to his dominance of two touted defensive ends, allowing only one sack in the Lions’ first two contests, Mason’s perseverance in combating a nagging ankle injury is the kind of stuff stories (or blogs) are made of. To hell with objectivity, it’s great to see the kid thrive in spite of adversity.

• Lion humility

OLs Joe Mecca (#75), Joe Serraro (#71) and Evan Arfuso (#74), talking it out before the Lions set up shop within its own 5-YL

Although its certainly impacted by the great lengths to which head coach Eric Hamilton preaches “commitment and character” to his players, don’t for a second take for granted the undertones of the team’s post-game interviews. Yeah, they’re saying all the right things, but they don’t know any different.

See, aside from the school’s student publication and a few quick questions from beat reporters following games, these young men have absolutely no experience with the media. They’ve never had the luxury of learning from a teammate tactlessly running his mouth in the heat of the moment, so you’d think that two blowout victories over traditionally formidable opponents would likely berth some Kiffin-quotables–but they didn’t.

To all the Lion mommies, you should be proud.

• Lions’ free safeties

In addition to the interception snagged by FS Phil Gatti, the growth and hasty maturity of fellow centerfielder and junior Matt Kreider can’t be ignored.

FS Shawn Brown (#22) and CB Justin Beres (#10) securing an open-field tackle against Devils' WR Ryan Cushman

While team co-captain Ryan “Pac-man” Flannery nurses an ankle injury, the importance of establishing a trust in that specific role is crucial to a defense’s long-term success. Play-calling becomes less weighted and more fluid, as a defensive coordinator needn’t worry about bringing the heat–and leaving DBs alone on an island. For those guys that play the second loneliest position in the sport (kickers take the cake), it’s comforting to know you’ve got help over the top. Less thinking equals better playing, also congruent to the kind of results we’re seeing from this Lions’ D–tiny numbers scattered throughout the opponent’s stat-sheet.

Defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton couldn’t be happier with the hidden gems he’s discovered and developed since August.

“Matt Kreider’s been a guy we’ve all slowly but surely watched step into the forefront back there, and that’s what you need,” he said of his novice field-marshal’s play, surpassing the expectations you’d normally associate with someone so inexperienced. “He’s gotta be the guy and make the checks. [The free safety] needs to see everything in front, and Kreider’s doing that.”

Gatti’s breakout performance–his contribution more translating toward the scoreboard than the statistician’s notebook–bodes confidence in his second-year coach, something for which he’s been waiting quite some time.

“Athletically, he’s got the ability. He’s just gotta have that killer instinct,” he said, recognizing the undeniable football dexterity of the other ball-hawk in his defensive secondary. “We put him in a prominent role last year in key games (Rowan, Western Connecticut) because we saw in him that ability that he can do it.”

He’s made some strides, though Hamilton said he’s eager to see the finished product–whenever that may be.

“We need to see the fire, like the tackle he made on that kickoff,” he said referencing a heavy lick Gatti delivered during special teams’ duties Friday. “He needs to start taking charge and be the man back there. Once he starts to do that, oh he’s gonna be good.”

THE BAD

• Second-half complacency

The feel of the defense’s outing last night’s win rocked the visage of last week’s smackdown of Buffalo State–it was just completely bass-ackwards.

Unlike a week ago, when the team allowed 231 first-half yards that translated into 24 points before it buckled down allowing only 147 and a touchdown in the second half, the Devils’ impact of the second-half of offensive production skewed the stat-sheet and sorely irritated the Lions’ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton.

“We came out and did what we had to do in the first half,” he said. “But the problem was when we went into the half 48-7, which it shouldn’t have been, it should have been 48-0, we got complacent. To put it mildly.”

Hamilton stressed that his displeasure with the team’s satisfaction from only 30 minutes of gridiron combat, versus the 60 that fit his criteria.

“Allowing 21 points in the second half, that’s unacceptable. For a couple of those drives in a row, we were just standing there. If you come out for the first three drives and shut them down [with such a large lead], it’s over–they’ll want to get the hell out of there. We let them hang around and guys gotta step up and say, ‘Hey, this game’s been out of control for a little while. We need to step up and have some intensity.’”

THE UGLY

• The damned sports media

See? A candid pic of Gardner's lengthy TD. And no zebras KIA. Damn, I'm good.

Last night, during a Mark Gardner touchdown reception, a photographer scaling the sidelines–hoping to capture that Pulitzer-worthy Afghan girl in a D3 football contest–collided with one of the game’s officials, prompting the post-truck-stick confusion after the play ended.

I’m all about doing your job, and doing it well. Already I’ve been benignly tossed around by players on the sidelines in order to “get the good stuff” and I’ve been barked at by some pretty curt referees in my first night on the job. But there’s a line.

The sports media gets a bad rep because of these kinds of disregard for professionalism, and it makes us all look bad.

If you’re not mature enough to respect the integrity of the game–which you’re paid to document, not disrupt–stay the hell home. I can assure you that you won’t be missed.

Lions’ RB Brown snags conference selection for top rookie performer, James snubbed–team’s O-line, stellar D likely to blame

To the Lions’ offensive front-five and defensive starting-11—you should be ashamed of yourselves.

In spite of Hollywood’s best efforts to dissuade society from succumbing to the enticing appeal of “playing God,” it looked as if two units couldn’t resist the temptation to so sorely dominate their opposition Friday night, as the units’ collective performance fueled the Lions’ 58-28 dismantling of FDU-Florham.

And—to a limited extent—it paid off, cracking the window of opportunity for freshman running back Kevin Brown to capture honors as the week’s top rookie performer.

In the wake of his offensive line’s manhandling of the Devils’ front-seven—one that illuminated a catwalk down which Lion ball-carriers casually strutted toward their second-consecutive 300+ yard rushing performance—Brown averaged 12.2 YPC on his only seven attempts, including a 34-yard dash to pay dirt in the second half.

But just as it burned protagonists in films like Jurassic Park and King Kong (and about every other critter-on –island sci-fi flick), assuming the puppet master role in the team’s rout of its MAC rival rendered the Lions’ passing attack unnecessary in the second half. Rather than continue what appeared.

End result—it fixed a ceiling on quarterback Chris James passing totals, squandering an opportunity for its four-year starter to beat out The College of Brockport’s signal-caller for Offensive Player of the Week.

Though Lions’ quarterback Chris James posted a career day, efficiently delivering the rock to his receivers (72.6%) while he tallied 358 yards and three scores through the air—not to mention the other 44 yards and six points he added with his legs—his NJAC counterpart, Jake Graci, found himself in a scenario indescribably dissimilar to James’ just hours earlier.

While the scene in Lions’ Stadium Friday night so eerily resembled a hardcore game-freak’s television picture, both framing the kind of spectacle you’d only expect from a Madden exhibition, Graci found himself in the thick of an vehement scoring exchange —one leaving the fate of an apparently “real game” dangling in his fingertips.

Inclusive in 344-yard, four-touchdown dissection of the Golden Eagles’ secondary, Graci concocted a game-winning drive with 1:43 left in the fourth-quarter, propelling his squad past non-conference foe Frostburg State, 37-32. Graci completed all four of his tosses on the 45-yard march, on par with his precision throughout the contest during which he completed 26 of his 37 throws (70.2%).

So while all indications suggest that the Lions’ hogs enjoyed their zone-blocking clinic—one that demanded the Devils’ reluctant participation—and the defense did…well…about exactly what cornerback Justin Beres’ said it would, neither can argue the detriment inflicted upon one of its most tenured leaders.

Though it’s too late to right the wrongs of the past, one can only hope that recognizing the harm of which it’s capable will prevent each group from acting so selfishly in the future.

Maybe. Just maybe.

Matty’s Mid-Monday Mailbag: The root of the Lions’ early success and what to do with KB?

Every Monday, I’ll take a minute to respond to you — Lions’ Nation — answering questions and offering my predictions and insight surrounding the team’s 2009 campaign. Here’s this week’s installment of Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag.

With a decisive win over FDU-Florham, the Lions early success continues heading into the team’s next test, Saturday against Morrisville State College. Apart from settling a score rooted in last year’s peevish loss, the win demonstrates that the various successes the team’s enjoyed since Week One weren’t an underdog’s verification of the “any given Saturday” adage so prominent in the collegiate game.

But your e-mails indicate that you’re still wondering what–really–has already happened, and what does it mean moving forward.

Well, I’ll tell you.

• Sure the team’s taken the “W” in its first two tries, but we’re not talking about ‘Cortlands’ or ‘Rowans.’ How confident should we be moving forward in the season?

Frankly, it doesn’t matter how confident we are–it’s how the team feels about its performances thus far, and what it’s capable of in weeks to come. If you’ve bumped into any of the players–around the facility or out and about the college’s gorgeous campus–they’re feeling pretty good right about now.

And they have good reason to.

First things first. You alluded to assumptions entering the game, that any result other than a (healthy) win would have been inadequate, if not raising stark concerns about the team’s potential once it’s submerged into the “beef penciled in on the schedule. Well…they did win the games that they were supposed to. Right?

Consider that step one.

All too often in football teams fall victim to the ever-dreaded trap game, an inexplicable underachievment that can trash an entire season–especially in the collegiate game (see what it’s done to Pete Carrol?). Even with a playoff system (implemented in D3), post-season tournament bids are often difficult to come by, and it just as often requires a conference championship to guarantee yourself an extended season. Drop a “gimme” this early, and you’re as good as Texas toast in a Cowboys’ fan’s Monday morning comfort meal.

Right now the team’s building itself a foundation–one entirely absent for the entirety of its 2008 flop. For a program trekking heftily toward another conference title–a journey starting from the bottom of the barrel–these successes were crucial accomplishments on their bulleted list to greatness, and an etching on the side of the NJAC trophy. Minimalist thinking doesn’t quite apply here. So don’t.

• Isn’t the fact that the Lions’ roster isn’t the biggest going to hurt them down the road?

Valid point, but not necessarily.

It’s no secret, the Lions athletes aren’t the biggest of the bunch–not by a longshot. I threw the stat about the O-line’s average specs a few days ago (mean height and weight for starters is 6’2, 165 lbs) and the rest of the team about follows suit. The team isn’t chock-full of emaciated anemics, it’s just not quite the cast of American Gladiator.

Sorry, Meyer.

Case in point, they’re not trouncing teams on the scoreboard thanks to the absent-minded play of tactless brutes–they’re just executing. Believe it or not, that’s an advantage.

When every player on a given side of the ball conditions himself to take care of business on each and every opportunity, good things happen (i.e. number-one conference ranking in every offensive team statistical category, and a tie for first in turnover margin, +2). Its fine and good for a team to thrive solely by banking on muscle in the absence of skill–for a while. But what happens when the scales aren’t lopsided, or they are–but they’re just in favor of your opponent?

You know what you are. And it rhymes with Mountain Dew-ed.

The fact that the team’s so committed to attention to detail and excelling on the game’s most rudimentary levels enhances the value of its first two wins. Believe it or not, playing fundamental football can often compensate for a deficiency in size–especially when there’s such an abundance of athleticism at your disposal.

Remember what I said about spread offenses?

• Is there anything else that’s leading to these victories that we haven’t thought of?

Sure. And the ones that deserve some of the credit for these outcomes aren’t usually the ones that get it. Except, of course, when they’re to blame–for losses.

There’s no substitute for a coaching staff with such a wealth of knowledge roaming your team’s sidelines. But when they’re so adept to identifying and remedying the problems inevitably encountered throughout the course of a football game, you’re set.

This all-encompassing and unabridged team success only suggests that the men with the headsets are contributing just as much as the ones with the helmets and pads.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta hasn’t necessarily had to thus far, but D.C. Matt Hamilton has demonstrated he’s capable of implementing necessary halftime adjustments on the fly. I suppose this is an appropriate time to note the pristine gameplans that the two devised entering both games. But when plans go awry—like they so often tend to—the collectiveness and wherewithal to tinker with your pieces is crucial to coming out on top of what is, at its essence, a chess match.

As the team’s momentum that’s been building with each passing week finally carries it into a hostile environment–like one versus the Profs of Rowan or Cortland’s Red Dragons–faith in your coaches’ philosophy and abilities is one of the hinges upon which victory can swing. The players are buying what these guys are selling. And whether or not you believe it,  that’s a rarity on this level of competitive sports.

• Kevin Brown definitely played well, but where does he fit into the mix? Doesn’t the team already have a bunch of RBs?

It hasn’t quite posed a problem thus far, but there’s one role that Acosta isn’t quite sure he’s filled. One in which Kevin Brown fits perfectly.

The goal line.

Aside from a lone turnover on downs, the Lions are a perfect seven-of-seven from within the red zone (T-2nd in NJAC). And they’ve enjoyed much of that success pounding the rock with the team’s multitude of diverse tailbacks (all five TDs rushing, two FGs). There’s not necessarily a deficiency here, but complacency is the silent-killer of so many programs that are perfectly content with dancing to the music of early success. That’s just not how head coach Eric Hamilton functions.

If it did, do you really think he’d still be here after 32 years? Come on. The turnover rate for coaches in college rivals that of teenage girls working at Abercrombie.

If Brown enters the game in goal-line situations, it provides Acosta with a number of options. Should he feel comfy with a traditional jumbo-I set, he can stick Misura at fullback and Brown at tailback–or vice versa. Both have the hands and first-step quickness to attack the flats on play-action if lined up at fullback, and they both generate the power to plow through the jumble of offensive and defensive linemen that obstruct the point of attack–especially when the mess is inside the five yard-line.

Should he stick with the spread, he can surround quarterback Chris James with Brown along with one of the lighter bodies–either Mike Yetka or Justin Donoloski (who, for the record, ranks 2nd in the conference in rushing).

And who knows? Maybe Brown can run-block too, jacking up the possibilities from “kind of a lot” to “seemingly endless.”

Though its not always as applicable, goal-line and short-yardage situations are often addressed similarly, particularly on third and fourth-downs. The team’s performance on these crucial downs–often one of many linchpins in the drama of an individual game–aren’t glaring red flags (4th in NJAC on 3rd down–42.1%; T-2nd on 4th down–66.7%) they’re not perfect, and can therefore be improved.

***

That’s it for this week’s edition of 4M.

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Special Mid-Week Update: Some early stat-totals crack grins, while others raise eyebrows

So far in the 2009 regular season, its no secret that the Lions are absolutely dirtying up the stat sheet.

While securely tucking away victories in its first two contests, the team’s manufactured some gaudy categorical totals–a few of which linger among the best in all the land.

Its second-consecutive 300+ rushing performance against FDU-Florham solidified the Lions’ spot as the nation’s 5th-best rushing offense (325.5 ypg), of course translating to the team’s ludicrous 52.5 ppg scoring average–2nd to only Springfield of D3′s Empire Eight Conference.

The defense has allowed its opponents to illuminate more scoreboard light bulbs than D.C. Matt Hamilton would like. But the unit’s four takeaways–in conjunction with Fort Knox-worthy ball security–have contributed to the squad’s more-than-attractive turnover margin, tied for best in the conference (+2, Rowan).

But here’s another stat for you–the team also strained itself to average 107.5 ypg elsewhere in the statistician’s notebooks.

Penalties.

Eric Hamilton's Lions have been flagged 18 times for 215 yards so far in '09

Erupting off of the starting block, the team has drawn 18 flags for a conference-worst 215 yards, in what’s seemed comparable to the 19.19 seconds it takes Usain Bolt to run as far. In its season opener against the Bengals of upper-New York’s Buffalo State, the Lions surrendered 104 yards on eight penalties, only to outdo itself two weeks later versus FDU-Florham, prompting the dirty-laundry-toss a reprehensible 10 times for 111 precious yards.

And as the team moves forward toward the beef of its schedule, head coach Eric Hamilton is plenty privy to the urgency needed to address the situation.

“I’ll say this to you. We can’t afford two things:  Turnovers and penalties. We’ve been good with the turnovers, but we haven’t been good with the penalties. And that’s going to bite us in the rear end if it goes on and the competition gets better.”

Though he admittedly isn’t happy about the malignant trend, he’s optimistic that the problem can be remedied.

“There were definitely more [penalties] than you would like,” Hamilton said Tuesday, via phone interview. “But it begs the question, ‘are they correctable?’ I think the answer is yes.”

In his 33rd season at the helm of the school’s football program, Hamilton’s well-conditioned to diagnosing the causes of chronic hindrances that inevitably pop up–especially early on.

“I think you need to look at where the games were,” he said, alluding to the blow-out fashion in which the team’s grabbed its W’s.

After decimating opponents so early in its first two contests, Hamilton’s taken full advantage of the opportunities as learning experiences for some of the team’s unrefined talent. And he’s aware that its yielded growing pains.

“Some of the ones on Friday night were just a lack of concentration at that point in time,” he said. “But the ones against Buffalo State were more out of aggression, there were a couple personal fouls in there. I think in both cases the majority of the penalties are correctable. It’s not like they’re from a lack of concentration, like offsides or illegal motion or those types of things.”

In his 33rd year as Lions' top-dog, Hamilton expressed optimism that hard work and eliminating late-game laziness and over-agression will trim the robust average yardage his team's forfeited so far

As the team readies itself for this Saturday’s conference match-up–to be played in Lions’ Stadium against Morrisville State–Hamilton’s well-aware that he’s welcoming the Lions’ most physically gifted opponent to step foot on the turf inside the liberal arts college campus. Hamilton’s confident that the prerequisite for such a battle–high-intensity preparation for the entirety of the week–will double as Cheerios what’s become his football team’s high cholesterol.

“We’ve just got to keep practicing. I think everybody knows [about the penalties] but I think you’ve just got to work hard not to put yourself in those situations. And that’s on both sides of the ball. We can’t give up yards, and you can’t give teams yards that they don’t need. Our teams know, don’t give them anything free–make them work for it.”

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: Lions learn from USC’s mistakes, look to sidestep letdown

Distinctly etched or largely unspoken, there’s a golden rule in football:  Don’t look past anybody. Parading into gridiron combat on game day is suicide, regardless if a team’s haughty visage of self-awareness stems from a few early wins–even decisive ones.

But if there were ever extenuating circumstances permitting this kind of peacock pregame entry, they’d look a whole lot like the start of the Lions’ 2009 campaign. And a team prompting it might resemble Morrisville State College.

In the Lions’ first two contests, the team rolled to victories easier than Danny Almonte’s 70 mph fastballs toasted “his” age-group’s pedestrian Little League competition in 2000. But unlike nine years ago, the Lions’ dominance looks more legitimate than the however-year-old Cuban’s birth certificate. Entering this weekend’s NJAC showdown against the Morrisville State Mustangs, all indications suggest the team’s success won’t be as promptly invalidated–via a loss or legal intervention.

Following a career day vs. FDU-Florham, TCNJ's Chris James ranks 5th in the NCAA in passer efficiency (206.08 QB rating)

While abusing its first two opponents–winning by an average margin of 23 points–the Lions’ have blown up stat sheets while they’ve irradiated box scores. In a King Kong-esque scaling of the NCAA’s statistical scaffolding, the team and several of its players have wedged themselves into the national ranks of Division III’s top performers.

To put it lightly, Morrisville State hasn’t.

Now ‘boasting’ an 0-3 record, the Mustangs lackluster performances have buried the team in the conference standings and statistical rankings–even earning themselves some national accolades. Its defense is atrocious, forfeiting over 42 ppg (214 of 235 in NCAA) while offering as much resistance to opposing quarterbacks as critters in a game of Whack-a-Mole (allowed average 172.3 QB rating; 218 in NCAA). The team hasn’t even recorded a sack.

So it seems, there’s just no way the Lions’ leave the field Saturday without a win.

Right?

Maybe. But the Lions’ offense isn’t throttling down any time soon. Especially not in the wake of newsworthy upsets elsewhere in college football.

“You can’t look ahead to what’s coming down the road,” head coach Eric Hamilton said, alluding to USC’s letdown flop against Steve Sarkisian’s bottom-of-the-barrel Washington Huskies–a team that finished 2008 without recording a win. Hamilton’s well-aware of the inherent dangers in underestimating an opponent, and he’s not letting his players’ eyes wander down the road, as the team turns the corner toward the beef of its schedule.

“If you can’t take care of the business at hand, you’re going to be regretting every minute of it. For us, this week its Morrisville.”

And players were quick to testify to their coaches remarks.

“Coach is working us hard like we’re playing the best team in the NJAC,” Colin Weber said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’re preparing like we’ll be seeing the best team we’ve played so far.”

Weber, whose 126.5 receiving ypg ranks 17th in the nation, echoed his quarterback’s guarded demeanor entering a game against an opponent that hasn’t quite found its identity, clouding perceptibility of what–exactly–you’re dealing with.

“You never know what team is going to come out on Saturday,” Chris James said, conducting his first interview as the nation’s fifth-ranked passer (206.5 QB rating at week’s end). “And that’s the scary part because you could get beat if you take them lightly.”

In its 2009 conference-opener versus the NJAC’s reigning champs–a 26-17 loss to Cortland State University–the Mustangs remorseless and scavenging defensive play manifested in the afternoon’s three takeaways (2 fum, INT). Morrisville State couldn’t capitalize on the other two fumbles it forced, though the ball-from-ball-carrier extractions disrupted otherwise promising Red Dragon drives.

The team was shut out a week later by Montclair State, losing 52-0.

“For our guys its very simple:  Put the Cortland film in from two weeks ago,” Hamilton said. “They gave Cortland a ball game. If that doesn’t get your attention than I don’ t know what will.”

In spite of its early success en route to compiling a 2-0 record, wide receiver Colin Weber stressed the importance of humility and dilligence during this week's practices

Hamilton stressed that–in spite of its record–the ball-players at Morrisville State aren’t push overs. They’re some big boys–electric ones, too.

“Of all the teams we play, Morrisville will be among the top three, talent-wise. They’ve got talent up to wah-zoo. If you give them an opportunity to get up on you, they can be very, very tough. If you get up on them early, hopefully you’ll have a chance to control the game.”

And a choke-hold of the reins is exactly how the Lions’ offense has operated early on, averaging 41.5 first-half points thus far. At the end of last season, the team averaged 27.1 points–per game.

But according to the Lions’ players, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

“We just want to take small strides every week to get better,” James said. “If we do that we should win every game no matter who we come across. But if we take steps back that’s when we’ll lose. It’s just about concentrating more each week because each week it’s harder and there’s more on the line.”

“I think we still have a lot to work on, but we have confidence in ourselves and in our game plan,” Weber added. “If we continuously work hard and execute, I think we can beat anyone in the conference.”

As for their personal statistical compilations, the players weren’t aware of their individual numbers, averages, rankings–none of it. And without a win this weekend, they’re likely to care even less.

“It doesn’t matter if we don’t win next week,” James said. “It’s still the third week of the season. It just doesn’t matter.”

Silent for the entirety of the interview, even Justin Donoloski (102.5 rush ypg; 45 in NCAA) sounded off on the levity of what he considers nothing more than a few Arabic numerals.

“As long as we win, that’s all that matters.”

Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: Young Lions’ DBs appear finished with growing pains, poised to unleash anticipated potential vs. Morrisville State

In a state as diverse as New Jersey–a metropolitan melting pot of cultures, personalities and skill sets behind a steering wheel–there seems to be a place for just about everything.

Take 7s and 11s for example. Should the dots etched in red cubes read those two magical (often lucrative) digits in Atlantic City, upon the die’s final roll atop a craps table, the roller’s night tends to assume the feel of commercials depicting the coastal tourist concourse’s renowned nightlife–rather than the disgruntled attitudes of Donald Trump’s slighted casino workers.

But similar to the culture-clash that a North Jersey fist-pumper runs into down in rural Southern Jersey farmlands, great fits in the Garden State aren’t absolute.

Apply those figures to Trenton–say, toward the TCNJ football team’s defensive rankings–and the once-Sinatra-laden ambiance assumes a much more melancholy tone.

Despite the team’s staggering success–exploding out of the gate to an unanticipated 2-0 start–the Lions’ D has stumbled early in 2009. It’s unimpeded free fall in the conference’s defensive rankings finally let up at week’s end–once it had abruptly crashed into rock-bottom.

After it’s second performance versus FDU-Florham, the defense’s play earned it a humble 7th place in the conference in scoring defense (allowed 29.5 ppg) and opponent pass efficiency (quarterbacks average 124.94 QB rating).

And those stats were the good ones.

More resembling a doormat than a “Steel Curtain,” the squad’s apparently lackluster debut and second act scrape the abyss of a  number of the conference’s other measuring rods–8th in total defense (allowed 423.5 ypg) and 9th in pass defense (287.5 pass ypg).

But let’s keep things in perspective. After all, they’re on the field a lot.

Of all the NJAC’s competitors, only The College at Brockport (2-0) and Morrisville State College (0-3) have fielded more defensive snaps than the Lions (179, 156, 145, respectively). And neither team has seen its offense excel so far in 2009–at least not among the NCAA’s top-five.

While the Mustangs of Morrisville State haven’t quite found an identity–or the end zone for that matter (10th in NJAC in scoring offense)–leaving its defense out to dry, The College at Brockport’s offense hasn’t quite put its counterparts under the kind of duress imposed upon the Lions (average margin of victory 4 pts; TCNJ beat opponents by 23 ppg).

Though he’s not thrilled about the dicing that’s gone on against his secondary, defensive backs coach Andy Larkin maintains a positive outlook, in lieu of the circumstances.

“When our offense is clicking on all cylinders like they are and we’re out to some pretty hefty leads, teams have to be a little more one-dimensional,” said Larkin, co-captain of the 2007 Lions’ NJAC c0-Championship team.

After Thursday’s practice, Larkin spoke with optimism, but reluctance to conjure up excuses for his group’s shortcomings.

“Needless to say, if [opponents] going to be throwing the ball 45-50 times a game, we’re going to have to step up and meet the challenge.”

Of all the groups under fire when the offense…well..does what it does, the brunt of the heat brewed by the Lions’ three-pronged arsenal gets focused on the team’s defensive backs–who’ve come a long way since August’s training camp.

Performing in the absence of All-NJAC performer and co-captain Ryan Flannery–who’s bum ankle has limited his action to pacing the sidelines offering mid-game corrections, rather than mid-play coverage–the void has thrust a number of the team’s works-in-progress into demanding prominent roles.

“Dealing with ‘Flea’s’ injury, we’ve asked guys to step up and take leadership roles,” said Larkin, who knows a thing or two about ball-hawking in the defensive secondary (2007 Lions ranked 1st in NJAC scoring defense, opponent 3rd-dn conv., INTs, sacks; 2nd in total defense, opponent QB rating).

“We’ve gotten that so far.”

Among the preseason’s squires–ones prematurely dubbed to knighthood–include free safeties Matt Kreider and Phil Gatti. Both players have impressed their defense’s ailing Lion King thus far.

“I think he’s made tremendous strides,” Flannery said, attesting to the progress he’s seen from the junior from Delran High. “When I went down, he’s stepped up. He reminds me of myself out there. He’s making calls, making checks. He’s just doing a good job.”

Evidenced by his reservedness during today’s post-workout interviews, Flannery expects much of the same from Gatti–once he breaks in his vocal cords.

“Gatti’s coming around also. He just needs to speak up a little bit more. Other than that he’s been making good plays on the ball.”

Kreider described what, for him, has been a turbulent learning curve.

“Last year, I only got reps on third down, and it was kind of a good basis,” he said. “This year I got stuck into the starting role. The first game was a good learning experience, but every day, every practice I’m making one step closer to being more comfortable back there.”

As if a nostalgic wave crashed over the ten foot square of young Lion DBs, Kreider’s heightened collectiveness as the season progresses reminds him of “the good ‘ol days.”

“All the checks are coming easier and as we go on it makes me feel like I was in high school, when I knew exactly what I was doing all the time.”

When he finally spoke, Gatti reciprocated the feeling.

“Playing out there just reminds me of high school. Especially when there’s a lot of people out there. It’s exciting.”

Among the more wonted performers prowling the Lions’ defensive backfield, the often fulfilling walk out under the Friday night lights doesn’t quite do it for strong safety Shawn Brown–at least not initially.

“It’s exciting, man. I get to go out there and hit somebody.”

The three players admitted that the start of the 2009 season hasn’t yielded the instant-success enjoyed by Chris James, and his multitude of offensive toys. But they’re leaning on each other to get better. And–dare they say it–having some fun in the meantime.

“The first two games we played a very individual game,” he said, wiping away the smiles cracked by off-the-record jokes the group exchanged just moments before. “We didn’t talk enough. But now we’re starting to work off each other, feed off each other. As we get better, as we communicate more that’s when we become a better defense. When everyone’s on the same page, when we can trust each other—that’s when you can click and you play as one.”

On the record though, Kreider couldn’t resist setting the standard for the team’s next performance, when the team welcomes Morrisville State to Lions’ Stadium this Saturday.

“We’re gonna get some picks this weekend.”

Lions’ Post-game Recap: Tumultuous afternoon presents Lions’ toughest test yet, TEAM-play blazes trail toward 67-34 victory over Mustangs

Inexplicable. Perplexing. Intangible. Eluding definition.

In TCNJ’s 67-34 win over the Morrisville State Mustangs during Saturday’s NJAC shootout—one  characterized by sporadic offensive rhythm, chaotic ball security and schizophrenic defensive performances—fewer words could describe the game itself  than the multitude of adjectives available to attest to the difficulty doing so.

Convoluted. Indiscernible. Multi-faceted. Ludicrous.

Despite only rushing for 18 yds on nine carries, RB Michael Yetka turned a simple slip screen into a 44 yd TD reception Saturday

Even when it toppled a scoring mark that remained after 88 long years—edging the school record for single-game scoring—it was points generated by the Lions’ defense that perpetuated the team’s recent trend of stomping out history (originally 64 points vs. Cathedral; set in 1921).

But after an indefinable two-and-a-half hours—capable of robbing even the most articulate of their words—quarterback Chris James broke it down simply.

“We’re a team. That’s what we do, that’s who we are.”

One of few consistent performers in a tumultuous outing for both teams (19/23, 323 yds, 3 TDs), James described each unit as its counterpart’s security blanket—a role he’s been aware of since August.

“It’s what we focus on. If the defense struggles, the offense picks it up. If the offense struggles, the defense picks it up. We take a lot of pride in that kind of football.”

Scoring after just three plays on its opening possession, early indications suggested the Lions’ point-manufacturing machine had been well-oiled and was fully operational—like it wouldn’t need anyone’s help. Threading the needle on a 35-yard strike, the Lions’ QB connected with quarterback-turned-play maker Bill Picatagi after only 2:34 transpired in the game’s opening period.

Only willing to do so in its first two games, an impassioned Lions’ defense finally looked capable of pulling its own weight early in the contest. After forcing bad throws and a quick three-and-out on the game’s opening possession, the offense trotted back on the field after only 14 seconds. First impressions boded well for the group, one that allowed an unacceptable 29.5 ppg in its first two outings (7^th in NJAC).

But the success was short-lived—well, sort of.

Evading a relentless Mustangs' pass rush, Chris James compiled a second-straight 300+ outing

Capping their adversary’s scoring after allowing six first-quarter points, the defense successfully sent the Mustangs packing on the period’s only two third down tries. But, the rambunctious Lions’ D quieted down in the game’s next 30 minutes, forfeiting 28 points between the second and third quarters as the Mustangs crept back into the game at the start of the 4^th quarter, 53-34.

“We came out strong, we did a great job from the get-go. But a few mistakes on our part gave them some momentum,” linebacker Joe Spahn (11 total tackles, 5 solo) said after the game, alluding to his crew’s apparent identity crisis. “They took that and ran with it.”

Spahn’s description well-suited Mustangs’ rushing performance—184 yards on 38 carries—also applying to an aerial assault that added 335 more. In a losing effort, the Mustangs’ actually out-gained the Lions’ notoriously potent attack (519 to 486).

But in the second half–when its offense actually looked mortal–the defense showed glimpses of brilliance.

The Lions’ offense sputtered on the period’s opening possession, punting after only four plays and 15 yards–poor by its own standards. The Mustangs’ enjoyed brief success on the ensuing drive, gaining 36 yards on its first three plays. But the Lions’ defense gained its composure, forcing a pivotal fourth-down conversion attempt from its own 48 yard-line. The unit prevailed, returning the ball to its play-makers after forcing a turnover-on-downs, followed by a three-and-out on its next appearance.

Well in the thick of his 33^rd season as head coach, Eric Hamilton offered his professional diagnosis.

despite allowing 519 yds of total offense, D.C. Matt Hamilton's unit produced 4 turnovers and sent the Mustangs' packing on 2 of its 5 fourth-down tries

“I think we lost our intensity at times,” he said after the game. “We started the game we wanted to:  Come out right away, setting the hammer down. It seemed like once we got there we quick put on cruise-control. You just can’t do that, flip that intensity on and off.”

In addition to its statistical eyesores and glimmers of dominance, the Lions’ D forced three fumbles on opposing skills-players, seizing possession each and every time. Perhaps most notably among them came in the fourth-quarter, with only 4:45 remaining and the Lions looming dangerously close to setting yet another school record.

After Mustangs’ tailback Maurice Mitchelson snagged a swing screen from quarterback Jamieson Crast—a connection that had yielded 65 yards on five receptions earlier—strong safety Shawn Brown relieved him of his ball-carrying duties, jarring the rock loose on a massive collision.

“I, myself, just like to run around and make plays,” Brown said after the game, speaking on his passion for laying the wood on his opponents. “I want to be a playmaker, but it’s not about me, it’s about the team. When I can do that for the team is what’s really effective.”

Brown’s tenacity, helping him score after recovering a blocked punt in the opening quarter, adhered to his team-first mentality while gift-wrapping a rare chance for a teammate to assume possession. Palming the football in a one-handed effort, free safety Phil Gatti stumbled through arm tackles on his way to pay dirt—not to mention history.

When he spoke after the game, Gatti sounded grateful for his teammate’s physicality

“I gotta give credit to Shawn Brown,” he said, thanking his fellow-DB like he’d just won an award. “He came up and hit that kid hard.”

Unaware of its gravity at the time, Gatti couldn’t curb his excitement about the opportunistic play.

Though he only recorded one assisted tackle in the win, co-captain Craig Meyer's vocal leadership helped carry through a rollercoaster ride of an afternoon

“I didn’t even know it was the record,” he said, citing the added excitement once his teammates broke the news. “When I came to the sideline everyone was like, ‘yeah you broke the record.’ I was like, ‘what record?’ But, yeah. I guess it’s a good accomplishment.”

But Gatti’s touchdown wasn’t the defense’s only impact on the final score. On an afternoon during which it produced four takeaways, the unit’s opportunism translated into 21 points on three of its four forced turnovers.

“The offense is doing a great job, and we need to try and give them the ball,” Spahn said of his defense’s effort to maintain par with the team’s renowned offensive production. “Interceptions, fumbles. That’s what we try to do—create turnovers.”

After its defense had quashed the Mustangs’ pedestrian comeback attempt with fewer than nine minutes remaining, the Lions offense knew it need to do only what had so well all year—give the ball to Justin Donoloski.

Only managing to gain 16 yards on four carries entering the series, the sophomore workhorse rang up 51 yards on his next five carries—including rushes for 16, 24, and best of all a four yard touchdown to put the game out of reach.

The team's leading rusher (7 rush, 72 yds, TD), RB Chase Misura's power proved a useful asset in the red zone--rushing as well as blocking for Donoloski and Yetka

“We really don’t say who’s going to get what,” Donoloski said after the game about his coaches’ capricious ball-delegation. “But the coaches said they liked me and Chase for the last series. Chase was blocking great, opening up the holes. The line did a good job today, again.”

Though he scored, Donoloski admitted it wasn’t necessarily his first priority.

“At the end of the game we’re just trying to run hard and we’re just trying to run out the clock out there. You’ve just gotta remember “5-point contact” and make sure you don’t fumble. Just run hard and get first downs.”

Adding to the wisdom he’d dropped earlier, James attested to the luxury of his offense’s run-support.

“Chase, Donoloski, Yetka—you can’t say anything more about what they’ve been able to do out there, getting those tough yards, running through people. You can’t see it by the stats but those runs mean a lot.”

James added that, in spite of various team and personal successes, he’s still hungry.

“I feel great, but we’ve got to realize we haven’t done anything yet. 3-0 feels good but 3-1 won’t next week if we don’t do anything.”

His head coach echoed James’ humility in a more ominous tone, well-aware of the upcoming turbulence on the schedule.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us. As nice as it is to be 3-0 on Saturday, come Monday we’re 0-0 on a short week getting ready for Kean on Friday. We’ll find out a little bit about ourselves now.”

BREAKING NEWS: Lions ranked 1st in NJAC after Cortland loss

After today’s NJAC upset during Kean University‘s win over SUNY-Cortland, 24-10, TCNJ sits alone atop the conference for the first time since 2007.

While today’s loss snapped a 12-game conference win streak, injuries to two of the defending conference champs’ impact players (QB Dan Pitcher, RB Andrew Giuliano) add to the early season woes of a team that nearly dropped its match against Morrisville State College earlier in the year (won 26-17 on Sept. 12).

Adding to its win total with a tumultuous 67-34 win in its own conference match-up against the Mustangs of Morrisville State, the TCNJ Lions boast the NJAC’s lone undefeated overall record.

Two of the conference’s other surprise performers also remain undefeated in conference play at week’s end, but non-conference losses have tarnished both Montclair State’s and Kean University’s overall records (both 2-1 overall; 2-0 in NJAC) .

The preseason’s consensus top-pick, Rowan University, fell in Week Two to the Cortland Red Devils, 24-10. At the end of Week Four, the Profs have split their only two conference matches thus far (2-1 overall; 1-1 in NJAC).

Already noted as a pivotal game on the schedule (Friday, Oct. 2; kickoff scheduled for 7pm), the Cougars’ early success adds gravity to an already weighted NJAC contest–likely for first-place bragging rights.

Elsewhere in the conference, both The College at Brockport (2-1 overall; 1-1 in NJAC) and Buffalo State (1-2 overall; 1-1 in NJAC) cling to life in the tri-state area’s deep competitive group, while William Patterson (1-2 overall; 0-2 in NJAC), Western Connecticut (0-3 overall; 0-2 in NJAC) and Morrisville State (0-4 overall; 0-3 in NJAC) remain winless in conference-play.

After Kean, Lions will host the College at Brockport (lost 39-41 vs. Montclair St.) before traveling to William Patterson (lost 13-28 vs. Rowan). The team will return for a test against Montclair St. on Oct. 24 for its homecoming, traveling to upstate New York to face SUNY-Cortland the following week.

BREAKING NEWS: Zucconi wins second NJAC Special Teams’ POTW award of 2009

With his contribution to his team’s seven-touchdown effort that smashed the school’s single-game scoring record, Lions’ kicker Marc Zucconi captured honors as the NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week Sunday–his second award of the season.

Recording touchbacks on his first two place kicks, Zucconi effectively helped tip the scales during a brief field-position battle, otherwise offset by rampant touchdown drives.

His first punting appearance wasn’t until six minutes in the third-quarter, though it was well worth the wait. Zucconi delivered a rocket for 67 yards, capped by diligent special teams effort from cornerback Dean Misura, downing the punt inside Morrisville State’s 1-yd line.

Adding four points toward the scorecard and an edge during a quick field-position battle, Lions' kicker Marc Zucconi eanred his 2nd NJAC award for top special teams performer

Mustangs’ quarterback Jamieson Crest succumbed to a relentless Lions’ pass rush, forced into an errant throw while pinned deep in his own territory. Following cornerback Derek Goreczny‘s opportunistic interception, the Lions’ scored a touchdown on the team’s ensuing possession.

Zucconi averaged 58.5 ypp on his afternoon’s only two efforts.

A portion Saturday’s performance from Marc Zucconi was expected, adding to his cumulative season punting average, one that ranks atop the conference (43.7 ypp; 1st in NJAC). But it seemed that the easiest kicks presented the most trouble for the former All-NJAC performer.

Zucconi entered the contest with a pristine point-after record, only missing one field goal on the year (16-16 PATs; 2-3 FGs after Week 3). Miffing three point-after tries–including one blocked by Morrisville State and another sent crashing into the upright–Zucconi successfully added four points to the Lions’ 67-point scoring portfolio.

Zucconi didn’t attempt a field goal in the contest (team called fake-FG before half).

After his third outing, Zucconi’s proven a valuable asset to the Lions’ scoring depot, maintaining his top spot atop the conference’s top kicking scorers (8.7 ppg ranks 1st in NJAC).

The release also dubbed the week’s top offensive, defensive and rookie performers–each captured by performers from separate institutions.

Montclair State quarterback Tom Fischer earned accolades as Offensive Player of the Week, throwing for over 300 yards and two scores while rallying his team toward a fourth-quarter comeback win over NJAC foe, The College at Brockport.

Completing only 23 of his 39 passes, Fischer manufactured a prolific 57-yard scoring drive–capped by a 14-yard touchdown–to seize victory for his squad. Fischer rushed for 13 yards and another touchdown in the effort, during which he also delivered a four-yard touchdown throw.

Zucconi's consistency on PATs (here vs. FDU-Florham) has solidified his spot atop the conference's kicking scorers (8.7 ppg ranks 1st in NJAC)

Fischer currently ranks third among the NJAC passers for average passing output.  (241.3 ypg).

Nathan Bull’s performance in the same game earned him honors as Week Four’s Defensive Player of the Week. Despite its role as part of a losing effort, Bull’s tenacity permeated on the stat sheet, as the senior linebacker recorded 17 of his teams’ total stops. Of his 10 solo tackles, two sent Brockport ball-carriers back to the huddle after losing yardage.

Bull also intercepted Fischer in his plea for his second award of the season, stumbling for a 13-yard return that set up a Brockport touchdown drive.

At week’s end, Bull’s 15.7 tackles per game ranks best in the conference–2nd in the NCAA.

Finishing as the Profs leading receiver in a 28-13 win over William Patterson–one that earned Rowan its 300th win in the program’s storied history–freshman wide receiver T.J. Pratt received honors as the week’s top rookie performer. Pratt recorded two catches for 39 yards.

Recording 12 tackles in Buffalo State‘s 37-26 win over Western Connecticut, freshman linebacker Eddie Weiser earned and won his bid for Defensive Player of the Week. In a dominant team effort that limited the Colonials to 215 yards of total offense, Weiser recorded four solo stops, including 3.5 for losses.

Lions’ post-game analysis: The good, the bad, and the ugly

If you didn’t happen to catch the tone of my post-game recap, the Lions’ 67-34 win in its NJAC contest against Morrisville State wasn’t exactly describable in a few words. In fact, it was next to impossible–part of the reason why it topped 1,400 words in my post-game recap. There’s always plenty of action that can’t be explained by the box score alone. But when the stats themselves add to its convolution, there’s certainly room for further explanation.

Thankfully, that’s where I come in.

Reader beware: I’m probably going to offer otherwise conflicting assessments of certain group’s impact on Saturday’s win. It might even happen with regard to individual players. But hang in there, it’s not that puzzling.

THE GOOD

• Chris James

Chris James ordering his team to maintain its aggression on the team's next possession. Said the senior QB, "Every time we touch the ball, we want to score."

You know about the stats, the rankings, and his leadership. I’m offering my apologies to the guy in advance, considering I’m about to make his head grow even more than I have already–likely complicating getting in and out of his house.

Still, when a career 55% passer continues his hot-streak of completing passes at alarming rates (75.8 at after Week Four) you’ve got to give give credit where its due. Madd daps, son.

There’s a lot of guys that can throw passes like bullets from a Gatling gun–large in number and velocity, but lacking in precision and ball-security. His interceptions per attempt ratio ranked best in the conference last season, but he only threw 12 touchdowns during his entire 2009 campaign–a la Kerry Collins. When the team took the conference in ’07, he threw a few more TDs (15) but he also threw 12 picks–sound like Tony Romo?

This year’s been different, though. He’s found the end zone plenty, largely thanks to a few guys I’ll be talking about in a sec. But he hasn’t been careless, egotistical or overestimating in his assessment of his abilities. In only three games he’s tossed for six scores and added two more with his legs.

Not bad, especially when he’s only thrown one pick (as opposed to “Pic”).

If it seems like coordinator Bobby Acosta is having a world of fun calling plays for this offense–it’s because he is. He has to be. And James has been a huge reason why.

Feel like taking a shot down the field on first-down? Why not? Find yourself in a hole on third and long and you can forget the draws, screens or other cop-out play calls designed to move your punter closer to the opposition’s goal-line. Go for it all. I would.

• Penalties (quantity)
  

If once is a “mistake,” twice certainly isn’t a “jazz”–not when you’re talking about forfeiting over 100 yards by way of penalties–dumb ones at that.

And should it have happened again Saturday, for a third time, head coach Eric Hamliton wouldn’t wait for practice to sort out the issue. There’d be hell, and likely a few wind sprints to boot.

Fortunately for the team’s record–and the players’ stomachs–the Lions’ cut the unsightly figure in half during its second-straight victory against the Morrisville State Mustangs. Five flags is still a few more than you’d like, but it’s not ten (the team’s average entering the game) nor is 45 as bad as 107.5 (penalty yardage Saturday vs. season average).

But–you guessed it–it wasn’t entirely good news.

• Third-down dominance–offensively

The Lions’ offense hasn’t had any issue moving the sticks so far this season, converting 48.1% of its third down tries (2nd in NJAC entering Saturday). It also doesn’t really need to, perpetuating its habit of wasting little time en route to pay dirt (Lions’ scoring drives–1 in three plays; 3 in four plays; 1 in five).

When the team converted five of its eight third-down conversions (62.5%), it improved upon an area it didn’t necessarily need to. To hell with complacency, eh?

• Big-play Wheel-of-Fortune

Both Gardner (right) and Yetka (left) contributed to the Lions' second-straight appropriation of its place in history, each player posting six points on plays of 25+ yards

Laugh if you’d like, but that’s what it feels like. Minus, of course, the bankrupts, lose-a-turns and cordially asking the lovely Vanna White for an “q”–after you’d just bought a vowel.

Every week, someone takes it upon himself to step up when the team needs it the most.

Last week–in the absence of the team’s stud receiver and blinding beacon of leadership, Cam Richardson–his position comrade Colin Weber seized the chance to steal some of James’ attention. And he didn’t squander his opportunity, hauling in six balls for a yard under 200.

Fate chose Gardner this week, who caught six of his own for 111 yards. Whether it was destiny or his defiant manipulation of it, Gardner filled what could have easily become a void in the Lions’ aerial attack when Richardson went down.

Picatagi and engineering whiz kid Erik Hendrickson (2nd team academic All-NJAC performer in 2008) have also helped carry the load.

On the other side of the ball, cornerback Derek Goreczny and linebacker Will Haduch have helped spackle the cracks remaining after free safety Ryan Flannery’s absence, not to mention the baller’s game offered by first-year starters Matt Kreider and Dean Misura.

Goreczny’s third-quarter interception, the DBs lone fulfillment of Matt Kreider’s prophecy, ultimately resulted in six points for the Lions–I know they had 67, but he delivered the play at a crucial point in the process. Ecstatic at his shot to play–even on special teams–Haduch blocked a punt in the first-quarter; scoop-and-score compliments of Shawn Brown.

Said Haduch after, “We had just put the package in this week. I saw an opening and just went with it. It felt great.”

Generally speaking, you can’t make plays without playmakers–offensively or defensively. And, more guys who can do it means a higher likelihood that it will (see “TCNJ Lions’ offense”). It seems like I’ve quoted a different defensive player every day this week–one after which the unit produced four turnovers.

I rest my case.

LB Dan DeCongelio (left) talking out the defense's confusion with coordinator Matt Hamilton (right) during a Mustang timeout

THE BAD

• Third-down dominance–on the wrong end of the barrel

Defensively, the Lions’ identified third-down as a focal point of its overall woes. They even said so.

“We’ve gotta get off the field on third down,” Ryan Flannery said earlier in the week, still ailing from an ankle injury. “Third and long has been a problem all year. We’re giving up big plays. If we can get off the field on third and long, that’ll cut the numbers in half right there.”

Not bad, but the Lions allowed conversions on six of the Mustangs’ 16 attempts. Like James did yesterday (rather buoyantly, might I add), Matt Kreider didn’t have any trouble piecing together his thoughts after the game.

“It’s very frustrating—that’s probably the best way I can put it. I felt like there was about five or six times where we should have just shut them down, but you get a shovel pass here, a draw there. It’s just really frustrating.”

The team isn’t entering its next contest against Kean as a huge ‘dog–if the NJAC’s first-place team is at all. But if it doesn’t find a way to better hoist that much-needed chip, hanging so far away from its shoulder, it’s not going to look much differently come kickoff.

• Penalties (quality)
  

Aside from a momentum-crucifying false start on the second half’s first play from scrimmage, the Lions couldn’t have picked worse times to commit its five penalties. Most of them weren’t what Coach Hamilton calls “lazy” penalties–holding, offsides, pass interference– but the team still dropped the ball far too many times when it could least afford to do so.

Perhaps worst of all–aside from its pampering of the next play’s end result–came on a crucial third-down conversion (see?) in the third-quarter.

After the offense sputtered, waiving the white flag after only four plays on the drive, the Lions’ defense forced the Mustangs into a long third-down attempt. Successfully drawing a poor through from ‘stangs QB Jamieson Crast, defensive end Craig Meyer also drew a roughing-the-passer penalty. It’s unclear whether Crast expressed this thanks sometime after, but he should have for the 15 free yards and redeeming its opponent’s get-out-of-jail-free card for moving the sticks.

Crest dropped an 18-yard goodie in Maurice Mitchelson’s comforting arms on the very next play for a Morrisville State touchdown.

Need I say more?

• 

  In spite of its mildly successful pass rush, the Lions' defense allowed Mustangs' QB Jamieson Crast (above) to pass for 335 yards, and his backup to complete 5 of the game's final 6 passes

  Defensive schizophrenia

Defensive backs’ coach Andy Larkin put it best.

“We don’t know who’s going to show up. Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde,” the 2007 co-captain said of the defense’s duality as a sometimes-savvy-sometimes-senseless reservoir of untapped talent. “Four weeks in you hope to have that, so we’re a little behind the eight-ball.”

In the first half, the team limited Morrisville State to 59 rushing yards on 18 attempts–nothing to frown upon, if not promising. The A-gaps were impenetrable early in the afternoon, and the team minimized damage on stretch and toss plays, allowing 23 of the period’s gains on one play.

But, for reasons no one quite understood, the Lions’ D softened, allowing 125 in the second half (5.0 ypc). Coordinator Matt Hamilton’s Ryan-esque man-blitzes wreaked havoc and disrupted Crast’s rhythm early, limiting him to completing 25 of his 40 balls, including the concentrated allocation of Goreczny’s “fifteen minutes.” Linebacker Dan DeCongelio talked about the team ridding its appointment as Robin to the team’s Batman–its touchdown-monger offense, but the team looked like satisfied on the Mustangs’ last drive. In the game’s closing moments, the Lions’ didn’t mind getting carved by backup Mike DiGirolamo (5/6, 36 yds). The game was out of reach, but it wasn’t over.

Simply, the defense shouldn’t have played like it was.

• Three missed PATs

Marc Zucconi’s cannon of a right leg earned him the week’s honors as the NJAC’s top special team’s performer. His first two kickoffs sailed out of the end zone, and he averaged a silly 58.5 yards on his two punts–one downed inside the 1-yard line.

But his extra-point attempts looked like his best stab at replicating Charles Barkley’s golf game, as last year’s 2nd team All-NJAC performer shanked two extra points–one off of an upright–and had another blocked. He was perfect entering the game, and still ranks atop the conference in specials’ scoring per game (8.7 ppg kicking). But if there’s any player the team can afford to wane in his consistency, Zucconi is certainly not him.

THE UGLY

• 

  "Profanity is the attempt of a lazy and feeble mind to express itself forcefully," someone once said. You fucking tell 'em granny (photo courtesy of "salon.com")

  Potty-mouth in the coaches’ booth

Largely the product of the 40 feet between us, considering we operate on opposite sides of the floor, but I can’t say I’ve ever heard one of the Lions’ coaches utter a naughty word while they’re working upstairs. The sideline might be a different story, but I can’t comment because I’m just not sure.

Not that I blame them, but an attentive ear caught a few priceless quotables–a few too good for TV. My personal favorite–at least among those I can discuss (somewhat) professionally–echoed throughout the press box during Mike Yetka’s run-like-Reggie YAC on the slip scree he turned into a 44-yard touchdown reception.

“You need to tell them to get in his face, chop their (expletive) feet and just make the goddamn tackle” –unattributed Morrisville State Coach

Alright, I’ll admit–it was pretty funny.

Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag: Are the Lions’ “3-0″ good, and are they destined for a long Friday night @ Kean?

Every Monday, I’ll take a minute to respond to you — Lions’ Nation — answering questions and offering my predictions and insight surrounding the team’s 2009 campaign. Here’s this week’s installment of Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag.

After its third-consecutive NJAC conquest, a decisive 67-34 scoreboard assault during Saturday’s game versus Morrisville State, the Lions now sit pretty atop the conference–all alone. But their reign will only last as long as the team can ward off the beef of its dicey schedule.

First up, Kean University.

• Matty, the Lions won Saturday, but Morrisville State wasn’t really that good. And at the end of the third quarter, the Mustangs only trailed by 13. Shouldn’t the team have played better?

Well first, I’m not entirely sure how you’re substantiating this assessment, that Morrisville State isn’t a talented football team. Don’t know if you were watching, but those were some big dudes–big dudes that could move.

Though the defense allowed 519 yards of total offense Saturday, DBs Phil Gatti (left) and Justin Beres (right) battled resiliently against a weightroom-savvy Morrisvile State football team

Earlier in the week, coaches and players raved about the team that they had seen on film, citing the Mustangs as one of the most physically gifted opponents penciled in on the schedule. Admittedly, the squad ranked among the conference’s worst in both record and statistical output entering the week. But so did the Tennessee Titans, still winless after Sunday’s loss thanks to the Jets’ nouveau G, Mark Sanchez.

Just like last team’s toughest regular season opponent boasts much more talent than the 0-3 record suggests, the ‘stangs aren’t half-bad either, and they didn’t play like it Saturday. And the team won by 33 points. How much better would you have liked to see them play?

There’s no doubt that the team struggled–briefly. We even saw the first glimpses of the Lions’ offense succumbing to humanity–a shock to most of us. Even so, the team only punted twice–a rare Zucconi sighting (aside from his conference-leading PAT attempts) in the second half.

At the end of the first two quarters, the Lions successfully converted every third-down attempt it came across (5 of 5)–all from varying distances. The only other minor deterrents to otherwise unencumbered offensive success manifested in two sacks–both during a Lions’ two-minute drill attempt–and a rare  Chase Misura fumble (2008  fumble statistics unavailable, but trust me–it just doesn’t happen all that often).

James might get rattled a bit more as the season continues, but his eyes are privy to identifying blitzes early. When teams come–and they will–he’s more than capable of exploiting aggression.

And don’t worry about Misura. Before I said a word to him after the game he looked at me and said, “I know, I fumbled.” Safe to say he’s not about to allowing that to become an ugly habit.

•  
  

  Throwing a late pick while rallying a brief 4th-QTR comeback last year vs. Kean, Chris James won't be easily flustered if the game's on the line Friday

  I heard the Lions are going to be playing a really good team against Kean. How did the game go last year?
  

In a word, or six–not like it should this year.

When the Lions’ hosted the Cougars last October, Kean took the match 35-24.

Check that–Cougars’ running back Jared Chunn did, single-handedly.

Rushing for 201 yards on only 27 carries, Chunn’s contribution established an early choke hold of the rivalry’s most recent installment, averaging 7.4 ypc on his way to breaking the plane twice. In a game almost devoid of reputable performances–on either side–last year’s stud for the Cougs (finished ’08 with 1,405 yds rushing; 20th in NCAA) represented the sole bright spots in his team’s marginal win.

Cougars QB Tom D’Ambrisi was pedestrian–at best–successfully locating Kean wideouts on just nine of the night’s 20 pass attempts for only 139 yards. He did find former Lion strong safety Paul Mychalczuk, though, who forced a potentially pivotal interception in the game’s second quarter. The team’s leading tackler a year ago selflessly shared his bounty with free safety Ryan Flannery–a glad recipient of the heads-up lateral–who manufactured a 53-yard return and six points for the Lions as time expired in the second quarter (led 10-7 at half after Zucconi PAT).

Playing like the boys on the AND-1 Mixtape Tour…? I like it.

But the team fell apart after James connected with former wideout Jeff DeZutter for a 35-yard touchdown, watching helplessly as the Cougars tied the contest with 10 unanswered points (17-17), followed by another 18 in response to one last Lions’ touchdown.

• The team didn’t run the ball that well last year, and it didn’t keep up with the pace it had set earlier in the year. How should the Lion running backs fare against Kean next Friday?

About exactly opposite of the above description.

A lot of things went down last year that, well, were indicative of last year’s Lions–which couldn’t look any more dissimilar from this year’s unit.

After keeping a perservering Mustangs' offense at bay, the Lions' defense enters Friday night's Battle of the Big Cats with confidence

In spite of all of the team’s struggles (no recorded sacks; 4/14 on 3rd-DN; James–18/41 passing) the team still had the opportunity to win the game late in the fourth quarter. A Chris James interception stifled the charge, but the comeback try didn’t muster a whole lot of momentum, the turnover coming on a desperate fourth-and-ten attempt following three consecutive incomplete passes.

A football is a funny looking wad of leather–sometimes it bounces your way. Sometimes it doesn’t. This was one of those times.

The 2008 Lions’ offense, top-to-bottom, isn’t close to the caliber of this year’s squad.

Cashing in by trading last year’s clunker (128.3 rush ypg in ’08; 5th in NJAC) for a fully-loaded 2009 model packed with long-lost 1970s American muscle (325.5 rush ypg in ’09; 5th in NCAA), this team’s revamped ground game is legit.

Using the term loosely, even in its worst outing of the year against Morrisville State (35 rush, 163 yards, 4 TDs) the Lions rushing arsenal proved it could lock up wins in the fourth-quarter. Entering the game after gaining only 15 yards on 4 carries, versatile fusion-back Justin Donoloski assumed yet another identity–its undeniable closer–rushing for 51 yards on five carries on his way to another six points.

Sedgwick, who?

Accounting for every inch of the brief kill-the-clock-turned-pour-it-on scoring drive, the biggest knock applicable to that kind of a performance is that Donoloski scored too quickly (lasted only 2:47). And if I’m coordinator Bobby Acosta, I can live with that.

RB Mike Yetka (center) wouldn't let a lackluster statistical outing on the ground hamper his backfield's production, scoring a with defiance on a 44-yard slip screen

Even after 60 minutes of above average ground-and-pound football, the Lions’ running backs wouldn’t be denied entirely. On only three receptions, Donoloski and speedster Mike Yetka combined for 81 yards on slip and swing screens–one of which was Yetka’s 44-yard sandlot mockery of Mustangs’ tacklers.

I wonder how many times the Morrisville State coaching staff is going to whip out a tackling circuit this week in practice. Maybe only five–give the team a break on the day of its walk-through.

There’s no shortage of playmakers on this offense. Never has a positional group flopped thus far in the season. But should one .50-caliber barrett misfires, there should be plenty of firepower elsewhere to compensate.

***

That’s it for this week’s edition of 4M.

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BREAKING NEWS: At week’s end Lions’ boast nation’s top scoring offense

It must feel good to be the king…

After its most recent update of stats, rankings and scores from this weekend’s action, the NCAA reports that the Lions’ scoring offense ranks first in all the land.

Entering the fourth week of the regular season ranked second (averaged 52.0 ppg in Weeks 1-3), the Lions’ offensive fireworks display during a 67-34 quirky win over Morrisville State on Saturday propelled the small liberal arts institution–past Massachusetts’ Springfield College of the Empire Eight Conference–to best in Division III.

Though the RBs couldn't maintain its 325 ypg average on Saturday, its four rush TDs in addition to Mike Yetka's (above) 44-yard TD reception thrust the Lions to 1st in NCAA scoring

Ahead of each of the nation’s other 234 teams, the unit’s average now sits at 57.33 ppg–two points more than Wabash College of Indiana (55.33 ppg).

Inching toward the nation’s summit elsewhere in the statisticians’ notebooks, the Lions’ most recent outing further elevated its national status.  Despite failing to out-gain an opponent for the first time this season (486 yds to Mustangs’ 519 yds), the team cleared the country’s 3rd-place hurdle, safely landing at D3′s 2nd-place slot in total offense.

While both teams’ averages fell (Week 3: Lions-564.5; Tigers-594.33) the Lions’ season resume to-date proved adequate enough to maintain a 500+ yards per game average, now trailing Hampden-Sydney by fewer than ten yards per appearance (Week 4: Lions-538.33 ypg; Tigers-546.75).

Individually, Lions’ four-year starter Chris James jumped in the national rankings, finishing only behind Dan Whalen (Case) in passing efficiency (James-226.66; Whalen-228.89) at the end of Week Four. Well on pace to smash a handful of individual school records, James casually tossed for 323 yards and thrice found pay dirt through the air (rushed for 13 yds on nine carries, TD) while completing 82.6% of his passes.

Best of all–the only pick thrown for the Lions was a 35 yard laser hauled in by the team’s QB-turned-TD machine Bill Picatagi, affectionately nicknamed “Pic.”

James has only found an opposing defender’s hands once in 2009 (season-opener vs. Buffalo St.).

The team’s rushing ranking suffered after this weekend’s win, falling out of the nation’s top-ten from 5th-best, now to 12th following a season-low 163 yards on Saturday afternoon. Entering its interconference duel against Morrisville State, the Lions averaged 325.5 rush yards per game. After, the digit fell to a human 271.33–still best in the NJAC by over one-hundred yards (Rowan-168.0 ypg).

Not quite in the national spotlight themselves, James has largely been the greatest benefactor of the team’s astounding production from its wide receivers, namely seniors Mark Gardner and Colin Weber. In the absence of two-time All-NJAC performer and team co-captain, Cam Richardson, the tandem currently occupies the conference’s two top spots for receiving yards per game (Weber-104.0 rec. ypg, 1st in NJAC; Gardner-84.67 rec. ypg, 2nd in NJAC).

Filling in splendidly for ailing WR Cam Richardson, receivers Mark Gardner (above) and Colin Weber hoard the NJAC's two top spots for rec. ypg

Mediocre only by its own standards, the stellar touchdown party wagon driven by the team’s trio of tailbacks–Donoloski, Misura and Yetka–still managed to produce four scores en route to the team’s demolition of yet another school record (points per game, originally 64, set in 1921 vs. Cathedral).

And who says the kicker gets no love?

Punting footballs like golfers drive Titleists in a performance that earned the former-Louisville transfer his second NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week Award, punter Marc Zucconi’s 58.5 yards per punt on Saturday sent the Lions’ team net punting stock soaring from 68th in the nation (33.75 ypp) to fourth in the NCAA’s Division III (38.67 ypp).

Neither Zucconi’s contribution for the Lions, nor national leader Redlands’ Dan Selway (40.25 ypp) qualify for indiviudal accolades, which require performers to average at least 3.6 punts per game. On the season, Zucconi’s number has been called six times, while Selway has only booted three.

Lions’ Nation Weekly Poll: How good is “3-0″ good?

Welcome to the Wolrd–Lesson #2: Whoo-sah

Since August, I’ve always given readers the option to respond to posts, analysis, predictions–hell, I’ve all but begged to hear your thoughts. Aside from one glaring exception–particularly shattering to my ego–those opportunities have rarely been exercised.

Until today.

Following yesterday’s post–during which I reported that the Lions most recent performance had escalated the weight of the season’s performances from “surprisingly good” to “undoubtedly newsworthy”–readers seemed more inclined than ever to voice their opinions. One e-mail caught my eye in particular, the tone of which sought to undermine the team’s early accomplishments–not to mention my coverage and assessment of it.

Here’s an excerpt from, of course, one reader’s anonymous gripe:

“…c’mon bro. u can’t honestly think that this tema is any good. keans gonna dominate on friday and thats not even talking about rowna and cortland and all the other good teams in the njac. you think yourr so cool with all your stats didnt u see that TCNJs strength of schedule is all the way at the bottom of the rankings??? sorry dude but ur in for a rude awakneing ull see…”

Oh no you didn’t.

There’s no doubt about it. I am a stat-monger. Additionally, my fixation on detail–which, frankly, is sort of implicit in the job description–defiantly dances on the ever-so-thin line between diligence and obsessive-compulsive infatuation.

And don’t worry–you’re not the first to notice. While you certainly articulate a valid point–flawlessly, might I add–there’s an undisputed heavyweight champ in the arena of mocking Mr. Matty Hammond, and you’re not him.

I am. And quit while you’re ahead. I’m a hell of a lot funnier at my own expense than you or anyone else could ever be. Sorry, “bro.”

One thing’s for sure, of all the stats confidently stocked in my munitions closet, the least flattering to the Lions’ is its strength of schedule.

Sorted by past competition, the Lions currently represent one of three teams tied for the 186th slot of Division III’s strength of schedule rankings (0.167 past opponents’ win pct.). Certainly unworthy of flaunting, but no one’s been bragging. Of the multitude of pristine opportunities to blow its own horn, the program has consistently shunned the limelight, the numbers, stats, standings–all of it. I might be mistaken, but I don’t think I have either. I’ve stated fact, but I’m not a propagandist.

I could be, but I just don’t think I’d be any good. Or you’d be inclined to care.

But here’s a stat for you, John (as in John Doe, since you’ve so conveniently omitted your identity). Judged solely by your standards, Kean hasn’t exactly faced a worthy opponent all year.

And won, of course.

Under the same criteria, Kean’s strength of schedule ranks in another crowded tie, slightly higher at 81st with 25 other programs (0.500 past opponents’ win pct.). Further, Delaware Valley (2-1 overall)–the team that spoiled the Cougs’ chances of an undefeated season too early in the swing of things to warrant disappointment–represents a healthy proportion of that pedestrian stat’s weight.

Del Val aside, Kean’s early-season opposition rocks a humble 2-4 record. Admittedly, Cougars Week-Two win in the heart of upstate New York represents the reigning NJAC champs’ only tarnish on its repeat campaign (beat Cortland St. on the road 24-10).

An equivocated accomplishment, the Cougars’ triumph occurred in the glaring absence of  its starting quarterback and featured back–kind of like popping champagne after beating a Brady-less Patriots.

Kind of loses its luster, dontcha think?

Again implementing your alleged end-all-be-all barometer of legitimacy, kudos to Delaware Valley on its early conquests. At week’s end, the squad’s faced tough competition so far in ’09. Firmly planted atop the nation in toughest opposition, the Aggies haven’t competed against any team with a loss.

A few teams currently share the same slot, including FDU-Florham. And you remember what happened when the Devils rolled into Trenton, right?

The team’s most recent win, a record-smashing assault on Lions’ Stadium’s scoreboard came against a squad that hoists a difficult schedule in its own right.

After the NCAA’s most recent update, the Mustangs rank T-27th in Division III (o.778 opponent win pct.). Winless? Yes. Anemic? not quite.

There’s a reason why the BCS’s flaws prompt presidential comment, and I haven’t raised an eyebrow of skepticism regarding that figure–it doesn’t matter. If you’re going to waste your life sifting through stats, at least allocate your efforts towards the ones that make a difference.

Or don’t, but then don’t clutter my Inbox. “TCNJ Official E-mails” do plenty of that already.

Let’s set the record straight–this blog isn’t an advertisement of TCNJ football. Sure, it would be nice to hear that my work has helped inform the college community of what goes on at its core a few Saturdays in the fall. But I’m writing only what I see.

Frankly I’m flattered by the criticism that I’m manufacturing “The Pride’s” content. Sincerest of thanks, but I’m only mildly tech-savvy. Considering I have a rough time manipulating my tape recorder–a mere three months after its purchase–I can’t say I’m hacking into the NCAA’s database anytime soon. Though if you or any of your friends would like me to try, I guess I could take a stab at it.

Moving forward, let’s all hesitate before we assume–that I’m an over-glorified and ostensibly well-spoken fan, that I’ve already penciled in wins for the remainder of the team’s schedule, that 2009 hasn’t been anything short of a blessing and a priviledge.

But–above all else–that we’ve seen the best that fate and football have to offer.

Respectfully, I’d have to disagree.

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/toughest%20schedule/3_9games_past.pdf

Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: Win streak prompts D-line’s superstitious scruff, weekend provides shot at redemption

Let’s face it–athletes are some weird dudes. Superstitious ones, too.

Often enslaved by unfounded beliefs, these specimens of Herculean genetics and Donatellan physiques represent some of the most pious disciples to anything remotely beneficial to “the cause.” While many athletic mythologies tend to involve undergarments–as unspoken as Jordan’s relic Tarheel shorts, or as storied as Giambi’s golden bikini–there’s no mold for this kind of raw and rich passion.

Fortunately (for our eyes and imaginations), there’s plenty of other ways to participate in sports lore. But make no mistake–for a world in which winning trumps long-term durability (and short-term sanity) there’s no such thing as a line. Especially not when there’s games on it.

Even in college. Even in Division III.

Even in Trenton.

Wreaking havoc in Wednesday's stunt segment, DT Chris Flynn (center, blue jersey) hasn't shaved during his team's 3-game win streak

“Oh the win-streak beard?” Lions’ defensive tackle Chris Flynn said, visibly pleased at the opportunity to speak on his manifestation of enthusiasm following the team’s 3-0 start.

Entering Friday’s collision of the conference’s two top dogs cats, in Lions’ and Cougars of Kean University–each team’s first true litmus test of legitimacy–Flynn and his defense have two options.

a.) Shave their opponents’ yards.

b.) Shave their own faces.

While the TCNJ offense continues to steamroll its opposition–as well as its own history–the Lions’ defense has struggled early in ’09, as recently as its latest appearance against Morrisville State. Following yet another lackluster outing–during which the unit surrendered 519 yards of total offense–the Lions’ D failed to show drastic improvements, still hovering at the depths of the conference in a number of defensive categories.

“It’s very simple,” head coach Eric Hamilton said of his defense’s early misfires. “We’re still trying to find ourselves, we’re still trying to develop an identity.”

But in spite of three-consecutive unequivocally poor showings–and a one similarly glaring disdain of it–Flynn radiated of unshakable confidence entering the team’s final night game of the season.

An odd-job performer last season, DE Kevin Allgood has managed to sneak his way into the D-line rotation, which D.C. Hamilton hopes can confuse a young Cougs' QB

“Well we’re going to keep it going until we lose, and I don’t see that happening any time soon.”

Prophecy aside, the Lions are plenty familiar with this weekend’s inevitable adversaries.

In last year’s home loss versus the Cougars, a heartbreaking 24-35 loss that ended on a Chris James interception returned for a touchdown, one throw–errant or otherwise–had little impact on the final score. Running plays decided last year’s contest.

Twenty-seven of them to be precise.

Carrying his team to victory over the Lions in ’08, Cougars’ running back Jared Chunn averaged 7.4 yards per carry on his way to a 201-yard, two-touchdown performance. Though it wasn’t a fluke–the 5’9, 170-pound impact back fostered the nasty habit of decimating his opposition’s front-seven for the remainder of the year.

Then a junior, Chunn earned some hardware for his efforts, powering the conference’s offensive runner-up (2nd in total offense in ’08; averaged 373.3 ypg). Flaunting a final season portfolio that featured over 1400 yards and 13 touchdowns, Chunn snatched for himself honors as the NJAC Offensive Player of the Year.

Fortunately for the Lions’ porous run-D (allowed 152.0 ypg in first three games; 7th in NJAC), Chunn might have lost his mojo. Early on his team’s campaign, Chunn has only managed to produce 42.67 yards per game in Kean’s first three outings, averaging an abysmal 2.97 yards per carry (averaged 127.73 ypg in ’08; 2nd in NJAC).

Worse, he hasn’t scored all season–and the Kean offense has suffered, currently holding a mediocre 5th spot in the conference (average 24 ppg).

DE Sam Dokus (blue #60) will need to replicate the pressure seen here--during Wednesday's 1v1 segment--Friday @ Kean (allowed only 4 sacks in '09)

A peculiar beneficiary of  non-existent run support, Cougars’ quarterback Tom D’Ambrisi hasn’t had a dull moment all year. Of the team’s nine offensive touchdowns, D’Ambrisi has contributed toward all but one, throwing six while rushing for another two.

“He’s good, we’re not going to deny that,” Flynn said admittedly. “But we’re gonna try and get the same strategy we had going on [FDU-Florham quarterback Bill] Winters.”

Noting an obvious comparison to one of its earlier opponents’ similarly impactful stars, much of his and his line’s overt swagger stems from its familiarity with that type of offensive structure. “He was a mobile quarterback, D’Ambrisi’s a mobile quarterback. We’re gonna get after him.”

Though his personal contribution eventually cracked 400 yards (27/41, 342 yds, TD, INT; 15 rush, 69 yds 2 TDs), the Lions defense stifled the versatile quarterback’s production early, permitting completions on only 10 of his 16 passes for 169 yards. The unit also manufactured an interception, a reasonable compromise to the half’s lone touchdown–a 57-yard Kyle Bukowiec reception on a blown coverage.

Should the team earn its first undisputed “big win” of the season, limiting plays like those are a likely prerequisite.

Flynn (right) spoke with confidence during Wednesday's practice, saying he didn't foresee a loss "any time soon."

“That’s the big crux of the problem in the first three games,” second-year defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said before Wednesday’s practice. “It’s just a matter of getting comfortable back there. A lot of the stuff, the pace of the game is a little faster than we’re mentally ready for.”

In order to help acclimate his squad to instinctfully identifying responsibilities–especially on motions and play action, which resulted in a number of single-play gashings–Hamilton’s implemented a time-old strategy, doing what any good teacher would do.

Make them do it–over and over, until they get it right.

“We’ve practiced it a lotthe last two days, a lot of motion and adjusting to it.”

First addressing his defense’s problems before the snap, Hamilton’s also conjured up schemes to offset some mismatches and prevent miscues during what’s likely to be an old-school street fight, neither contender dropping until claiming victory.

Letting out a preemptive chuckle, Hamilton explained he’s done “well, a lot of things” to prep his team for its first road trip of the season. He’d just rather not say exactly what.

“I don’t really want to tell you right now.”

Squeezing out a few details, Hamilton believes that a number of different personnel packages and pre-snap alignments can confuse and pressure D’Ambrisi, something he hasn’t dealt with all year.

D’Ambrisi’s progressed smoothly since epitomizing the ever-dreaded role of “game manager” in a pedestrian season-opening loss against Delaware Valley (15/30, 192 yds, 2 TDs, INT). Throwing for three touchdowns in the next week’s road win at Western Connecticut State, D’Ambrisi most recently completed 66% of his passes in the team’s biggest triumph, a 24-10 unearthing of the reigning conference champions, Cortland State University.

A younger sibling of Lions' co-captain DE Craig Meyer, Sean Meyer hopes to spit some of "Big Bro's" tricks Friday vs. Kean

There’s no doubting the prominence of the young sophomore’s performance, but he’s done it comfortably wrapped in a Kevlar vest provided by offensive line. On the season, the notoriously physical Cougars’ O-line has forfeited only four sacks on the year.

“Their offensive line is pretty good—that’s why he hasn’t been sacked very much,” Hamilton conceded. “So we’re just going to give him different things to look at, move it around, do different stuff. That’s really it—just try and move guys around, creating seams in their blocking schemes and get to him.”

His players seem to like the strategy.

“I think we’re all pretty versatile, inside or outside—especially the ends,” defensive end Sam Dokus said of his confidence in the game plan. “We’re gonna mix it up a lot. I think it’s going to be good. We’ll all be pretty comfortable.”

Should the Lions win Friday, their conquest allows the team brief breathing room–permitting only enough relief until the start of the following week’s preparations. Fortunately for Flynn’s scruff–slowly intruding upon full-fledged facial blanketing after three weeks since its last sculpting–it offers a few more precious days to recruit more participants in his cult of lighthearted superstition.

“Right now its just me and the other D-tackle, Terry Woolverton,” he said laughing, starting to jogging toward the Sun Dial Lawn to join his team in pre-practice warm ups.

“But we’re trying to get more.”

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: Lions’ “big ugly” responds boldly to an even bigger challenge

A big boy with bigger words, G Joe Mecca offered some bold predictions for Friday night's game at Kean, on top of confident responses to its challenges

Joe Mecca isn’t from Texas.

The Lone Star State boasts all of one representative on the Lions’ roster, but it’s wide receiver Mark Gardner that hails from Dallas–not the junior offensive lineman. Funny thing is, you’d never know.

Round-bellied and wide-mouthed, Mecca might be the closest embodiment (literally) of the state’s motto/magnet of outsider disdain, “everything’s bigger in Texas.” There’s nothing insignificant about him–nor his response to head coach Eric Hamilton‘s criticism of his unit’s most recent performance against Morrisville State.

“We’re gonna have to rush for 300 this week then,” he said Tuesday, prompting a teammate to chime in, offering a supportive “again.”

“We’re gonna have to do it. We’re gonna have to prove that we’re one of the top rushing offenses in this country.”

The Lions’ front-five stumbled out of the gate early in the team’s eventual 67-34 win over the Mustangs, accumulating a mere 81 first-half rushing yards on 18 carries–shameful, but only by self-imposed standards. Acknowledging his disapproval of the team’s showing last Saturday, Hamilton clarified that his words resonated as a disdainful assessment, but not a threat nor an ultimatum.

“Listen,” he said as streams of players dispersed from the locker room before Tuesday’s practice. “You don’t have to issue a challenge for the next team you’re playing. The challenge is on film.”

Following its "looks" segment Tuesday, the Lions RBs and O-line come together--much like they'll need to in Union on Friday

Not to contradict the Lions’ seasoned leader–off to a purposeful start to his 33rd year at the helm–but its implicit elsewhere, too.

Should the Lions enjoy offensive success Friday, it’s won’t be a glamorous battle. It’s going to be dirty when the team heads north to face Kean University–just the way the Lions’ “big uglies” prefer it.

During the Cougars only hiccup of the regular season, a 17-30 home-opening loss to Delaware Valley, the Aggies sketched a detailed blueprint for dissecting the NJAC’s second-ranked defense (allow 278.67 total ypg).

Del Val’s monotonous ground-and-pound rushing attack slowly ground away at a diamond-hard defensive front-seven, producing the team’s only offensive points (returned INT 90 yds for TD). On each of its scoring four drives, the Aggies averaged 6.3 yards per carry for 139 yards and two touchdowns. When it didn’t milk production out of its running backs, the team split its other six possessions down the middle–three punts, and three untimely turnovers (INT, 2 on downs).

And that was the nation’s 116th-best rush attack (average 140.33 ypg; 5th in MAC)–not quite what’s rolling into Union on Friday.

Each representing a caustic spear on the Lions’ trident of runners, Justin Donoloski, Chase Misura and Michael Yetka round out Division III’s 12th-most productive backfield–one of Hamilton’s most complete, by his own definition.

Working hard all season like he is here in Tuesday's 1v1 segment, RT Andrew Ross finally cracked the starting lineup last week vs. Morrisville St.

“We’ve certainly had a better running back here or there,” he said before Wednesday’s afternoon session. “But that player did a lot of things. This group is talented enough that we can play them not only by committee, but by their strengths and weaknesses and get everybody involved.”

Despite its glaring lack of depth, the group’s perseverance drew Hamilton’s comparison to another noble company of overachievers.

“Our running backs are like the Marines—the few, the proud. We don’t have many, but the ones we do can call play.”

Best of all according to senior right tackle Andrew Ross, who ineffectively danced around the issue, is the tandem’s knack for whiting-out the O-line’s miscues is much-appreciated–the few times it happens, of course.

“It also helps that if we don’t block it, uh, perfectly,” he said amidst a deluge of laughter. “The backs can make it right. Chase, Donoloski, Yetka—they find some big holes.”

But the Lions’ haven’t quite faced a single concentration of athleticism as Darryl Jackson, the Cougars’ starting-nose tackle. Listed on CBSSports.com as its 75th-best defensive lineman, the 6’1, 348-pound marshmallow of tenacity and mass likely personifies the prototypical NFL space-waster, similar to an Albert Hanesworth (signed a $100M contract with Redskins during off-season).

Safe to say, there won’t be much room for error–or anything else for that matter.

RB Justin Donoloski (2nd in NJAC rush ypg) has emerged as one of his unit's more outspoken leaders--aside from its most productive

“That’s gotta motivate you when you’re playing against that kind of talent,” Hamilton said, recognizing the added incentive to competing against a potential professional.

And in case you were wondering, no–Mecca didn’t need any such enhancement to his well-fed ego.

“We gotta push these guys around,” he said, citing physical dominance in the trenches as this weekend’s key to victory. “They’re some big dudes. We’re going to have to rely on our technique and coaching to drive these guys down the field, open up some holes.”

In spite of Chase Misura’s eager anticipation of his homecoming of sorts–evidenced by a comical “Ooh, touchdowns?” following Tuesday’s practice, as well as the statistic–rushing success should yield a plentiful bounty for Lions’ play-makers in the passing game.

Despite a lackluster complete game resume (10/20, 133 yds, TD, INT), vetern quarterback Mike Isgro leaned on Del Val’s ball-carriers, safely targeting receivers on four of his six scoring-drive attempts. Of his even C-note’s worth of yardage on the series, two plays accounted for more than 20 yards, including a 62-yard strike to senior wideout Brandon Fox.

Susceptible? Yes. But push-overs these Cougar defensive backs are not.

Hamilton realizes the necessity for preparing for the nationally acclaimed pro prospect in Kean DT Darryl Jackson (75 out of 166 DTs), dictating his expecations to Mecca

At perfect liberty to flaunt national accolades of its own, Kean University enters Friday’s contest ranked 33rd in the NCAA in opponent passer efficiency, limiting signal callers to a humble average QB rating of 93.48. Characterized by intricate zone-blitzes and loading the box against easily rattled men-under-center, the Cougars have forced five interceptions–three by 2008 All-NJAC honorable mention Jamahl Williams, who currently ranks tied for seventh in the NCAA (1.0 INT per game).

An unexpected beacon of leadership entering the season, sophomore running back Justin Donoloski enumerated the few criteria he believed necessary to perpetuating his offense’s gaudy dominance.

“It just takes everybody doing their job,” he said following Tuesday’s practice. “It takes 11 guys, not just any one of us.”

In advent of coming exposure to an unprecedented duress, the conference’s second-most productive warehouse of rushing yardage assumed a defeatist tone–harping on the season’s few missed opportunities.

“If one guy messes up one play, or takes a play off, then hey—we could have had a touchdown or had one called back. We need to have everyone giving all they’ve got on every play.”

In a strange sort of back-handed humility, one that only he could effectively pull off, Mecca appeared equally disinterested in the season’s early fortunes–or expectations, depending on your perspective.

“We gotta put ‘em behind us. Those three games—those should be our gimmies. Now we go into true NJAC play. We gotta see what we can do against the top teams in the conference. If we can beat those guys, this is gonna be our first test this week.”

BONUS Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: Personal accolades won’t distract Lions’ QB–still tormented by last year’s final play

It’s hard to project, generally, what athletes are most apt to feel as they approach eternal establishment of their names in history. So few get the chance to break one record for their sport or position–let alone all of them.

But, extrapolating of course, one might be inclined to expect excitement or anxiety, maybe even trepidation.

The image of bright white eyes beading amidst a dark bedroom comes to mind, sleeplessness setting in as the first of preciously finite opportunities to do so draw nearer. Others could be expected to embrace the gravity of the moment, accepting the challenge with eager restlessness. Others would possibly deflect the attention, some extremists even overcompensating through physically preparation, training to the point of exhaustion–as much as it is necessary to numb the senses.

It’s hard to say, but you’d certainly expect something.

Anything.

“I haven’t thought about it,” he said, unenthusiastically, following Thursday’s walk-through. “When it comes it comes.”

On the eve of his first opportunity to clench a firm hold of personal history, Lions’ quarterback Chris James had plenty on his mind. Just not on himself.

“I can care less about those records—if we’re 10-0 at the end of the season,” he said, his eyes starting to fit the earlier description upon the utterance of tomorrow’s game. “It’s about the NJAC, it’s about this game. This is our NJAC championship game, tomorrow.”

All but one, excruciatingly long year after a tearjerking 35-28 loss to the Cougars James enters Friday’s contest with a vendetta, a score to settle–after last season’s meeting ended so poorly for him, personally. If there’s any source of James’ delicate case of insomnia he described earlier the week, it’s the image of Cougars’ defensive back Chris Lauda streaking down the sideline after intercepting the four-year starter on the game’s final play.

Trailing 24-28 late in the fourth quarter, James trotted toward the grandest stage of all between the white lines at Lions’ Stadium–one he hoped would showcase his orchestration of an epic game-winning drive. And, on a last-ditch effort of utter desperation, the recipient of James’ fourth-and-ten heave did score a touchdown.

Fortunately for him–at James’ expense–the player was dressed in Cougar-blue. Rather than strolling out the arena having seized glory, James left quietly with bitter taste in his mouth–one that a year’s worth of dental products couldn’t quite mask.

“Like I said about FDU—I’ve been looking forward to this game since last year. Since that kid picked me off on the last play of the game and ran it all the way back. It’s been driving me crazy.”

According to James, last year’s finish to the rivalry adds weight to an already pivotal crossroads in the Lions’ 2009 campaign.

“Them coming to us, and us having a chance to win the game only to lose late—it definitely adds some pressure.”

If it didn’t, Kean wouldn’t be leaving the matter unaddressed.

Renowned for its multitude of complex blitz packages, and no reluctance send up to eight pass rushers, the Cougar D enters Friday’s game ranked 33rd in Division III in opposing passer efficiency (93.48 average QB rating).

Ravaging opposing backfields for the entirety of the young 2009 season, passers in particular, Kean’s front-seven have averaged 2.67 sacks in the team’s first three outings–second-best in the NJAC. Taking advantage of errant throws–many like James’ final attempt during last year’s late two-minute drill–the Cougars’ secondary has hauled in five interceptions.

Prior to his offense’s exposure to its most tenacious adversary to date, Lions’ head coach Eric Hamilton expects his veteran quarterback to maintain his composure.

“Chris has been around long enough now that he can take a few hits,” Hamilton said earlier in the week. “He’s a tough kid. He won’t get rattled.”

In spite of his suggested indifference, Friday night could yield an individually fruitful night for the product of Central Jersey powerhouse Brick Memorial high school.

Though he spoke singularly of his proximity to history, James is lingering in the vicinity of a number of the school’s individual passing records, all set by former Lions’ QB Bob Schurtz (2001-03).

Already having broken the career mark for attempts (Schurtz-733; James-735), the health and exercise science major needs all of seven completions to surpass the original career mark of 383–likely to be accomplished tonight, during the Lions’ first road trip of the season, to Union, NJ to face Kean University.

It would take an unprecedented effort, but James also has an outside shot of capturing the career yards record, needing only 434 to pass Schurtz’s final sum (5,337 yards).

Entering Friday’s game, James stands 11 touchdowns behind the school record set by Flip Faherty (1982-83), who threw for 48 touchdowns in his two seasons as starter for the Lions.

Despite last year’s unsavory outcome to the unequivocally high-pressure situation, James is yearning for a similar opportunity–now, this year, with this team.

When asked if he thought the situation might end differently if given the opportunity to bring his team back from a similar deficit, James answered not hypothetically or calculatedly. He replied with unmistakable certainty.

“We’re gonna win that game. No doubt in my mind.”

Lions’ Post-game Recap: Reigning NJAC Player of the Year steals James’ limelight, gashes Lions’ D during its first loss of ’09

UNION, NJ — Lions’ quarterback Chris James had hoped his Friday night would have ended differently.

If the nation’s top scoring offense couldn’t decimate his opponents the way it had for the team’s first three outings of the season, James would have settled for a photo finish to this year’s installment of the Lions’ perennial NJAC rivalry with Kean University—only if it presented a shot at retribution for last year’s tearjerking 35-24 loss, sealed by a Chris Lauda interception on the game’s final play.

But tonight wasn’t about James, even after he broke the school’s career mark for completions (originally 383, set by Bob Schurtz in ’03). It wasn’t about TCNJ altogether, in fact—the team or any of its individuals.

Friday night belonged to Jared Chunn.

Entering the team’s 28-7 home win over its conference rivals, the reigning NJAC Player of the Year had barely eclipsed the century mark on the season, averaging an anemic 2.97 yards per carry (43 rush, 128 yds, 0 TDs in 3 games).

But, in a valiant recreation of 2008’s brilliance, the senior nearly doubled his 2009 totals in the first half alone, rushing for 109 yards on only nine carries.

Following the game, Chunn explained his best performance of the season (22 rush, 210 yds, 2 TDs) was merely the punctuation to a week’s worth of tireless preparation.

“The offensive line and the timing, we finally put it together this week,” he said, shortly after fueling his team’s furnace that burned his opponents for 307 rushing yards.

“We just executed tonight. Hard work and preparation in practice—that’s all.”

Chunn recorded the evening’s first points, rightfully christening the university’s digital scoreboard on its first night of operation in Kean University Alumni Stadium.

Officials appeared to have whistled the senior down  following a minimally damaging eight-yard gain. But in an acrobatic display of athleticism, Chunn maintained his balance, erupting out of a crowd of blue and white jerseys, and darting 62 yards to paydirt.

“For some reason everybody’s been trying cut me this year,” he said after the game, surrounded by a crowd of his family and friends outside the stadium. “I was expecting it so I kept my feet up and just kept going.”

The Lions’ answered defiantly on the following drive, storming down the field in only 1:47 toward the evening’s only points. After targeting senior wide receiver Erik Hendrickson on his first three attempts, James whipped his head around following a play action fake to find wide receiver Colin Weber breaking toward the sideline.

Following his appointment as honorary co-captain for the contest, Weber led all Lion wideouts with 69 yards on seven receptions.

Uncharacteristically on the short end of a lopsided final score, the Lions undoubtedly had its chances early. But after walked away empty handed from two potentially damaging red-zone opportunities in the first half, the Lions’ had all but sealed its dismal fate.

Within striking distance from the Cougars’ 12-yard line, a Cougars’ defensive end Ray Wegrzynek stuffed Lions’ running back Justin Donoloski for a loss on a fourth-and-two stretch play on the Lions’ opening possession.

With 12:45 remaining in the second quarter, three plays after he cemented his name in school history on a 21-yard completion to wide receiver Bill Picatagi, a bad snap sent James darting down the field to recover an untimely fumble incurred on a fourth-and-goal from the Cougars’ one-yard line.

Afterward, James spoke disgustedly regarding TCNJ’s inability to finish.

“We had our chances early and we didn’t finish,” he said. “That’s it. That was the game.”

But even following his worst statistical performance of the season (24/41, 234 yds, TD, 2 INT), James’ radiated with an unshakable confidence.

Both in his team—and in himself.

“I’ll say this: we are a better football team that we’ve shown tonight. You have to tip your cap to them. But, we’re a better football team that Kean. We just didn’t show it tonight.”

Despite trailing only seven points at the half, the Lions’ offense failed to reestablish the early offensive rhythm that yielded gains of 255 total yards. Plagued by takeaways (3 total; 2 INT, fumble) and an antagonizingly-expanding points deficit, the Cougars limited Divsion III’s second-best offensive attack to only 69 total yards in the final two quarters of play.

Lions’ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta admitted that circumstances—ones both within and beyond his team’s control—forced him to stray from his game-plan earlier than he would have liked.

“We thought we were going to win this game running the ball today,” he said, acknowledging the talent consistent throughout the Cougars’ front-seven. “They were tough up front. When a team beats you with three down and everyone in coverage behind, you can’t do anything.”

In spite an indifferent attitude entering the game, Lions’ running back Chase Misura didn’t run like his homecoming of sorts meant nothing. Perceiving Friday night as “just another game” earlier in the week, Misura gashed his former team early, averaging 5.8 yards on his first six attempts (finished with 8 rush, 43 yds). But led by NFL prospect, nose tackle Darryl Jackson, the Cougars limited Lion ball-carriers to 111 total yards on the evening.

As expected, Kean pass rushers blitzed relentlessly throughout the entirety of the contest. Though it was unable to reach James in the opening period, Wegrzynek’s third-down sack on the Lions’ first possession of the second half yielded an untimely fumble that was recovered on the Lions’ 44-yard line. Chunn broke the plane 39 seconds later, on a 36-yard scamper for six.

The pressure manifested elsewhere in the first half, as Cougars’ cornerback Andre Dozier lunged toward a deflected jailbreak screen, successfully hauling in the interception at the Lions’ 30-yard line. All but four plays later, quarterback Tom D’Ambrisi successfully located Cougars’ wide receiver Matt Puorro in the corner of the end-zone, establishing a nominal 14-7 lead with 1:24 remaining in the opening period.

D’Ambrisi supported his impact back’s seizure of the ball game, delivering on each the few times his number was called, continuing his early-season role as “game-manager” (9/13, 117, TD).

Defensively, the Lions with a captivating effort on Kean’s first possession, forcing a punt after allowing only one, quick first-down—the Cougars’ only third-down conversion of the opening quarter (0/3 in 1^st qtr; finished 7/12).

Early on, according to defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton, everything was going exactly according to plan.

“The game plan was to challenge their guys up front with our guys,” he said on the field afterward. “And in the first half, we met that challenge. We controlled the first half of play. We saw it—they knew it.”

But as Kean’s momentum began to snowball, the Lions’ D folded, eventually forfeiting 424 yards of total offense (307 rush, 117 pass).

“It just seemed like we were on the field for the entire second half,” he said. “Give them credit, [Kean] was smart. They saw that and they ran the ball.”

While the numbers eerily resembled just another inadequate showing, D. C. Hamilton spoke proudly—citing tonight as his unit’s best performance to date.

“To a man,” he said, paraphrasing his post-game address to his players. “Even though its 28 points, this was on the opposite end of the spectrum. We’ve been around that 30-point mark, but we’ve played down to our opponents. They played well, and you’re going to start to see some results after this.”

Hamilton’s defense will have an opportunity to fulfill his post-game prophecy next weekend, when the Lions return to Trenton to host The College at Brockport next Saturday.

Lions’ post-game analysis: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Slipping on the shoes of a meek Nostradamus, Lions’ quarterback Chris James rightfully predicted Friday night’s road trip to Kean University would furnish the season’s first punch to his top scoring offense’s mouth. He was right, as the Cougars volatile defensive pressure and buoyancy on early gut-check situations handed the Lions their first loss of the season–and a pivotal crossroads in its NJAC title campaign.

In spite of a 21-point deficit, the Lions’ remained in contention for a majority of the contest–dissimilar to how their first three visitors fared in Lions’ Stadium. I’ll try my best to explain exactly what happened, and why the Lions’ faithful shouldn’t consider jumping ship–at least not yet.

THE GOOD

• Dean Misura

The youngest of three Misura siblings, Dean’s uninhibited hussle on special teams manifested in a punt downed at the Cougars’ one-yard line–paling in comparison to his second-consecutive mention in TGBU.

Now a junior, Dean is only used sparingly in the Lions’ secondary, sporadically rotated in obvious passing situations.  But, when he’s immersed in the action, Dean carries his weight as well as any of the other first-time impact players at defensive back. Undoubtedly gifted physically (successfully recorded 325 bench press as a freshman), Dean’s relent and malcontent with mediocrity should substantiate elsewhere–when and wherever he’s needed.

• Cohones…big ones

For anyone that’s thinking of second-guessing the Lions’ staff for electing to go for it on two fourth-down attempts in the red zone–save your breath. You’d be wrong.

The surrounding circumstances really didn’t permit any other option. The Lions issued a screechingly loud statement on the game’s opening possession, forcing an abrupt punt in response to the Cougars’ short-lived offensive success. On an uninhibited march down the field on its first appearance, the Lions’ offense earned an unmistakably golden opportunity to set the tone for the remainder of the game. Facing a fourth-and-two from the Cougars’ 12-yard line, someone signaled in an outside zone run–the team’s surefire bread-and-butter entering the game.

Just as it couldn’t have predicted such a poor snap on fourth-and-goal from a yard away in the second quarter, who’d have really foreseen anyone dropping Justin Donoloski behind the line-of-scrimmage? He broke about seven or eight tackles later in the game. Who’d have thunk that he couldn’t when it mattered most? Certainly not I–in fact, I’d probably feed him the rock again on such an attainable down-and-distance.

And again, and again.

It’s unclear whether or not the calls originated from head coach Eric Hamilton or from offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta. But both the initial decision and ultimate play selection leave little room for criticism–credible ones anyway. Described by players as a “go-getter,” Acosta hasn’t raced up the cliquey totem pole of assistant coaching on account of conservative play-calling. He wanted it all–and, had it worked, he’d be celebrated as a genius.

As for Hamilton, well, his resume speaks for itself. He knows what he’s doing.

Waiving the shot at an easy three-points earlier, the Lions’ coaching staff was pot-committed in their aggressive strategy. Simply, the second quarter’s fourth-and-goal wasn’t decided upon at the time–it was a foregone conclusion, dictated by their earlier call.

It would have been easy to send your All-NJAC kicker on the field, all but guaranteeing points and shaving a still-manageable deficit to four points. Kudos to the guy–whomever he is–for sticking to his guns. I’d be willing to bet that bravery pays off later.

• Cougar grace

Following the team’s ’08 triumph over the Lions’ on final play of regulation, Cougars’ quarterback Tom D’Ambrisi talked up a storm, taunting his opponents after a victory that, frankly, he had very little to do with (9/20, 139 yds, TD).

Resembling the frequently aired ESPN footage of Philip Rivers’ classless barking at then-division rival Jay Cutler, the versatile youngster looked like he could have benefited from a crash-course in Winning Etiquette: 101, according to Lions’ signal-caller Chris James.

“It was a rookie mistake,” he said, emphasizing that any past beef had since been quashed since he’d received a flood of phone calls rom D’Ambrisi in the weeks following the match-up.

This time around, after thrusting a dagger in any hopes for a Lions’ undefeated regular season, the 2009 Cougars couldn’t have handled themselves more professionally–despite competing as nonsalaried amateurs.

Gamebreaker Jared Chunn paused his friends’ and family’s conversation/celebration to speak with the media, and D’Ambrisi–looking more than a year wiser and more mature–personally extended a sportsman’s consolidation to his counterpart. In fact, a number of Kean student-athletes trekked across the palatial turf arena after securing the win to gladhand the young men they dueled just minutes earlier.

Whether the matter was addressed internally–or even recognized–is an afterthought. Needless to say I was wholly impressed.

THE BAD

• The big play

Chunn’s 62-yard dash aside–since players, coaches and a few of the press box affiliates doubt its legitimacy–the Lions’ were decimated by lengthy gains throughout the evening. And it cost them.

The team really could have used one of the period’s two three-and-out performances the defense conjured up earlier, following the James’ interception with 5:19 remaining in the second quarter. Instead, D’Ambrisi lofted a gorgeous heave to the corner of the end zone–the beginning of Friday night’s end for the Lions.

The play was one of two D’Ambrisi attempts that accounted for 40 of his 117 yards on the game, the other a 29-yard salt-in-wound smearing to Chris Aquino with the game already out of reach. Far short of implicating that he didn’t earn his yardage, omit two runs from Chunn’s day at the office and he’d have only mustered a scoreless 102 yards on 20 carries–benign in comparison to his ultimate totals (22 rush, 210 yds, 2 TDs).

Hamilton’s defense earned his praise–less a handful of caustic let-downs. Kean wasn’t as forgiving, nor will the rest of the schedule allow these types of miscues. Should be an interesting storyline moving forward.

• Indecisive zebras

Before you call me a homer, let me explain.

In addition to two ostensibly disorganized decisions on two of the game’s most impactful plays, it didn’t really seem like the officials were all on the same page Friday night. Flags were thrown like caps at a high school graduation–senselessly and, worse, without ownership.

It only happened a few times, but for whatever reason the committee couldn’t identify the source of a few penalty markers drawn throughout the course of the game. Of the 13 fouls whistled–ones, of course, that someone actually owned up to–several others were questionable at best.

And I’m talking about calls against both teams. I couldn’t see any holding on Colin Weber’s nullified third-and-18 reception, just like I didn’t see anyone grab cloth on the play that preceded Chunn’s longest rush of the season.

I’m a much bigger proponent of lassiez-faire umpiring, but if you’re going to immerse yourself in the action, at least pretend like you know what you’re doing. This way, your credibility might not be called into question for a half-hearted touchdown signal on Donoloski’s third-and-goal from the one (fumbled snap on following play), and a phantom whistle on Chunn’s 62-yarder.

I say that unselfishly, of course, just for future reference.

THE UGLY (What not to do)

• …following a touchdown

None of us in the press box could pinpoint their speaker, but someone tried to get smart with Cougars’ defensive coordinator, Keith Migliorino. Evidenced by a booming “bullsh-t” that permeated the half-open windows of the booth at Kean University Alumni Stadium, a Kean defender tried to pin the Lions’ first offensive touchdown on Migliorino, citing he “didn’t get the call in fast enough.”

For those of you that were there–and for the rest of you that get where this is going–I needn’t say what happened next.

• …rooting for your team–at home

On the whole, everyone in Union was a pleasure to be around. The media affiliates were helpful, regurgitating statistics and player names on demand, aside from offering Popeye’s fried chicken and homemade cookies.

So del.

The Cougar faithful did their best to create a diorama of the quintessential big-time college football stadium pulse. Falling short of the sight-for-sore-eyes qualification, body-to-shirt ratio of the student section lingered around one-to-four–beer bellies, unfortunately, replacing trim waists of southern college co-eds. All the same, the Cougars appreciated its student section’s indelible enthusiasm, like any home team would.

BUT, not everyone in the crowd of “Cougar faithful” was as constructive–or aware, altogether. Aside from her cigarette bleached voice calling for a challenge flag following a Kean holding penalty, one Cougar-mommy harshly criticized the team on its few shortcomings, even when the Lions’ were solely responsible for the play’s outcome. Why-don’t-you-give-them-the-game’s, and let’s-just-go-home’s don’t have any place in fanatical discourse–at least outside of a bar.

Let’s turn that frown upside down, and replace the unnecessarily picky and inaccurate jabs with some safe and time-honored cheering. Allow me to demonstrate…

Lesson #1 (this one’s free).

“Yay.”

Lesson #2 (I know–I’m feeling overly generous…)

Louder “yay.”

…end of tape.

Chunn’s electrifying weekend showing worthy of NJAC’s top player award

After he more than doubled his season’s statistical totals in the Lions’ vexatious 28-7 road loss at Kean University, Cougars’ running back Jared Chunn earned honors as the conference’s top offensive performer.

Chunn rushed for 210 yards on 22 carries in the win, the fourth time in his decorated career that the reigning NJAC Player of the Year has surpassed the 200-yard mark. He expanded on his overall contribution–to the program’s all-time 10th-best rushing performance–with 14 yards on two receptions.

Chunn all but singlehandedly thrust the Cougars to the top of the NJAC standings, dethroning the Lions’ brief stint of conference supremacy. Each losing its lone out-of-conference trial, Kean currently shares the No. 1 spot with Montclair State University–both remain undefeated in NJAC play.

Ensuring ample attention toward his “star player,” the senior’s weekend effort propelled the jump in his personal accolades, from 10th to second in rushing in a mere 60 minutes of football (84.5 yards per game).

For his contribution toward the Prof’s weekend rout of The College at Brockport, safety Mike Barone snagged accolades as the NJAC’s Defensive Player of the Week. The ball-hawking senior’s savvy anticipation materialized in his team’s 56-20 interconference win, fortifying an outstanding defensive effort with two of the team’s three interceptions.

Malcontent with such an indirect impact on the final score of Rowan University‘s home-opener, the Hammonton native returned his second-quarter takeaway 100 yards for six points–and school history (longest INT return). Now tied for the conference lead in interceptions with Kean’s Jamahl Williams (3 each), Barone also recorded three tackles.

Breaking the 0-0 deadlock with a special teams touchdown in the second quarter of Saturday’s showdown between Montclair State University and William Patterson, the conference’s election committee named wide receiver Scott Kubrak the weekend’s top specialist.

The 54-yard punt return in his Red Hawks’ 24-17 conquest inflated his season average to a conference-best 13.8 yards per return (was 7.0 on 4 attempts). Kubrak also caught two passes for 49 yards on his busy day.

Rounding out the Prof’s trio of top rookie performers of 2009, wide receiver Kay Robinson earned this weekend’s award for NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week. Entering the contest with all of one reception for three yards, the freshman led all Rowan receivers with 103 yards on four catches–his first eclipse of the century mark in his fledgling career.

Linebacker Eddie Weiser earned his second-consecutive bid as the conference’s Defensive Rookie of the Week, personally manufacturing two takeaways for Buffalo State University (FF, INT-both first of career). His trophy cabinet’s latest addition came in a losing effort, as the Bengals dropped this weekend’s contest at home, 42-10 to Cortland State University.

Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag: C-Web drops knowledge, why the Lions’ 1st loss is “acceptable” and how the D earned my patience

Every Monday, I’ll take a minute to respond to you — Lions’ Nation — answering questions and offering my predictions and insight surrounding the team’s 2009 campaign. Here’s this week’s installment of Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag.

Well, it happened. The Lions’ suffered their first loss of an otherwise untainted regular season Friday night, dropping its first conference game against a bitter perennial rival. But looking around, strange as it sounds, the sky isn’t falling. There’s no fire raining from the heavens, and no, the apocalypse isn’t among us–nor the Lions’ 2009 campaign. That should come as a comfort to many of you, based on this week’s batch of questions.

• Matty, 28-7 isn’t the way ANYONE wants to lose a football game, especially a conference game in college football. How’d the team take it?

The scene on the team’s Greyhound for the first 20 miles of the bus ride home looked exactly like you’d expect–pitch black and dead silent. The sporadic flicker of overhead lights–guiding players who sifted through their belongings–and sudden, incomplete outbursts–the team’s futile efforts to reverberate its frustrations–represented the only brief interruptions in each.

The atmosphere may have appeared devoid of emotion, as if Kean had stripped the team of its spirit, but it wasn’t. There was still plenty of electricity churning in the bus’ generator, and, still in progress, there wasn’t a shortage of fruitless attempts to rationalize what had just happened, minutes before.

The Lions sat in anger, not anguish–dejected, not desensitized.

Even the numbest of the numb (or dumb) could have sensed the indelible tension strung in a taught web of anxiety as the rain started to fall on US Route 1–arguably the most miserable medium between any two places in the state.

Peering his head out into the aisle, wide receiver Colin Weber saw his teammates’ expressions–adding a visual element to his perception of the resounding discomfort. Slicing said tension like a Miracle Blade–and about as timely, in agreement with late-night infomercials’ insistent pleas to convince us our kitchens (and lives) are incomplete without it–the game’s honorary co-captain dared to break the silence.

“Hey guys? Nine-and-one ain’t that bad.”

It could have been a scene from a movie–and if not, I enjoyed recreating it like it was screenplay-worthy. But I can say with absolute certainty, only one musical snippet could adequately complete the scene that followed.

Bring it! What? We right here. We’re not going anywhere. We right here.

-”We Right Here” –DMX

Hope that answers your question.

• The Lions fell pretty far from the top of the conference, what are the chances they make it back?

Just a preemptive note–there’s no such thing as a losable game. Not in the pros, not in Pop Warner, and certainly not in college. I don’t feel that way, nor does the team. However…

If the Lions’ had to blow one game this season, what better timing?

Aside from its out-of-conference showdown with FDU-Florham (doesn’t affect conference standings/tiebreakers) dropping an early decision to Buffalo or Morrisville State could have proved an early dagger. No dice.

Down the road–when the team welcomes Montclair State to Lions’ Stadium before its road trips to Rowan and upstate New York to face Cortland State–there’s just no time to recover from a big, fat “L” that late in the game. Residual let-down splatter against Pitt knocked West Virginia out of contention for the Big East–and a golden ticket to a BCS bowl bid. Could easily do the same for one of these one-loss teams in the NJAC down the road.

No conference title, no playoff berth.

Ouch.

The team has the opportunity to start rebuilding at home this weekend against The College at Brockport. Should the team win–which it can and should–defensive tackle Chris Flynn can toss his Gillette again, at least for a week. But if he’s got any hopes of achieving Tom Hanks’ status…

• What’s the deal with this Lions’ D? Every week you say “this is going to be the week,” and every week there’s always an excuse? What gives?

There are few instances that it’s okay to supplying a reason without shoveling an excuse. This is one of them. Cutting a class to get a head-start on your weekend isn’t. So don’t try it with your Friday afternoon professor–he won’t appreciate it.

Problem is you’re already perfectly aware of the reason–the team’s young. The team is sorely missing the on-field leadership of ailing co-captain Ryan Flannery, still hampered by undisclosed injuries (though I milked out of head coach Eric Hamilton that he’s “trying to do some things”). I’ve spent plenty of time on that already, so there’s no sense in beating a bludgeoned horse.

Fortunately for credibility of everyone involved–myself included–free safety Matt Kreider and Co. have limited the “uh-ohs” and expanded upon the “oh yeahs” (2 INT, fum. rec) that shared equal face time earlier in the year.

Its generally a sign of porous pass defense or an obliteration of a team’s rush defense when a defensive back–let alone a free safety–leads the team in tackles. Considering linebackers Joe Spahn (11 total, 9 solo) and Dan DeCongelio (6 total, 5 solo), and defensive end/co-captain Craig Meyer (4 total, 3 solo)–all box players–rounded out the team’s tackle leaders–I’ll have to give Kreider a pass (11 total, 9 solo) for his uninhibited instincts.

Flying toward the point of attack all night long during his defense’s best statistical outing to date (forfeited 424 total yards; 117 pass) Kreider didn’t play tentatively, but he didn’t play recklessly either–when he guessed, he guessed right. And the rest of the secondary followed suit.

Cornerback Scott Mathurin, arguably the team’s most physically gifted athlete, came up big on a number of D’Ambrisi‘s attempts to stretch the field. Aside from providing blanketing one-on-one coverage on two separate occasions–both of 30 yards or more–he didn’t draw any flags. What more can you ask for?

Oh? You say you want a Toucan Sam in the defensive backfield, following the sweet scent of processed sugary pigskin that’s just begging to be snatched away? Well have I got an insulin spike for you–Shawn Brown.

The junior strong safety is just opportunistic–its really the best word to describe how he plays. Brown perpetuated his early trend (FF, rec. blkd punt for TD vs. Morrisville St.) of flocking toward those oft-elusive “right places” at precisely the “right times,” evidenced Friday by a potentially pivotal second-quarter fumble recovery.

I’m an optimist, and there’s certainly grounds for plenty of it. That said, however, this team is going to live and die by the play of its oft-flaky defense once the team hits the bulk of its schedule (Montclair St., Rowan, Cortland St.). Considering it ranked first in just about every statistical category in 2007–the last time it captured the NJAC crown–the defense had better get its act together soon.

Should it fail, expect the conversation to shift abruptly from “next week” to the nails-on-chalkboard wail of “next year.”

But I just don’t see that happening. What I do see in the foreseeable future, this weekend against The College at Brockport, is a Baltimorian defensive effort from the Lions–maybe even a few points.

• Offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta said after the game that those two fourth-down conversions killed his game plan early on. How so?

Remember when your mother told you years ago, “everything in moderation?” No, no–you can eat the cookie. I’m referring to its undeniable application to offensive philosophy.

Let’s look at the numbers from the team’s first three victories–most of which were about over in the first half, so we’ll start there.

In the team’s opener, all the way back on Sept. 5 against Buffalo State, the Lions ran 32 plays from scrimmage, good for 285 yards and 35 points. In the first 30 minutes the team converted two of its three third-down attempts, punted only once, and reached pay dirt during its two red-zone chances.

Sounds a hell of a lot like limitless success right? It should, because the team had its way with the Bengals early. And they did it running the football.

Lions’ ball-carriers rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 9.08 yards per carry on a well-fed 22 attempts. The team split carries about evenly between each dagger on its three-pronged trident of tailbacks (Donoloski-4; Misura-8; Yetka-6), not to mention the quietly capable Chris James, who added 31 yards on his three tries.

And, like it so often does, this commitment to pounding the rock early–successfully, might I add–kicked a gaping hole in the fortress wall of the Bengals’ pass defense. James shelled out seven of his nine first-half completions to three different receivers, worth a mildly sizable 76 yards.

In its record-smashing first half a week later, the Lions’ 48-7 portrait of Devil deconstruction yielded 545 total yards of offense on 38 plays. Same brush, same picture–the team rushed 22 times for 227 yards. This time, though, the running back’s stout, incessant grinding made way for 318 pass yards on James’ 12 completions (16 att.) and three lengthy receiving touchdowns (Weber-71, 44 yds; Gardner-66 yds).

Again–three of five on third-down (1/1 on 4th DN), a perfect three-for-three in the red-zone, all at the expense of Marc Zucconi’s enjoyment (no punts in 1st half).

You can look up the Morrisville St. stats. Same story.

Aside from an obvious manifestation of a good night’s sleep and a ton of early-morning caffeine, those numbers should tell you plenty. First that the team is winning games when it can run the football–both statistically and situationally.

Friday night’s game was close in the first quarter, dominated by Lion ball-carriers, specifically Chase Misura (3 rush, 23 yds, 7.7 avg; 3 rec., 15 yds). Acosta’s fusion of zone runs, screens, read option–his entire offensive arsenal–worked like a charm early on, even for James, who completed nine of his 12 first-quarter attempts for 89 yards.

But after Donoloski was dropped on fourth-and-two (averages 8.8 yards per carry to date), and a reprehensible exchange later in the half on fourth-and-goal from the one, the strategy changed gears. It had to.

And don’t for a minute think that James’ gaudy early-season totals are but a side-effect of his run-support. You try and operate under the conditions of a one-dimensional offense. Why do you think Marino retired with naked fingers?

Kid’s a stud and a game-breaker. So are his horde of receivers. Expect all of them to bounce back–with vengeance–this weekend.

Lions’ Nation Weekly Poll(s): YOUR chance to slip on the headset, peer into crystal ball

The verdict is out–nobody cares about TCNJ football

“Home.”

The term varies in weight, depending on who’s talking. For some it’s literal:  the precise location or mailing address of a residential dwelling. For others it’s relative:  a vague description of the indelible warmth and comfort enjoyed around family and friends.

But regardless of your perception of the term in its more practical sense, one thing’s for certain–in college football, there’s no place like it.

At an amateur’s highest level of competitive football, home-field advantage encompasses far more than, as Lions’ head coach Eric Hamilton put it, a slight difference in “the home cooking.” The pulse of a stadium, personified each and every Saturday in the image and likeness of a campus’ fan base, provides far more than a collage of friendly faces in the stands–it can help win ball games.

In the University of Miami’s case, an FBS program with a chokehold on the NCAA record for consecutive home conquests (58), that extra boost lasted a decade (Oct. 1985 through Sept. 1994) and aided the Hurricane’s three national championships during the span (1987, 1989, 1991).

Unfortunately for the TCNJ Lions, they wouldn’t know anything about that.

Among the scores of collaborative data listed on its web site, the NCAA posts weekly tallies of game attendance. According to these gross totals and averages, including percent relative to capacity, the “Lions’ faithful” doesn’t exactly qualify as a pious congregation.

At least not on Saturday, when it matters most.

Following its recent home stand, culminated upon the finale of the team’s firework display during its rout of NJAC-rival Morrisville State two weeks ago, the NCAA reports that the average Lions’ crowd tips the scales at an emaciated 700 fans per outing. Of Division III’s 235 teams, that figure rounds out a quartet of programs ranked 204th–inclusive of Husson (2-2),  Bluffton (0-4), and group’s lone .500+ representative aside from the Lions, Concordia Chicago (3-1).

Worse, based on its records for percent-to-capacity, the same report indicates that the program’s home games have attracted the 225th-fewest bodies in all the land. Lions’ Nation, statistically closer in parity to the  Monacos and Liechtensteins of Division III fan bases, has only purchased enough tickets to occupy 11.67% of Lions’ Stadium’s 18,000 seats.

Over the course of the entire season.

There’s no sugar-coating it–the numbers speak for themselves. And, according to players, they’ve noticed.

“Yeah, everybody can tell,” said hybrid receiver/tight end Bill Picatagi. “You can’t help but look up at the stands when you run out before a game and say Wow, there’s nobody here.”

The Hamilton, NJ-native insisted that the resounding lack of campus-wide enthusiasm hasn’t inhibited the team’s offensive firepower, an observation supported by the unit’s gaudy statistical rankings after the three-game stint, including its brief tenure as the nation’s top scoring machine. But he admitted that a vivacious crowd has its advantages.

“I don’t think it affects any of us really, at least for the offense,” he said. “Fan base or not, we’re going to go out there and play every week. But obviously the game would be louder, and as a player you feed off the crowd at certain times in the game. But not when you can hear crickets in the stands.”

Though empty bleachers might not concern Picatagi and the Lions’ offense, there’s reason to believe it might help the struggling defense–now dead-last in the NJAC in average yards allowed (447.5 ypg). Of the Division III’s programs consistently fielding its top-ten biggest crowds, three have emerged undoubted beneficiaries, consequently ranking among the nation’s best defenses in yards and points allowed.

The most recent report shows that Mount Union College (3rd in avg. attendance), the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (8th) and Wabash College (9th) coincidentally rank second, third and tenth, respectively in total defense–all allowing fewer than 235 yards per game. While Mt. Union and Wabash round out the bottom half of the nation’s 10 most stingy defensive units (7th and 10th in avg. points allowed), Wisconsin-Whitewater reigns supreme as the the NCAA’s toughest scoring defense, forfeiting just over a field goal every game (3.25 ppg).

Now in his second year at TCNJ, having transferred from a larger Division II school in Pace University, Picatagi has come to grips with the stark reality–for students at a small liberal arts college, football isn’t a part of this campus’ culture.

“We have great fans, but when you go to Kean or you go to Rowan [those team's fans] are out there before we are. It would be awesome to have kids come out, that would be crazy. But that’s really not what we’re about.”

Though neither of the schools he mentioned made the list, the NJAC isn’t entirely unrepresented among the nation’s most grandiose stadium migrations.

Montclair State, currently tied for 1st in the conference standings, ranked 22nd in for attracting an average of just over 3,700 fans to both of 2009′s games played in Sprague Field. The reigning NJAC champs didn’t rank too far behind, their discipleship currently ranking 27th in the NCAA (Cortland State; avg. attendance 3,383 in 3 games).

Reasons for TCNJ’s apparently flaky fanaticism vary–why some spring out of bed, while others roll only within arm’s reach of their alarms’ snooze buttons, still set from earlier in the week. Some simply come because they like football–or don’t. Others are still suffering the residual headache, just hours removed from a wild Friday night.

For the gameday regulars, like health and exercise science major Ariana Laferlita, she’s well-accustomed to getting rowdy and reckless on Saturdays, dating back to her high school days.

“Football was always really big at my high school,” she said of her Alma mater, Middletown South high school. “So I’ve been used to watching the games.”

In LaFerlita’s case, fortunate enough to bear witness to a rare opportunity–following a classmate’s career that included a single-handed catapulting of his program to a state championship, decimating his SEC competition, and field a televised phone call during April’s 2009 NFL Draft as its 12th-overall pick.

Denver Broncos’ running back Knowshon Moreno ring a bell?

Three deceptively short years removed from her high school days, the senior says that now she’s driven to the gridiron by a vehicle of affection, rather than habit.

“Now that my brother’s playing, I go hoping that I’ll get to see him play,” she said via phone interview, referring to sibling free safety Joe LaFerlita, a freshman.

But not everyone shares her enthusiasm.

Shady Ahmed, a student from the same academic program, would much rather stay planted in the confines of his cozy on-campus apartment for his college football fix.

“D3,” the senior said matter-of-factly via instant message. “Is not as exciting as D1.”

Maybe not. But you can’t knock their effort.

Following a dominating season-opener, a deceptively close 47-31 win over Buffalo State, the Lions embarked on a two-week rampage of the school’s record books, first smashing a mark for one half’s worth of points (48 in 1st half) while accruing a laughable 708 yards of offense during its out-of-conference grudge match with FDU-Florham. A week later, the 11 offensive overachievers tore out the page dedicated to total scoreboard output–one that had lasted 88 years (67 pts. vs. Morrisville St.; originally 64 pts. vs. Cathedral in 1921).

Regardless of motive–or lack thereof–there’s no denying the prominent role of a loud and rambunctious fan-support in college football, and the likelihood of its continued absence from home games in Lions’ Stadium.

And for the Lions’ players, there’s likely not a whole lot they can do about it.

Players defend gutsy fourth-down calls in the aftermath of Lions’ 1st loss

So they say, fortune favors the brave.

Except for when it doesn’t.

During the team’s 28-7 road loss at Kean University, the Lions’ coaching staff elected to roll the dice early, attempting to convert the offense’s first three fourth-down situations.

Aside from its lone success–wide receiver Bill Picatagi‘s 21-yard reception on 4th and 18, a stepladder to Chris James‘ capture of Lions’ legend Bob Schurtz’s all-time mark for career completions (originally 383; set 2001-03)–the strategy sent the team on an unimpeded fall on its proverbial face.

Twice.

But far from evoking scourging whispers of skepticism, the decision drew the overwhelming majority of the team’s support–even after it compromised the offense’s game plan and likely removed effortless points the board.

“I would have tried to score,” defensive end Craig Meyer said prior to Tuesday’s practice session. “I would have done the same thing if I made the call.”

The man stranded on the sidelines also said he agreed with the decision, despite its impact on an opportunity in the limelight–a valuable commodity for a specialist whose offense rarely walks away without having scored a touchdown.

“I think that was the right decision,” Lions’ kicker Marc Zucconi said. “Go for the seven points.”

Still scoreless with 3:38 remaining in the first quarter, the Lions’ failed to convert a feasible fourth-and-two from the Cougars’ 12-yard line–well within range of Zucconi’s all-conference right leg. Described collectively by the staff as a “group decision,” Lions’ head coach Eric Hamilton explained that two basic motives fueled the call to send his offense back on the field.

“A first-down and a touchdown,” he said frankly, raising an eyebrow to the question. “We were going for the win.”

Offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta elaborated, explaining he saw a mismatch opportunity up in his roost, a few stories above the action below.

“We saw a weakness if we were to put a certain personnel package in,” he said via phone interview. “Some people might say, Why are you running outside stretch? Because we had numbers. We run to the numbers, and we pass to the numbers. If we see a weakness we’re going to attack it.”

Acosta said he shared Hamilton’s hopeful appetite to set the tone for the rest of the evening.

“Playing Kean we knew we had to be aggressive and take the points we could get. And if we make those two fourth-downs, it’s a completely different ball game.”

Even Zucconi, the D1 transfer from Louisville who split the uprights on two of his season’s three attempts, said he felt confident that his coaches’ guidance reflected a sound football decision, based on the weight of the game.

“I thought we were going after the points—we needed them on the board,” the 2008 All-NJAC performer said. “It’s a big rivalry, so I think going for the points was the right choice.”

But they didn’t.

Although running back Justin Donoloski was stuffed for a two-yard loss on the play, the gamble proved benign following the Cougars’ subsequent three-and-out.

But later, with 12:45 left in the game’s opening period, the Lions faced another do-or-die scenario, this time on fourth-and-goal from a yard away from the game’s first points. A sour snap and free demo of James’ 40-yard dash was the only fruit bore by the drive’s 62-yards of labor (fum. on snap; Cougars’ started drive on 13-yd line following dead-ball foul).

Less than a minute later, the offense watched from the sidelines while–in just a play–Cougars’ running back Jared Chunn rambled the same distance, unevaded to the end zone. In an instant, the fate of the pivotal interconference match-up seemed all but sealed.

Meyer believes that each conversion attempt, in and of itself, epitomized his counterparts’ Friday night.

“It was uncharacteristic of our offense. For us to drive down the field five times and not score, they just didn’t play like themselves.”

An anchor on the defensive line and one of the team’s three co-captains, the senior denigrated any suggestion that the nation’s top offense entering the contest crossed into Kean University Alumni Stadium, while synchronously stepping out of its league.

“Believe me, the talent’s there. I personally don’t think it had anything to do with [Kean]. That’s not it at all. I think it was just an off-day for our offense and it happened to come during our first real test of the year.”

Regardless of the outcome, Hamilton and Acosta both said they’d likely pull the trigger again, should the future revisit a similar scenario.

“We felt we could do it then, and to this day I feel we could have done it, looking at the film,” Hamilton said. “We had the right play called, it was just a matter of executing it.”

Unsure of whether he believed his coaches would repeat the decision in hindsight, Zucconi didn’t speak tentatively regarding confidence in his ability to perform–should he hear his number called.

“Oh yeah,” he said, grinning while nodding his head. “I make those kicks.”

Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: Patience no longer a virtue for the Lions’ D

Sometimes good just ain’t good enough.

In the wake of its 28-7 loss at Kean University, coaches believed the team’s defensive performance qualified as its most outstanding of the season, optimistic that its best is yet to come. Considering it was decimated a year ago for 51 points by its next opponent–something, anything had better be on its way.

It’s now or never–if not for the Lions, for their defense.

While a win could singlehandedly reroute its path back toward conference supremacy, a loss could derail it permanently. Though feasible, a defensive let-down could unnecessarily complicate a crucial win at a delicate stage in the Lions’ 2009 campaign. But players seem ready for the challenge.

“Our goal is to win the conference,” linebacker Dan DeCongelio said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “This is just another obstacle, another step.”

But for the defense to finally realize its potential, alleged by brief glimpses of what should be a stingy final product toward opposing offenses, it needs to start by finishing.

Despite its sixth ranking among the conference’s scoring defenses, the Lions’ unit has performed tremendously for the team–during the first 15 minutes of play. In the opening quarter of its first four games, TCNJ has only allowed 16 points on the season, fewer than 10% of its 121 total forfeitures.

“We need to finish,” DeCongelio said. “From the snap of the ball until the clock hits zero. We need to punish every single down and contain every single play.”

Admitting its occasional complacency, the junior echoed his defense’s conscious effort to kick its crippling habit.

“We can’t let up. We gotta start going and just keep it moving. We cool off as the game goes on and we can’t let that happen.”

For a team on the cusp of conference contention, its next opponent presents a tradeoff in its complex set of strengths and weaknesses.

The good news first: By and large, Brockport isn’t the same team it was a year ago.

The Golden Eagles waved goodbye to the nation’s seventh most-prolific rusher in running back Garet Lynch, who gashed the Lions for 188 yards in last year’s loss, by a margin of a field goal. Graduating with fellow senior and D3Football.com All-East Region performer in offensive lineman Cuyler Groth, the conference’s top offensive threat in scoring and points in 2008 hasn’t mustered up comparable success in its first four games of this season.

While it has managed to linger in the vicinity the 31 points it averaged a year ago, Brockport has accrued as few points as TCNJ has allowed in its season’s worth of first-quarters.

The bad news: They’ve found replacements.

While this edition of the Golden Eagles’ backfield features a committee of ball-carriers in Riedrick Alceus (61 rush ypg; T-7 in NJAC) and Aaron Zurn (60 rush ypg; 8^th in NJAC), Brockport (2-2; 1-2 in NJAC) has lived and died on the arm of its gun slinging quarterback Jake Graci. The senior tossed for 387 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s two wins, fueling the conference’s top passing attack (266.25 ypg).

“They haven’t changed much, they just put new people in the same spots,” Lions head coach Eric Hamilton said of the turnover. “Their new quarterback is very productive. I mean you look at him and you go, yeah? That’s the kind of guy that really bothers you because he’s so surprisingly productive.”

A wild card to his opposition, Graci’s also been known to bedazzle his own coaches.

The Golden Eagles’ signal-caller looked a whole lot like the Brett Favre that wore Packer green for 16 years, and Viking purple (and pink) on Monday night. In the team’s first two wins, on the road at William Paterson and at home against Frostburg State, Graci orchestrated methodical game-winning drives in the fourth quarter of each, catapulting Brockport to a 2-0 start.

But in his next two showings, he looked more like the Favre with Gang Green (who’s ball security looked literally infected).

Graci topped his four-interception performance in the Golden Eagles’ marginal loss to Montclair State with a reckless five picks in his team’s dismantlement by Rowan University the following week. During a dreadful 60 minutes of collegiate football, much more resembling a charity event than an NCAA exhibition, three of those were returned for touchdowns (100, 67, 45 yards).

Forcibly writhing his way to the top of the NJAC standings in the least palatable of statistical categories (10 INTs most in NJAC), Graci’s frivolousness with the football resonated well with the Lions’ secondary.

“Hopefully I’ll can take one to the house,” cornerback Scott Mathurin said prior to Wednesday’s practice, hoping to provide company for his season’s lone interception. “That’s what I’m looking at—to the house, baby. Madd picks.”

But if it hopes to perpetuate its recent trend of opportunism, the Lions defense first needs to adequately pressure the quarterback—something Brockport hasn’t allowed.

While Lions have only wrangled opposing passers four times, Graci’s been taken to the turf only three, for a loss of a benign seven yards. TCNJ added a few curveballs to its repertoire during the, which linebacker Joe Spahn hopes can yield instant gratification on game day.

“We put a couple things in—a couple blitzes, a couple fronts for Brockport, specifically,” the team’s leading tackler with 8.75 stops per game said, later alluding to its likelihood of inducing poor decisions. “We’re gonna put the pressure on him and hopefully he makes some mistakes.”

Defensive end Craig Meyer explained that the defensive line should be able to help.

“We’re gonna use our speed,” he said. “We’re gonna be doing a lot of slanting and stunting so we’re not going to have to go one-on-one with their big guys, and hopefully open up some gaps for the LBs to get some pressure.”

In spite of its enabling of the Golden Eagles’ points total to eclipse most highway speed limits. Hamilton detracted his vision away from face value of its reprehensible 2008 outing, duly noting that–unlike in 2009–the defense actually suffered on account of the offense’s miscues.

“We had a 12-point swing right at the end of the half last year,” he said, providing a scrupulous statistical rebuttal of the raw box score figures. “Giving up points on special teams and on offense as well, added to [the final totals].”

In the defense’s, er, defense, it was actually more.

On a rare blocked PAT attempt during kicker Marc Zucconi’s All-NJAC body of work a year ago, junior defensive back Neil Fay sought retribution for its shortcomings on the previous drive. Capitalized on his special teams’ good fortune, Fay pranced an uninhibited 98 yards for a Golden Eagles’ score, leeching off of the Lions’ hard earned points on the opening quarter’s final play.

Hamilton elected to pooch the ensuing kickoff, which junior defensive back Cevon Carver returned for a 77-yard touchdown–not quite according to plan. Hamilton believes that this time around, one of several keys to victory, and its defense’s to assume a long-anticipated identity as a capable entity, the best defense might be a good offense.

“In the first quarter we’ve had the ball on offense, moved the ball and put points on the board,” he said. “That’s what we gotta get back to. We gotta get back to taking the initiative, and hopefully taking the wind out of their sails, jumping on people early.”

Hamilton argued that, like the Brockport game from a year ago, its offense’s struggles likely skewed the measuring rods of last weekend’s outing at Kean.

“For three out of our four games we’ve been able to do that. Friday night moved the ball, even though we were playing against a much better team than we’ve faced all year. We had our opportunities in the second quarter and we just didn’t capitalize on them.”

Excuses, outside perspective and insight aside–for the Lions to reclaim control of its conference destiny, it’s going to take far more than adequate execution of its game plan. It’s going to take relent and valor, a defiant disregard of fatigue and whatever adversity crosses its path.

Come Saturday, it’s gut-check time, baby.

BREAKING NEWS: Brockport to practice in Lions’ Stadium

Who says there’ no such thing as sportsmanship anymore?

Team sources indicated this afternoon that The College of Brockport is scheduled to conduct its pregame walk-through in Lions’ Stadium today at 5:30pm. Lions’ head coach Eric Hamilton was unavailable for comment, reportedly involved in organized team activities for his own program’s preparation.

Lions’ defensive end Craig Meyer could not speak on the details of the agreement, though, according to him, it’s relatively common throughout the conference.

“It’s a courtesy thing,” he said, via phone interview.

Had the team agreed to a Brockport request, it would be fitting, considering they’ve been beneficiaries of a similar courtesy.

A year ago, when the schedule called for the Lions to travel to upstate New York to face Buffalo State University, Meyer remembers conducting a similar team activity in the Bengals’ facility. Transportation must be taken care of before game day for the lengthy trips, considering players’ performances would likely suffer after sitting on a Greyhound for upwards of six hours.

The program’s athletic director and head football coach, Jerry Boyes, was unavailable for comment, according to his secretary “about halfway through” a road trip to Union, NJ where his team will face Kean University tomorrow.

In 2007, during the Lion’s conference championship campaign, Meyer recalls even more collaborative efforts to make their travel more comfortable. On the way to face Cortland State University, another northern New York opponent, Lions’ coaching staff requested to make a pit stop at Buffalo State for the team’s walk through, a necessary final touch to a week’s worth of planning.

An act of kindness for which Meyer says he was grateful.

“It’s pretty cool when everyone’s helping each other out like that. I know we appreciated it.”

Friends today, foes tomorrow–Hamilton reworks schedule to accommodate traveling Golden Eagles

The College of Brockport football program held its pregame walk-through inside Lions Stadium today at 5:45pm

The College at Brockport football team arrived on two charter buses outside Lions Stadium today at 5:42pm, planning to hold a roughly 45-minute walk through before tomorrow’s game, scheduled for 12:00pm.

News of the arrangement was casually mentioned earlier this afternoon, during an unrelated player interview.

Both coaches said they made the arrangements earlier in the week, participating in what the two parties each called a “courtesy” among all of the conference’s competitors. Now in his 13th year at the head of the Golden Eagles’ football program, head coach Rocco Salomone spoke gratefully in response to what he described as a colleague’s consideration–sparked by his fair share of walks down the same path.

“Coach Hamilton is always very gracious to let us use the facility when we come down,” he said outside TCNJ’s facilities Friday. “We extend it to anybody that visits us, whether they use it or not. It’s just a courtesy.”

Earlier at 5:00pm, the Lions conducted their pregame walk through on the turf inside TCNJ’s soccer complex, a similar surface to the FieldTurf that blankets Lions Stadium.

TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton explained that with all of the coordination necessary to transport an entire college football program, he’s willing to offer whatever he can to smooth an often tumultuous trip for one of his colleagues today–though an adversary tomorrow.

Lions' head coach Eric Hamilton moved his team's pregame activities to the school's soccer complex, accomodating tomorrow's opponent fresh off a 6-hr bus trip

“It’s just a courtesy you extend to them because they’d do the same for us–they always have.” he said. ” This isn’t about one-ups-manship. It’s making sure you give everyone what they need because you’d expect the same in return.”

Golden Eagles’ players seemed soothed by the opportunity to absorb the surroundings.

“It’s great to get a feel for the field here, besides the stadium,” Brockport linebacker Nathan Bull said inside the stadium. “It makes us feel more comfortable when we can practice before.”

Bull, honored twice as the conference’s top defensive player for his consistent tenacity as a run stopper, said that common exhibition of gamesmanship undoubtedly helps his team’s pregame preparations, allowing for an opportunity to loosen up the night before.

The conference’s leading tackler (avg. 16.0 tckl/gm) said that while he isn’t as personally affected by the road trips, looking forward to a “pretty good sleep” that’s “probably better than what [he]’d get at home,” Bull recognized how others might be.

Hamilton said he’s already making preparations for his team’s lengthy road trip in two weeks, when the Lions travel to upstate New York to face Cortland State University.

“Coaches talk,” he said. “Starting this week we’re already looking into organizing things now for when we go up [to Cortland], even though it’s a couple of weeks away.”

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: TCNJ O.C. conjures up scheme for Brockport

For a personable guy, there’s certainly a whole lot TCNJ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta doesn’t like to talk about.

Throw a few stats his way, and he’ll shrug his shoulders—in speech or gesture. Try to pick his brain on a game plan, and he’ll respond like a San Francisco weatherman—only that he has one.

Yes he’s approachable, and sure he’s accommodating. But don’t let him or his quick-witted sense of humor fool you.

He’s a conniver, that one.

Acosta’s as tactfully vague as the best of them. But dare to question his offense’s ability to respond to last week’s loss at Kean–its worst outing to date–and while he may not put it in words, Acosta’s aura sends a distinct message.

“They’re ready,” he said subtly, a mischievous grin smeared across his face.

Answering with a quiet reserve, only enough to hide his hand, the second-year rounder indicated Friday that there’s plenty he doesn’t want tipped.

“It depends on the personality of the game,” he said, unclear if his ostensible expression was a tell—or a trick.

Based solely on their literal definition, Acosta expects the former-national leader in scoring—dethroned after an anemic seven-point performance from a week ago—to return tomorrow to face The College at Brockport in a pivotal NJAC showdown.

“[The Kean loss] was like a slap in the face. It kind of wakes us up saying that we need to be a little more detailed with what we do.”

Whether it overslept an intended power nap or was knocked into full-fledged comatose by a blitz-happy Cougars’ D, the Lions’ offense that stormed the field during last week’s 28-7 loss wasn’t the one that had carried the program to its unanticipated 3-0 start.

Led by NFL prospect nose tackle Darryl Jackson, the Cougars rose to the occasion on two fourth-down opportunities in the first half, turning the Lions’ away empty handed following a pair of consecutive red-zone trips. With half of his characteristically diverse playbook deteriorating as the game progressed, the magician’s repertoire forced Chris James into 41 obvious pass attempts—and a healthy Cougar pass rush.

Acosta spent a portion of the week reaching out to other conductors of the spread offense in the hopes of better responding to short yardage situations for his orchestra’s next scheduled recital.

“Every spread team I’ve talked to said they’ve all struggle in the red-zone,” he said, noting his earlier conversation with coaches at the University of Delaware. “We have a couple of different packages this week, so we can be a little more efficient when we get down there.”

Fortunately for the Lions, that hasn’t exactly been a forte of this Brockport defense—if there’s one at all.

While TCNJ has struggled in the red zone, capitalizing on only 76% of its opportunities from within striking distance (scored on 13 of 17 possessions), opposing offenses have scored on every chance against the Golden Eagles (opp. scored on all 19 red-zone possessions; 15 TDs, 4 FGs).

Its opposition has thrived outside those mouth-watering 20 yards as well, against a Brockport defensive unit that ranks ninth in the conference—second worst only to the Lions’ inconsistent squad (opp. avg. 444.0 ypg).

Should the comfort of home-sweet-home help the Lions revisit its early-season form, it will likely be its passing game that causes the most damage.

Sitting at only a slightly more attractive seventh among NJAC pass defenses, the only two victors over Brockport this season have milked at least 100 yards of production out one receiver—if not more.

Pouring on the hurt to a 56-20 romp that included three defensive touchdowns (3 INT returned for TD) Rowan signal-caller Frank Wilczynski hooked up with wide receiver Kay Robinson four times for 103 yards—a performance worthy of NJAC honors as its top rookie performer.

A week earlier, two of Montclair State’s pass-catchers eclipsed the century mark, as receivers Hector Rosas and Matt Newman combined for 230 yards on only 10 receptions—one of them five yards shy of a 100-yard dash.

Maybe that’s what’s got Acosta so giddy—looking over his shoulder at the toys in his chest.

Despite lackluster performances a week ago, receivers Colin Weber (avg. 104 rec. yds/gm) and Mark Gardner (avg. 84.67 rec. yds/gm) round out the conference’s two most prolific targets. Modest only by his own standards, Weber enjoyed moderate success as an honorary co-captain, scoring on one of his seven passes that yielded 67 yards. But, Kean’s blanketing defense smothered Gardner all night long, limiting the game-breaker to only two catches good for 11 yards—and it stung.

“The Kean loss was kind of rough,” Gardner said. “But our line’s gonna do well and our defense is gonna do well. Hopefully we’ll go out there and get a ‘W.’”

His numbers might have taken a hit, but Gardner’s spirit soared following the loss and what he called a “hard week of practice.” Toying with the manner in which the question was phrased, Gardner offered some predictions for what he believes will be a fruitful afternoon.

“Mark Gardner’s gonna try his hardest, Mark Gardner’s gonna go hard every play, Mark Gardner’s gonna catch a few balls,” he said, laughing throughout the entirety of his deceptively humble response.

Teammates have faith in what they described as unequivocal talent.

“Our wide receivers are very skilled, and I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be able to exploit weaknesses,” running back Michael Yetka said Friday, his optimism sparked by other capable performers. “The line’s going to manhandle them and give Chris enough time to throw the ball. We’ll be good to go.”

Yetka and his tailbacks should be too, taking the field against a rush defense that’s forfeited 194 average rushing yards to its opponents. The Golden Eagles’ defense boasts the conference’s leading tackler in linebacker Nathan Bull (avg. 8.75 tckl/gm). But even at its best, it allowed Red Hawk ball-carriers 130 yards rushing in an aerial shootout with Montclair State that diced its secondary for 363 pass yards.

After answering a handful of questions regarding his intentions—if that’s even how his responses qualify—Acosta posed a question of his own.

“How do you win any game?” he said, turning the tables.

“Execution.”

…Point taken.

“The Pride” to appear on TCNJ Radio

Tune into 91.3 FM today at 12:00pm to The College of New Jersey’s radio station, WTSR, for its weekly broadcast of the the Lions’ game against Brockport. Considering three of the Golden Eagles’ first three games have been decided by five or fewer points, you might be in for an unexpected afternoon treat.

Alongside Mike Leatherwood, the network’s sports director and play-by-play orator, I’ll be providing my humble expertise as the color commentator.

Now, don’t mistake the invite as a dissuasion from reading today’s post-game recap. Oh, no. But for the three or four of you dedicated fans out there that have been the fabric of my limited readership, you might like what you hear.

This makes my third appearance with WTSR, initiated with game day analysis during the Lions’ season-opener against Buffalo State University, and a flash of airtime during the halftime report from two weeks ago. I’ll be working with a former-ESPN radio intern in Leatherwood, but let’s set the record straight–I’m no pro.

Regardless the game’s likelihood as a high-flying and indescribably eventful NJAC contest, you might get a few good laughs at my expense, should I revisit a blooper like my seven-second pause during the pregame show of my inaugural broadcast.

Someone’s going to be having a good time today–probably a few of us. Joining us in the press box this afternoon is The College at Brockport’s student radio affiliate 89.1 The Point.

Less than 24 hours removed from a six hour bus trip–guaranteeing as lengthy a trek back to upstate New York–the guys likely wouldn’t wince at the sight of a scoreboard that’s heavy in the visitor’s column.

Don’t worry, I’ve already cordially thanked them for graciously allowing you options–and eliminating any valid excuse for not hearing something on this soggy Saturday afternoon.

Lions’ Post-game Recap: Lions topple Brockport 48-34, upending expectations

Even after the long week of practice, Lions’ head coach Eric Hamilton said he wasn’t sure what to expect of his players less than 24 hours before Saturday’s noon kickoff.

“I know how I feel, and I know how the coaches feel,” he said Friday of his team’s ability to respond to its 28-7 road loss at Kean University eight days earlier. “We’ll just have to see what happens.”

Of all the foreseeable scenarios entering Satruday’s 48-34 home win over conference-rival Brockport , few could have adhered to whatever notion he—or anyone else—could have anticipated.

Contrary to a quick glance at a box score that reflected its 541 yards of offensive production (81 plays, 228 rush, 313 pass) timely turnovers forced by the Lions’ defense compensated for struggles and miscues on the team’s offensive and specials units—an undoubted role-reversal from earlier in the season.

Yes, it allowed a reprehensible 528 yards of total offense—307 of those to Golden Eagles’ gunslinger Jake Graci, who completed 33 of his 56 passes and threw for a touchdown. It also let him score from 15 yards out on one of his nine rushes, good for 71 yards.

And that’s neglecting to mentioning the 145 surrendered to running back Aaron Zurn on his 30 attempts, who also contributed three receptions worth 17 yards.

But the Lions’ oft-flaky D buckled down when needed, twice from inside the red-zone, robbing possession from the Golden Eagles’ offense and points under the visitors’ scoreboard column.

After it had been gashed for 87 yards on a 20-play touchdown drive that consumed 5:34 of the fourth quarter, a Scotty Mathurin fumble on the ensuing kickoff marched the TCNJ defense back out on the field, with only a seven-point cushion and 36 yards to spare.

Seven plays later, Zurn’s shifty dash from seven yards out dissolved the marginal lead, tying the score at 34 a piece.

Pending a presumed freebie on the extra-point attempt, the Lions’ defense failed to finish–a trend all too familiar to the program this season.

But upon his gallant return from injury that sidelined him most of the year, free safety Ryan Flannery blocked the go-ahead point after and alleviated pressure from his offense. Trotting back out with 5:11 remaining, the TCNJ offense instead looked to break a deadlock, rather than overcome a deficit.

Lions’ quarterback Chris James (22/36, 313 yds, 3 TDs, INT) orchestrated the game’s winning drive— a role filled by his counterpart twice earlier in the year when Graci rallyied his Golden Eagles to victories their first two games.

Four plays later, on a 41-yard screen to impact back Justin Donoloski, the Lions’ offense recaptured the lead, one with which its defense would be entrusted to protect once more.

After strong safety Shawn Brown and free safety Phil Gatti wrangled Brockport return-man Andrew McCormick at his own 40, the oft-flaky Lions’ D had a shot at retribution—for earlier in the game, for earlier in the season.

Graci completed three of his next five throws for 18 yards, methodically driving his offense down the field, much like he had against Frostburg State and William Paterson—two games decided by five or fewer points, both in his favor.

But his next attempt, just inside Lions’ territory at the TCNJ 48-yard line, was intercepted by freshman linebacker Gregory Burns and returned 34 yards to the Brockport 29 yard line.

Seventeen seconds, 29 yards and four missed tackles later, Colin Weber (6 rec., 104 yds., 2 TD; led TCNJ receivers) broke the plane of the end-zone, giving the Lions a 48-34 lead with only 1:55 left on the clock for any of Graci’s habitual late-game heroics.

He tried, driving his Golden Eagles 55 yards in eight plays down to the TCNJ 11. But Flannery, who only participated in two plays a week ago, wasn’t about to allow any of that.

Intervening on his own two-yard line, a pass likely putting Brockport back within a touchdown, “Flea” produced his unit’s fifth takeaway (3 INT, 2 fum)—its second from within its own red-zone.

“We just had that feeling where you know you had to make a big play,” he said of the drive. “All 11 guys on defense, we all looked at each other and we knew that’s what we needed to do.”

Leading 10-7 earlier in the second quarter, the Lions’ defense robbed possession from a Golden Eagles team within striking distance. A 17-yard completion to Brockport receiver Hector Rosas (5 rec., 48 yds) set up a first-and-goal from the TCNJ five-yard line, five plays into a drive that started on its own 33-yard line.

On third-and-goal from the two, defensive end Craig Meyer dislodged the football from Zurn, stuffed inches from the goal-line, that was scooped up by ever-opportunistic Shawn Brown at the TCNJ one-yard line.

Clutch defense manifested later in the quarter, following a lackluster two-minute drill attempt that included three drops (one each by WRs Mark Gardner, Erik Hendrickson, and Weber) and a costly dead-ball foul (unsportsmanlike conduct on Cam Richardson).

Assuming possession with 26 seconds left in the half at its own 45-yard line, Brockport drove to the Lions’ 25 yard-line—just outside red-zone qualification.

Following a Golden Eagles’ timeout that stopped the clock with five seconds remaining, Gatti broke on a threatening strike toward his end-zone, coming up with the second of Graci’s three interceptions.

Craig Meyer spoke proudly of the pressure his unit mustered against Graci, disrupting his dropbacks and rhythm with his receivers.

“We got in there, we got pressure on him and they couldn’t stop the blitz,” he said, noting how the stunts implemented earlier in the week freed linebackers like the team’s leading tackler, Dan DeCongelio (13 total tackes, 7 solo), to ravage the opposing backfield.

Brockport head coach Rocco Salomone was devoid of emotion following the loss, displeased with his quarterback’s lack of ball-security.

“They did get up in Jake’s face a little bit and whether that’s a reason for the picks that he threw I’m not sure,” he said. Admitting that his quarterback was flustered early and often, Salomone wouldn’t speak on Graci’s behalf.

“He’s  gonna have to answer that question for you.”

Surprisingly upset following the victory, TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton stood on the field afterward, visibly infuriated by what he called a “not very good” showing.

“Well if we had one positive thing going for us it’s that we forced turnovers,” he said, alluding to the 309 yards surrendered in the second half. “We have a lot of kids that have a knack to get around the ball in the secondary and we’re very good at trying to strip balls. If it wasn’t for that today we’d have been in a whole hell of a lot more trouble than we were.”

They may have posted more yards than Hamilton would have liked, Brockport’s body of work accumulated over a massive 97 offensive plays and was forced into 20 third-down situations (12 conv.; 2/3 on 4^th dn).

“Excited” to be back, Flannery offered a contrasting perspective.

“We always say it’s about the points you let up not about the yards,” he said. “Teams can drive 99 yards on us, but it’s not over until they get in the end zone and we won’t give up until they get in the end zone.”

The two reached an agreement on Flannery himself, unequivocally happy to have him back in the lineup.

“I mean [the interception] speaks for itself,” Hamilton said, alluding to the slightest nuances added with his presence in the secondary. “You saw the difference immediately when he came back into practice. He understands the scheme top to bottom, and when you have a player that can do that it’s unbelievable.”

Revisiting his concerns from earlier in the week—one’s prompted by familiarity with his foe and uncertainty among his players—Eric Hamilton spoke contentedly afterward, satisfied by his team’s resilience.

“I’m just happy for our guys,” he said. “I was concerned in practice that I didn’t know where we were. But as the game went on there was a quiet confidence. They stayed together, they played within themselves and they picked each other up. And as a coach that’s pretty great to see.”

Especially since he didn’t see it coming.

BREAKING NEWS: Zucconi captures 3rd NJAC Specialist Award

Surprise, surprise.

Reported in the wee hours of the morning after his team’s deceptively close 48-34 win over The College at Brockport, Lions‘ kicker Marc Zucconi captured the conference’s weekly award for its top special teams performer.

The D1 transfer from Louisville earned honors as the NJAC Special Team’s Player of the Week for the third time this season, finishing with a pristine kicking resume Saturday afternoon.

Zucconi converted his first of two successful field goal attempts with 12:21 remaining in the second-quarter, capping a 10-play 60 yard scoring drive to overcome his squad’s only deficit on the afternoon, 10-7. The Lions’ defense forced a punt five plays after Colin Weber‘s 40-yard equalizing touchdown in the waning minutes of the game’s opening period, permitting what finished as a run of 17 unanswered TCNJ points (RB Kevin Brown 1-yd TD rush; 3:08 remaining in 2Q).

Last year’s All-NJAC performer added a 28-yarder to widen the Lions’ margin–then to 20-14–ensuring points on TCNJ’s first offensive possession of the second half, following another stingy defensive stint that limited the Golden Eagles to 27 yards on five plays.

Zucconi’s reliable right leg wasn’t utilized early in the first half of the Lions’ 28-7 road loss at Kean University a week ago, during which the Lions’ walked away empty-handed on two first-quarter red-zone trips. He was also perfect on all six of his point-after tries, in addition to bolstering a shaky red-zone offense whose efforts yielded points on only one of its four opportunities distance a week ago (4/4 vs. Brockport; 2 TDs 2 FG).

His performance manifested in the field-position battle as well, recording touchbacks on all but one of his kickoffs, while dropping his only punt of the afternoon inside the Golden Eagles’ 20-yard line. Zucconi’s prowess in both facets of the TCNJ’s special teams sits him atop the conference in kick scoring (7.8 ppg) and individual punting average (41.5 ypp).

Rowan signal-caller Frank Wilczynski earned NJAC honors as its top offensive performer in only 30 minutes of football. Given the second half of the Profs’ 72-14 NJAC win on the road at Western Connecticut State, the senior completed 66.7% of his 18 pass attempts, accruing 216 yards.

He also averaged 16.1 yards per carry on his nine rushing attempts on the day, adding 145 yards on the with his legs.

Wilczynski scored six touchdowns (3 rush, 3 pass) in his limited performance–three in game-breaking excess of 50 yards (68, 53-yd rush TDs; 59-yd pass TD). The lengthier of the two he earned on the ground set a school record as Rowan’s longest run from scrimmage as a quarterback.

At week’s end, he leads the conference in quarterback rushing (avg. 110.8 rush ypg).

For his individual contribution during a defensive battle in which his Pioneers emerged victorious, William Paterson University defensive lineman Keith Sayball snatched conference acclaim as its brightest defensive star of Week Six.

In a marginal 14-2 win over Morrisville State, the senior tallied a career-high 13 total tackles (7 solo) wrangling Mustang ball-carriers behind the line six times for losses totaling 35 yards. Sayball’s personal effort that also included 2.5 sacks (-22 yds) and a forced fumble fortified his defense’s outing–one that blanked the Mustangs’ scoring offense and left its rushing totals in the red (finished -2 tot. rush yds).

On the season, Sayball shares the NJAC’s third slot in tackles for loss with Cougars’ utility player Richard Esdaile (Kean) and Profs’ defensive lineman Matt Hoffman (Rowan). Each  have recorded 8.5 stops behind the line on the season (1.70 TFL/gm).

Perpetuating the early trend of Rowan youngsters seizing conference limelight, freshman running back Tariq Gaines gained an economic 143 yards in the Profs’ afore mentioned beat down of the Colonials, compiling his day’s work in only four carries (35.7 ypc).

Gaines, well, gained 19 yards on his season’s only attempts entering the contest–a less efficient four.

He joins a list now four players long of NJAC Rookie of the Week winners from Rowan University, also wedging his way into its history books. Gaines’ first collegiate touchdown, a 61-yard dash to paydirt, added to the Profs’ ten trips to the end zone–most in program history.

Freshman safety Phil Bossman‘s seven tackles (4 solo) in his Red Dragons’ losing effort earned him recognition as the conference’s top defensive rookie–in only his second taste of action. His four pass breakups added to a resume that  made him Cortland‘s second NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week in 2009–in the aftermath of its season-devastating 16-7 road loss at Montclair State.

Lions’ post-game analysis: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Whew.

The team’s 48-34 win Saturday over The College at Brockport shifted the gears of the Lions’ 2009 campaign, eight days removed from a transmission malfunction on the road at Kean. In conjuncture with reigning champion Cortland State’s (3-2 ovr., 3-2 in NJAC) crippling road loss at Montclair State University (4-1 overall; 4-0 in NJAC), the Lions’ currently sit in a tie for third in the conference (4-1 overall; 3-1 in NJAC) with perennial powerhouse Rowan University (4-1 overall; 3-1 NJAC).

A weekend loss could have been devastating for a program looking to recreate the glory of its ’07 NJAC Championship. However, the win can–and should–only foster temporary satisfaction, especially with regard to the details that didn’t make the box score.

Without further ado…

THE GOOD

• Get that swagga back

In addition to jarring the football free from Brockport wideouts on six (I counted) separate occasions, the way guys like safeties Matt Kreider (10 total tck, 6 solo) and Shawn Brown (10.5 total tck, 5 solo) flew to the point of attack was just fun to watch. The Lions defensive secondary is starting to come into its own–maybe a little too comfortable with its abilities.

On Ryan Flannery’s third-quarter interception at his own 33-yard line–one reprehensibly negated by a bad, bad pass interference penalty that wasn’t–he slipped on some of Ed Reed’s kicks, reversing his field twice before lateraling to a wide open Scotty Mathurin with room to make a play.

He didn’t, tackled after a minimal four yard return (that wouldn’t have counted anyway). But you’ve gotta love the effort and the intensity and–dare I say it–the fun these guys are having out there.

Now, there’s only ONE circumstance under which it’s okay to ad lib a play-call–especially on defense, and especially when you’re on an assigned blitz. But for hauling in a game-sealing interception at his own 37-yard line, returning it 34 yards to his opponents’ 29 (while he, too was looking for someone to share his bounty with) froshie LB Greg Burns–you, my friend, earned a pass.

But, we’ll see how gracious your coordinator is.

One of the reasons TCNJ walked away unscathed from the Golden Eagles’  visit was team defense–an indelible sign that it’s finally starting to come around. Allow me to reiterate.

Finally.

Solo tackles are generally mentioned separately in parenthetical notations because bringing an opposing ball-carrier down by yourself has more profound implications on drives. Fewer yards, better flow in reaction to the plays early development–stuff like that.

But if you check out the Lions’ defensive stats for Saturday’s win, you’ll see a ton of assisted tackles. That doesn’t mean that the players, alone, are incapable. In this case, it means that two, three–sometimes four–guys are shedding blocks in active pursuit of the football.

Great effort, sure. But it also means that they’re starting to buy into D.C. Hamilton’s game plan–which is solid, evidenced by the halftime wonders he pulled against Buffalo State.

• What a nice dude

In general, football coaches don’t like dealing with the media.

We wear out our welcome far too quickly by loitering around the facility each and every day, prodding and probing for whatever’s news–for the week that was and ones to come. Injury information is golden, valuable to our knowledge and locked down like it belongs in a bank deposit box.

We have souls, but we ask the questions we have to–not always the ones we want to. Safe to say, it’s all too easy for one of these overworked, underpaid (and likely understaffed) state employees to get irritated–if not outwardly infuriated–with the local media.

And that refers to the ones obliged to do so. You know, home coaches talking to professional reporters? Yeah, those guys–not me.

Lions’ head coach Eric Hamiltion (and the entirety of his staff) has been more than accommodating to my every need and has made his crew available for interviews sometimes before, sometimes after–on rare occasions even during team activities. There’s no question I’m grateful, but he’s at least used to it.

I can’t imagine sitting on a bus ride for six hours–late leaving both ways–in addition to the stress induced by a week’s worth of preparation for my program’s pivotal conference football game. With those responsibilities weighing on my mood, I also can’t imagine stepping off the bus to see a college student–dressed in flip-flops and shorts–grinning and holding a gray voice-recorder, hoping to grab my description of what we both understand was a miserable trip.

I’d be a little taken back by a request to speak with one of my players, stretching out for a 45-minute window before our last opportunity to polish out any scuffs before kickoff the following day–skeptical by its postscript, a follow-up question to ask permission to snap photos.

And no, saying, “for the blog?” pointing to the camera with a raised eyebrow wouldn’t make it any less intrusive.

After putting up with all that, Brockport head coach Rocco Salomone was kind enough to comment on each of my few questions following his team’s loss.

Coach–if you’re reading–thanks.

• Bobby Acosta

What a game.

No, I’m not talking about its excitement–too close down the stretch for my taste this early in the year. I’m talking about the one Lions’ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta called Saturday from up in the booth.

A lot of people might have thrown up their arms at his early strategy, incessantly feeding the rock to his three tailbacks in Justin Donoloski, Chase Misura and Michael Yetka. Gesture converted to speech, judged by the hemming and hawing within earshot of the pressbox at the conclusion of the game’s opening possession–a fourth-down pick in the end zone by safety Cevon Carver that put an end to a stagnant 12-play 38-yard drive.

On their six carries, Lions’ ball carriers only gained nine yards on the drive. Sticking with the run on its next appearance, Acosta’s offense went three-and-out after earning a first-down on a Brockport pass interference penalty.

The next drive, it settled for a field-goal. Points, but four fewer than seven.

But what happened? Brockport stacked the box and started blitzing as frequently and recklessly as Graci’s aerial display. As early as the “anti-climactic” field-goal drive, Lions’ receivers started getting open. Like, all alone open.

Kudos to wide receiver Mark Gardner, who ringed out some hard-earned YAC (yards after catch) on his lone reception, good for 37 yards. But his wasn’t the only lengthy gain that gashed the Golden Eagles’ secondary, set up by masterful offensive game-planning.

Without divulging any of his offense’s nuances, he invites this kind of pressure by lulling defenses to sleep by pounding the football. His receivers are well-coached to respond when opponents bring the heat–Exhibit A: Colin Weber’s 40-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

You hear him talk all the time about “the personality of the game,” and responding to whatever, really, the defense throws at him–Exhibit B: Justin Donoloski’s 41-yard touchdown reception of a designed screen.

One of his genius’ beneficiaries was grateful after.

“We definitely caught them off-guard a couple plays,” Donoloski said outside the locker room. “[Acosta] did a great job all day. When I caught that screen pass they were calling ‘double fire’ so we knew they were blitzing. It was the perfect call.”

Well said.

• Chase Misura’s second-quarter

When safety Shawn Brown fell on Aaron Zurn’s first fumble on the TCNJ two-yard line, Brockport swapped one scoring opportunity for another. While it squandered a shot at six points (hoping for seven, but Flannery worked his damnedest to prevent an easy PAT), a miscue on the Lions’ ensuing possession could have yielded a safety. Not to mention an untimely swing in the all-important “Mo.”

Safe to say, there was a lot riding on the drive–and Chase Misura’s shoulders.

Any discomfort mutually shared by James and Acosta dissolved following its first play, a 12-yard dagger up the middle to Misura. Breathing became easier for both men–James getting more room and Acosta letting out a sigh of relief.

He rushed the rock four times. But he carried the scoring drive–capped on a one-yard burst from Lions’ brandy-new short-yardage toy, freshman running back Kevin Brown–advancing the football and the sticks with a healthy 12.75 yards per carry (51 yds on drive).

Fueling a journey that produced the tail end of the Lions’ 17-point rally, Chase Misura singlehandedly gripped up the tee-shirt of the game’s flow–lifting it off the ground like a grade-school bully, shaking down a bookworm for lunch money.

He finished with 134 yards on his 18 attempts, slowly creeping up the conference hierarchy to ninth (49 rush, 301 yds, 6.1 avg., 5 TDs).

Touche.

THE BAD

• Relapse after a successful rehab

The team committed nine penalties worth the only kind of 79 yards you don’t want–in the wrong direction.

Let’s go through the list.

***

#1–False start on the teams’ first third-down attempt of the game, an otherwise manageable nine-yard distance for an offense with weapons. Luckily, Misura hauled in a 17-yard completion out of the backfield.

Luckily.

#2–False start on a fresh set of downs, backing five yards away from the promised land, forcing the Lions to set up shop with facing 1st and 15 from the Brockport 33.

Three plays later, the Lions settled for a field goal, facing fourth-and-two.

#3–False start on a first-and-goal from the Brockport five-yard line–bringing up another 1st and 15.

Really? After last week’s dreadful red-zone offense (1/4 during gm. vs. Kean)?

Wonder if Kevin Brown’s going to be getting a few thank-you texts from his teammates after he bailed them out on fourth-and-goal from the one, plowing through a wall on the goal-line.

#4–Encroachment on a PAT attempt, Ryan Flannery hurdling the protection team.

Alright, I admit. That was pretty funny (impressive, too). And considering he blocked one later, we might have to let that slide.

#5–Unsportsmanlike conduct out of bounds following an 11-yard tuck-and-run by Chris James on a pivotal third-and-eight during the Lions’ two-minute drill, sending the zebras on a brisk 15 paces from the Brockport 35, back to midfield (so many hyphens…).

It was a dead-ball foul, shielding the fresh set of downs. But it put the team in a hole, facing a 1st and 25. That and the three drops put a pretty quick end to any legitimate attempt at finding the end zone–or anywhere near Zucconi’s range (about 50 yds). TCNJ turned the ball over on downs four plays later.

James looked pissed on the sidelines. I would be too.

#6–12 men on the field on the Lions’ defense, during our chance to watch Brockport’s two-minute offense on the ensuing drive.

I get it, you’re excited.

But if you’re in a rotation–either on the defensive line or in its secondary–stand next to your position coach in his peripheral vision. If you have to, bang out a few quick push-ups, maybe even a couple high-knees while you take deep, relaxing breaths to alleviate any anxious energy.

Don’t run on the field. That = bad.

Gatti bailed them out with his pick in the end-zone, but with only a three-point lead (17-14) at the time, giving up a freebie on a second-and-three just inside your territory is just unacceptable.

[Keyshawn Johnson and Tom Jackson in chorus]: Come on, man.

#7–Holding call that negated an eight-yard rush by Justin Donoloski on first-and-goal from the Brockport nine-yard line.

Simple math: The difference between [second-and-goal from the one-yard line] and [first-and-goal from the 13] equals Marc Zucconi’s second appearance following a dumb red-zone penalty.

#8–Pass interference on cornerback Derek Gorecznski.

Except for it wasn’t. Sorry, Flan.

#9–False start on a Lions’ third-and-four-turned-third-and-nine-turned-incomplete-pass-turned-punt.

All that, in the fourth-quarter. Four fingers in the air? Anyone?

***

I think that speaks for itself. So does this: “When you get into games against good teams that’s gonna beat you,” Lions’ headman Eric Hamilton said after the game.

If that’s not clear enough, he followed up with this, in response to a question regarding his plans to correct the mental errors during the upcoming week in practice.

“They might run a little.”

Yikes.

THE UGLY

• Indecisive referees

Defensive coordinator Matt Hamtilton wasn’t happy with the officiating–or lack thereof–on the Golden Eagles’ offensive substitutions between many of its 98 plays from scrimmage.

“That was a little bit of an issue,” he said, referring to players running on and off the field without checking into the huddle, a blatant violation of Rule 3, Section 5, Article 2e of the NCAA rule book that states,

While in the process of substitution or simulated substitution, Team A is
prohibited from rushing quickly to the line of scrimmage with the obvious
attempt of creating a defensive disadvantage.

I know, because I looked.

I also looked for the law of the land regarding one of the referees’ calls later in the game, following a Lions’ touchdown. While sitting comfortably up in the press box in Lions’ Stadium, former-ESPN Radio intern Mike Leatherwood and I silently stared at each other when we saw an appalling gesture–two offsetting, dead-ball holding fouls.

You look in the rule book for that one.

In addition to spotting the ball at the Lions’ 45 on the opening kickoff of the second half, I honestly don’t know what in the hell these guys were looking at. I get the whole fake-it-till-you-make-it thing, trying not to make yourselves look like you have not the slightest idea what’s going on around you.

But you can’t just start “making” stuff up. Well, I guess you can. But that’s gotta be bad karma–or something.

Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag: Why Week 5 road loss is history, Lions dig deep in RZ, and a messy NJAC leaderboard

Every Monday, I’ll take a minute to respond to you — Lions’ Nation — answering questions and offering my predictions and insight surrounding the team’s 2009 campaign. Here’s this week’s installment of Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag.

Yesterday’s win was a big game for the Lions–bigger for its defense. The team can refocus its attention on making a run at the conference title through a pair of lenses that would have been shattered had the team dropped Saturday’s NJAC meeting with Brockport. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

There’s still a whole lotta football left. Not as many questions–but we’ll work with what we’ve got.

• Matty, the Lions lost the last game it had to play on the road. How should this game be different? Especially since the offense looked so out of sync when it left Lions Stadium.

Very valid point.

I’ve already talked about the advantages of playing in front of your home crowd–and how the Lions don’t necessarily enjoy that luxury. But you’re absolutely right, it’s going to be a concern during the week, one the coaching staff wasted no time addressing. At least to me.

Here’s what TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton had to say about that–and he wasn’t even asked.

“You can’t get ahead of yourself—[the win against Brockport] is only one game. Now we’re 4-1, and 3-1 in the NJAC. The motivation is to go on the road, where we lost the last time, and win a game against a team that would love nothing more than to beat us on their homecoming. That’s motivation in and of itself. The rest of the season means nothing if we don’t care of business next week.”

If he’s talking like that just moments removed from his team’s seizure of an emotional victory, I can only imagine what he’s going to be preaching all week long. Meetings, film sessions, warm-ups, cool-downs–the works. By his own definition, he’s “privy” to the various obstacles inherent to a college football season.

And not to bash any particular group of guys, but have you looked at William Paterson on paper? Their defense is pretty aggressive, living up to the Lewis and Clark connotation of its mascot. But if you’ve taken a quick peek at its offense, Willie P looks a lot like the kid tied to his mom’s apron–not some trail-blazing adventurer.

They won’t be a push-over. No one in the conference is. But with Kean sitting comfortably atop the conference standings and earned 15 votes for D3Football.com‘s Top-25 this past week, let’s not blame the loss on the road trip–blame it on the team’s negligence to pack its red-zone offense.

Which brings me to my next point.

• Matty, the Lions went a perfect 4-4 in the red zone this week. How’d they go about the quick turnaround?

The short answer would be freshman running back Kevin Brown, whose praises I’ve been singing for quite a while now. Kid’s a beast, and it was made apparent on his fourth-and-goal touchdown from the one, forcing him to churn up a defiant second-effort to break the plane.

But, like any TEAM success, its roots reach far deeper.

The Lions red-zone offense in Union was atrocious two weeks ago. The offensive line lacked size against Kean’s big boys, like NFL prospect nose-tackle Darryl Jackson (6’2, 320 lbs). But that hadn’t posed an issue before. The unit consistently hosted free zone-blocking clinics for any aspiring hog-mallies in the stands that could benefit from such fundamentally sound football in the trenches.

College is a very different game than the pros–that word in and of itself posing the biggest difference.

In the NFL, a fraternity of grown-ass men earning grown-ass man paychecks, players have mastered the ability to compartmentalize. “Having a bad day” off the field is fine, and a frequent occurance. It happens to everyone. They’re paid to catch footballs–regardless whether they smile doing it.

But, should it dare translate into a lackluster performance between those unforgiving white lines, players might return to the locker room to find a pink slip, antagonizingly waiting to be found wedged in a crack by a janitor running an errand.

That’s unless, of course, your boss is Al Davis. Miss on 66% of your passes and you might even get a raise–and a sparkly new toy at wideout that’s equally as unproductive.

In the college game, athletes aren’t paid-professionals, expected to conduct themselves with their employers’ interests trumping any and all life affairs. If the starting quarterback’s girlfriend pitches a fit and dumps him hours before kickoff, his strained emotions can impact the game’s outcome, shaving points like an NBA referee. (To my knowledge, Chris James is not romantically involved, a status that hadn’t changed two Friday mornings ago. Before you get excited, that wasn’t subtle innuendo. At all.)

I’m not saying that the team choked, but something ranging far beyond its talent accounted for its anemic performances within 20-yards of the goal-line. Call it a funk–call it arrogance–call it whatever you want. That team is just as different as the 2008 Gators, entering its game against Ole Miss.

Lackluster short-yardage game? Check.

Really pissed off quarterback? Check.

Definitive vow of improvement immediately thereafter from said-pissed off quarterback, who turned around a week later to win his next game, rebounding both in the stat sheet and in team morale? Check.

The collective they (coaches, players, equipment managers maybe) have made various changes (personnel packages, situational strategy, forcing Zucconi to actually earn his varsity letter) to grow as a program since that dismal outing . They’ll be alright, don’t worry.

And in case you are, you should dial up Lions’ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta‘s office and ask him where he got that goal-line package he used (not going to go into detail, for reasons I’m sure you can deduce).

Tricky, tricky.

• Matty, what’s it going to take for the Lions to get back to the top of the conference?

Simple question. But unfortunately–for me and the team–the answer’s not so simple.

At week’s end, the Lions (4-1 overall; 3-1 NJAC) currently share the third-place slot with the Profs (4-1 overall; 3-1 NJAC) down in Glassboro. For readability, I suppose we’ll start there.

First things first. Barring a catastrophic natural disaster that destroys every NJAC stadium, or an unexpected dissolution of Kean’s football program, the Lions need to win-out the rest of their schedule. There’s certainly an outside chance that one of the two teams ranked first, to date, could be upset late in the season. But why let your season ride on someone else’s ability to handle of your business?

Thought so.

Earlier in the year, Rowan laid an egg at home during its Week Three loss to the reigning (and ailing) conference champs (L 14-24 vs. SUNY-Cortland). Assuming that we’re holding the Lions responsible for W’s in each of their schedule’s remaining dates with destiny, the last week of the season should bolster the team’s standing, should it in fact steal a win from Rowan at their house. The Profs would have two tarnishes on their conference record, giving TCNJ the edge in any prospective head-to-head tiebreaker if it loses sometime down the stretch.

Some alumni might have my head for saying this, but–less that one November Saturday–Lions’ fans had better be sporting Rowan brown and yellow for the remainder of the season.

After TCNJ’s road trip to face Willie P, the team returns to Trenton for its homecoming against Montclair State University, currently tied with the Cougars for the NJAC lead. Assuming MSU can win in Wayne–which, frankly, I’d be shocked and appalled if they didn’t–the game would represent a shot to dethrone the Red Hawks, from No. 1 to No. 3, the Lions’ gladly sliding into the vacant No. 2 spot.

Montclair State (4-1 overall; 4-0 NJAC) has lost once this season, but it was in a non-conference flop against Wilkes, which doesn’t hold parity in an NJAC tiebreaker. They should win next week against Buffalo State, as well. The team’s significantly more talented than its record, but I would be shocked if Jerry Boyes’ boys (homophone, intended) pulled out an upset.

Assuming the Red Hawks take care of business, each program would boast a 5-1 NJAC record following a Lions win in two weeks–the head-to-head tiebreaker in TCNJ’s favor. The only remaining factor is Kean and its head-to-head victory in Week 5 to solidify its already undefeated conference record.

Should the Lions pop bubbly at season’s end, they’ll do it as outright champions. If they were to lose to Montclair State, it would represent the team’s second conference loss, a dagger knocking them all but out of contention for the title altogether–so no, there won’t be any sharing this time around (TCNJ split 2007 NJAC title w/ SUNY-Cortland).

This is where Rowan becomes a Lions’ fan’s saving grace.

At least it can be.

After it hosts Buffalo State in two weeks, Rowan will travel up north to Union on Halloween to play Kean–an irrevocably important date on the Lions‘ schedule. The Profs survived a close finish in last year’s 30-22 win over the Cougars, with much of the same rosters as this year’s updated versions. Kean QB Tom D’Ambrisi does have another year under his belt (and should improve weekly) and Chunn has turned it on as of late (thanks to the Lions), but it’s certainly a feasible win for Rowan–one the Lions desperately need.

Should Rowan beat Kean, and TCNJ beat Rowan and Montclair State, the stage would be set for another indirectly profound showdown–appropriately to be played on the final game of the season.

Kean at Montclair State.

Montclair State’s going to be looking to avenge its 17-21 road loss at Kean University Alumni stadium a year ago, and what better way to lay the wood than play spoiler with the Cougars beckoning on the front porch of a conference title?

…time for a nap.

That’s it for this week’s edition of 4M

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Lions’ Nation Weekly Poll: Grab your binoculars TCNJ fans!

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: Rejoined by Richardson, TCNJ set to face NJAC’s top pass D

The last time TCNJ wide receiver Cam Richardson recorded a reception, Rowan University was two quarters into its 42-3 rout over the Lions in 2008—a disheartening finale to a disappointing 4-6 season a year ago.

For the CEO and board chairman of Cameron Richardson, INC., those final 17 yards closed the book on an all-conference-worthy resume (2^nd Team All-NJAC). But for the modest, team-oriented future tri-captain of TCNJ’s pending 2009 roster, the loss fueled the furnace for an offseason raging with restless preparation.

A nine-month waiting game had begun.

Hampered by injury since Week 1, Richardson looks to salvage the rest of his senior season

But while this Saturday marked his return from injury—one keeping him sidelined for most of the Lions’ unanticipated escalation to the top of the NJAC standings and dismemberment of its record books—in some ways, that maddening wait isn’t yet finished.

Poised in the preseason to capture his third All-NJAC honors of his career, Richardson hasn’t accounted for a single one of the team’s 91 receptions, nor has he tacked on any of its 1,348 yards. And while he’s watched TCNJ skills players celebrate in the back of the end zone 11 times in its first five games, he hasn’t tasted the glory of a fruitful 2009. Hasn’t even gotten a whiff of it.

But even with half of his senior season—likely his last as a competitive athlete—stained just above his memory’s printed “objects-in-the-mirror” disclaimer, Richardson couldn’t be happier now that he’s back.

“It feels awesome,” he said before Wednesday’s practice, while his offense—the nation’s fourth-most efficient points manufacturer (avg. 45.4 ppg) —prepares to battle William Paterson University’s stingy pass defense on its homecoming this weekend in Wayne, NJ.

While his chances to revisit past personal accolades might be behind him, Richardson’s unwavering spirit hasn’t budged.

“It just feels good to be out with the guys and having a good time. That’s all I’m really concentrating on right now.”

He appeared on only a few of TCNJ’s drives during its 48-34 win over The College at Brockport, but Richardson explained his limited action was designed to wean him back into heated NJAC competition, intensifying with each passing week.

As his team inches toward pivotal games against powerhouses in Montclair State University and a grudge match versus Rowan, Richardson is taking his reintegration into the lineup one step at a time—literally.

“I got some time last week and it just felt really good to be out there.”

Led by rookie corner in sophomore Steven Bovo, Jr.—whose three interceptions in his past two games thrust him into a tie for the NJAC’s second-least forgiving defensive back (Rowan Mike Barone leads conf. w/ 4 INT)—William Paterson has limited opposing quarterbacks to an emaciated 86.98 passer efficiency, the eighth-best first half in Division III (1^st in NJAC).

The Pioneers’ habit of tormenting signal-callers is evident elsewhere, allowing the conference’s fewest pass yards per game, also among the best in all the land (144.40 avg. pass yds/gm; 21^st in NCAA).

William Paterson kicked off the perpetual belt-tightening in its first appearance in 2009, minimizing the damage on The College at Brockport quarterback Jake Graci’s 10 completions on his 14 attempts.

In one of its season’s three losses to date (L 22-19), the Pioneers’ D put a ceiling on the NJAC’s second and third-most prolific pass-catchers, dampening Matt Newman to just 26 yards on his three snagged balls. Felipe Diaz didn’t fare much better, recording a mere 32 yards on two catches  (67.00 rec. yds/gm; 66.20 rec. yds/gm, respectively).

But TCNJ has a few playmakers of its own in wide receivers Colin Weber and Mark Gardner—both among the conference’s top performers in 2009.

Not to mention that Chris James character, the 13^th-most efficient distributor of Division III pigskin (avg. 170.82 pass efficiency; 1^st in NJAC). And there’s no questioning his enthusiasm upon the return of one of his favorite targets.

“It’s exciting,” Lions’ quarterback Chris James said after his third 300-yard performance against Brockport–and that’s without a fully-integrated Cam Richardson.

“Just having Cam out there as moral support and not seeing him on the sideline—everyone gets excited over it.”

James explained that even when he’s not immediately immersed in the action, Richardson’s ability to provide an instant spark provides extra comfort for him—already pampered with a multitude of viable receiving options.

“Even when he’s not out there because you never know when he’s going to come in, make a catch, and do something great with the ball. He is one of our, if not the best offensive threat on our team.”

Promoted to honorary team captain before his team’s road loss in Union against Kean University, Weber has found the end zone in all but one of the Lions’ games this season, coming back for second servings in two contests to date (2 TDs vs. FDU, Brockport). His latest performance, a six-catch, 104-yard Saturday afternoon over The College at Brockport, marks his season’s second eclipse of the century mark (6 rec., 199 yds in Wk 3 vs. FDU).

While Gardner’s been limited to 48 yards on three catches the past two weeks, his previous two outings weren’t as lackluster.

The Texas-native shined under the Friday night lights in his team’s embarrassment of FDU-Florham, averaging 29.8 yards on each of his four catches—one of them good for 66 yards (119 total) and six of the team’s record-breaking 67 points (originally 64; set in 1921 vs. Cathedral) posted on the evening.

Elated at the sight of such widespread offensive dominance, especially regarding the seniors—with whom he’s embarked on synchronous journeys in both football and life—he admits its zest has been bittersweet.

“It’s tough,” he said admittedly, describing his contradictory emotions while he watched from the sidelines, hampered by a high-ankle sprain since the team’s 47-38 win over Buffalo State.

“It’s tough to see the guys doing so well—I mean I’m so happy for them, like the offense was great with everything that [they accomplished]. But it’s definitely tough to not be out there.”

He could only offer limited insight regarding offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta’s intentions to reintroduce him to the mix of the NCAA’s fourth-most active scoring offense (avg. 45.4 ppg), but Richardson isn’t concerned with the prominence of his individual role.

“I guess [Acosta]’s going with a rotation, but at this point I’m just happy to be back. As long as I get some PT I’m not gonna sit here and complain.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 4pm.

TCNJ kicker MVP of its defense?

You could have tried all you liked, but there was just no precision to telling how this Lions’ defense played over the first six weeks of this season.

One could certainly argue that the group has put forth its best efforts this season during its two most recent outings—neither of which looked pretty on the stat sheets. But even with regard to its latest appearance, coaches would beg to differ with that assessment of the afternoon altogether.

“I’ll take a W. Doesn’t mean I’ll be happy about it,” TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said following the team’s 48-34 slighting of The College at Brockport—during which his unit induced five takeaways.

A slight contradiction in tone from the one used a short week earlier…

“To a man,” he said, paraphrasing his post-game address to his players. “Even though its 28 points, this was on the opposite end of the spectrum. We’ve been around that 30-point mark, but we’ve played down to our opponents. They played well, and you’re going to start to see some results after this.

But the discrepancy between observers shouldn’t come as a surprise. Qualifying its performance has proven an elusive endeavor, to say the least. And in advent the final stretch of its NJAC schedule, posing pivotal obstacles against stellar offenses, it’s impossible to project the viability of the team’s conference title run without first figuring out what to expect from its defense.

Hamilton ensured he offered his opinion.

“If we’re going to compete with Montclair [State University] and Cortland [State University] and Rowan [University], this is not the effort we have to have. It comes down to right here,” he said, gesturing toward the center of his chest.

But while it may function as the linchpin of the unit’s potential down the stretch, heart certainly wasn’t the most significant determinant of its successes and failures in TCNJ’s first five games—anatomically, that is. A closer look back at the opening half of 2009 shows that the defense has lived and died, believe it or not, on the gracious right foot of its kicker.

Data gathered by TCNJ’s Sports Information Desk for each of the team’s first five games was transcribed in a Microsoft Excel document, broken down by each individual drive. The raw figures were thereafter sorted and organized by starting field position—those starting within and outside the 20-yard line—and individual quarter, with the intention of highlighting various performance indicators, and trends that might better make sense of otherwise inconclusive figures.

Information included quantitative data (number of plays, yardage, time of possession) and qualitative data (how opponents acquired possession, drives’ end results) both used to spot tendencies in its apparent strengths and weaknesses evidenced over the course of these first six weeks. Additional statistics were generated, including averages (plays and yards per drive), percentages (touchdowns, turnovers, punts) and ratios (takeaways per touchdown), with the intent to better illustrating what makes it tick, and, more importantly, what makes it sick.

According to the numbers, a resounding correlation exists between opponent starting field position and various performance indicators on a drive-by-drive basis. While it also highlighted other trends, for example varying stinginess between quarters, the analysis suggests that there’s not a single more impactful factor on opponents’ immediate success than the starting point of its opponents’ individual expeditions.

Now, at face value, TCNJ doesn’t exactly resemble the conference’s most stout defensive unit.

Omitting possessions cut short by the end of a half, the Lions’ defense has appeared 61 times in its first five games. To date, the unit ranks dead-last in the NJAC in total defense (463.6 avg. total yds/gm), pass defense (266.8 pass yds/gm), and opponent first-downs (24.4 1^st dns/gm).

More positively, only Rowan has forced more turnovers than TCNJ’s consistently opportunistic group (19 and 14, respectively). Still, the unit surrenders an average of 31 points to opposing offenses (6^th in NJAC), more than twice the total allowed by the conference leader (Kean, 14.2 ppg).

Disregarding starting point, opponents’ possessions have lasted an average of 6.08 plays and fostered 38.59 yards—each snap good for 6.34 yards. On the whole, 37.7% of drives result in some form of points (23 scores; 22 TDs, FG), 36.0% end by way of a turnover (7 INT, 7 fum., 7 TOD, safety)—the remaining 26.3% concluded with a punt (16).

Take into account starting field position, however, and end result polarizes dramatically.

Drives starting inside the 20 lasted 6.33 plays yielding 32.81 yards—5.18 on each play. When facing fewer than 80 yards, opposing offenses sustained drives worth 40.64 yards over 5.79 plays, averaging 7.01 yards every snap.

Based on opponents' starting field-position, the TCNJ defense becomes much more stingy with regard to yards allowed

Now, the difference of eight yards in any given drive’s overall length might not seem like it’s going to be the making or breaking of a defense’s afternoon. But before you write it off as a minimal change, consider this.

Mindful that two drives were omitted since they ended at the conclusion of a half (thus rendering them irrelevant to this analysis), TCNJ’s defense has faced an average of 12.2 drives in its first five games this season. Suppose, in a special teams utopia, that Zucconi launched every kick through the back of the end zone, or pinned opponents within 20 yards of their goal line via a coffin punt. With its opponents average yards per play shrink-wrapped, now 5.18 as opposed to its season average of 6.1, the difference would thrust it five spots from the NJAC’s worst defensive unit to only its fifth, with regard to per-snap forfeitures. Multiply that from by the 379 plays-from-scrimmage it’s faced this season, and you’re left with 392.64–a moderate leap to eighth in the conference in total allowances.

But keep in mind, there’s certainly an argument to be made that one could expect a consequential multiplier effect that can’t accurately be reflected in theory. Fewer yards per play likely means less attractive distances for opposing offenses on third downs, thus limiting successful  third-down conversions, which means less perpetuation of drives, which means fewer total yards surrendered, and–you guessed it–fewer points allowed.

Not to mention, sending opposing offenses packing in turn trots the TCNJ unit back on the field. It would also save time, allowing the group to squeeze in more offensive snaps of its own–possibly points. Considering the unit currently ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (45.50 avg. ppg), that’s certainly not hurting your chances of walking away with a W.

In theory, these data suggest that Zucconi could singlehandedly shave points from the scoreboard, likely even add a few. And, not that the offense has made a habit of letting up on the gas pedal before they reach the end zone, but it might even be self-servicing and bolster the conference’s top kick scoring average (avg. 7.8 kick pts/gm; 4/5 FGs in 2009).

The data also reflected an impact on Lions’ defensive personality between these varying circumstances, specifically regarding opponent scoring and its own opportunism.

Of the 21 drives meeting that criterion, only 14% ended with a touchdown celebration (3 TDs), compared with the 46% of opponent possessions outside the 20 that result in six points (18 TDs; 39 poss.).

TCNJ linebacker Dan DeCongelio explained the unit’s enhanced caliber of play coincides with game situations that allow for a looser and more relaxed style of play—namely when it’s not backed into a corner.

“I think it’s because we feel more comfortable,” he said. “And I think because we feel more comfortable with 80 yards behind us it’s a different sort of play.”

Additionally, nearly half of drives qualifying ended in some form of turnover (48%; 10 total; 4 downs, 3 fum., 2 INT, safety), versus the mere 31% that started from outside that mark, (12 total; 5 INT, 4 fum. 3 downs). In other words, the defense manufactures 3.33 turnovers for every opponent drive starting inside the 20, as opposed to only 0.67 in response to points surrendered outside it.

According to a comprehensive analysis of their opponents' drive data, the Lions' D becomes significantly more opportunistic when it has more green behind it

“We look to get off the field,” DeCongelio said, noting the unit’s tendency to resort to innovation. “We don’t wanna be out there, taking time off the clock. If we can’t do it forcing a punt then one big thing we look for is turnovers.”

Sure to deflect credit for what he described as a foreseeable expression  talent mixed with hard work, Lions’ kicker Marc Zucconi was pleased to hear of his apparent impact on the unit’s success.

“It’s good to know I’m helping [the defense] out,” he said. “An old coach of mine told me that every ten yards that we push them back toward the end zone, the percentages are so much higher—like you said—that we’ll stop them. I like being a part of that. I mean, that’s why I wear blue,” referring to the practice jersey color specific to defensive players.

Working double-duty as the Lions’ punter, Zucconi has captured conference accolades for its top special teams performer three times this season. To date, the former Louisville Cardinal leads the conference in net punting (37.8 avg. yds/punt), limiting opposing specialists to 1.2 yards per return. Limited to only eight attempts on the season, three of Zucconi’s punts have pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard lines—two of those within five yards of their own end-zone (downed on 20, 2, 1-yd line).

An undoubted beneficiary of Dean Misura’s diligence as the Lions’ gunner, who personally accounted for downing his two successful coffin kicks, Zucconi’s precision ultimately resulted in a third-down interception during the third-quarter of the Morrisville State game.

Just four plays later, wide receiver Colin Weber flipped the ball to the back judge, shortly after hauling in a 14-yard touchdown reception.

Zucconi’s enjoyed similar success as the Lions’ kickoff specialist, ranking second in the NJAC in gross distance (58.3 yds/KO) with an astounding 11 of his 40 attempts sailing into (or out of) the end zone for a touchback.

“I pretty much try to kill the ball,” he said, humored at his unconventional approach to what others consider an art of finesse. “A lot of people just say Oh, I’m trying to get good hang time. I just try to kill the ball, hit line drives, or get the ball up a little bit and drive it as deep as I can in the end zone.”

While he tends to have a profound impact on staging the unit’s subsequent accomplishments, last year’s All-NJAC special teams performer isn’t the only evident factor. Prefaced earlier, each individual quarter incubates a very different beast altogether—some more friendly to the opposition than others.

There’s no question that the group plays its best football in the first quarter.

Of the 155 points surrendered to opponents this season, only 23 were forfeited during the opening 15 minutes of play (14.8%)—about 59% fewer than the 56 given up in the following period, undoubtedly its worst.

First-quarter drives lasted an average of 6.20 plays worth 32.27 yards (5.2 yds/play). Of those, a mere 20% ended in opponent touchdowns (also allowed FG). While the data portrayed the first-quarter as its least opportunistic (only produced 2 turnovers), it forced punts on 53% of drives—more than any other period by far (13%, 14% and 20% by quarter, in chronological order).

Analyzing opponents' drive data indicates that the Lions' 2nd qtr. defense might be its worst with regard to performance indicators between quarters

The second quarter wasn’t so fruitful—at least not for the Lions.

Mildly settled in, opponents’ second-quarter drives lasted just under an average of five plays (4.94 avg. plays/drive) and traveled shortly farther than seven extra yards (39.63 avg. yds/drive). Averaging 8.03 yards per snap, opposing offenses reached pay dirt exactly half of the time, though TCNJ’s D forced 0.75 turnovers for every one of its failures—at least of that nature.

While the group has gradually acquired notoriety for an apparent inability to finish, the final stretch of games might be its most productive, at least in terms of takeaways. Opponents sustained drives congruent in length to those during its abysmal second quarters (38.93 yds/drive), though they’ve required 7.14 plays, on average, to do so—progressing only 5.45 yards per play.

These various groups scored on 29% of their fourth-quarter possessions. But, during its most ostensibly opportunistic period, the Lions’ defense earned retribution for each individual scoring drive by forcing two turnovers in retaliation (2.00 TO/drive).

The Lions' defensive unit also experiences varying levels of opportunism as games progress from one quarter to the next

The parity inherent in a turbulent college football season is no stranger in Trenton, making it difficult to explain various individual outings over the course of this 2009 season.

On occasion, for instance during the team’s season-opener against Buffalo State University, the difficulty manifests in a disparity between halves.

The Bengals lingered within 11 entering locker room after it diced the Lions’ D for 231 yards and 24 points—forfeiting 50 and seven of those, respectively, on a blown coverage (and subsequent hole) in the secondary, resulting in a Kenny Murphy-to-Blake Maliza touchdown connection.

Its preparation hindered by Buff State’s decision to withhold preseason game film, the squad’s first-half woes were overshadowed by the ensuing 30 minutes, during which it gave up a benign 147 yards and a meaningless touchdown with 2:12 remaining in a contest that finished 47-31.

On others, it’s unexpectedly victimized by the overwhelming success of its own offense.

The following week, during its 58-28 dismantling of Farleigh Dickinson University-Florham, the Bill Winters show mustered up all but one of the Devils’ four touchdowns—all but one in the second half of the Lions’ record-smashing 708-yard offensive rout against a timid Cover-4 defense.

In Week Four, when offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta’s high-octane threat uprooted a scoring mark gradually fortified by 88 years of history, the defense faced a similar bombardment over the course of a stupefying 84 offensive plays. The defense held down its 50×10 yard stronghold valiantly in the first and final quartesr (allowed 6 combined points). But it didn’t fare as well in between (allowed 28 combined points).

It’s also been burned the few times the NCAA’s fourth-best scoring offense failed to produce.

In its only glimmers of mortality, the TCNJ offense’s inability to finish during invaluable first-quarter chances against Kean University added stress to a defense already under duress from a potent Cougar offense—stacked with talent inclusive of the conference’s reigning offensive player of the year (RB Jared Chunn). Exacerbated when the scoreboard made the group abandon its original game plan, the Lions’ offense didn’t help matters with untimely miscues deep in its own territory.

Of the Cougars’ four touchdown drives in Kean University Alumni Stadium that evening, two combined for 74 yards (started at T30, T44) and resulted in 14 of the team’s 21 points-off-turnovers (INT, fum; scored 2^nd qtr TD after TOD). Chunn ran wild, finishing with 210 yards on his 22 carries. But the Lions’ D actually kept the game close, forcing three turnovers and minimizing the deficit—before it finally cracked early in the fourth quarter.

Especially with pivotal conference matchups pending on its schedule, there’s plenty of room for improvement—and there likely needs to be. But if there’s one overachieving beacon of consistency that can afford to coast for the remainder of 2009, it’s Zucconi—he just needs to keep up the good work.

Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: He’s baaack–Flannery fortifies Lions’ secondary prepped to spoil Pioneers’ homecoming

Two weeks ago, the last time his TCNJ Lions hit the road, free safety Ryan Flannery‘s evening contribution consisted of two plays. Upon his initial return from an ankle injury that had sidelined one of the team’s tri-captains since August training camp, his coaches’ decision to cap his participation didn’t need explanation–one that wouldn’t be offered anyway.

Putting forth a deceptively stout effort, his defense eventually succumbed to the grind of a Kean University offensive pestle, that fed its tailbacks a healthy 40 carries of 307 powderized yardage–210 and 22 of those on the plate of running back Jared Chunn, the conference’s reigning player of the year.

Eight days later–same story, less, of course, a few minor alterations to details.

Instead of packing its 85 bodies on a Greyhound, the team’s players assumed double-duty as both patron and chauffeur for the next conference date on its schedule–whipping themselves to the cozy steel and concrete skeleton of Lions’ Stadium, poised to rebound against The College at Brockport.

Successful in their rerouting of a briefly derailed NJAC championship trail, the Lions gazed at a 48-34 bulb-illuminated  wink when the final horn sounded–a warmer countenance than the 28-7 sneering offered by the digital scoreboard erected inside Kean University Alumni Stadium, on the night of its christening.

Based on their post-game assessments, coaches would argue otherwise. But, by and large, the abridged synopsis of Flannery’s afternoon could be condensed to two plays.

One–a blocked extra-point, preserving a 34-all tie with 5:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Two–an interception from his own two-yard line, licking the envelope of an invoice written to the rest of the NJAC, one stating in no uncertain terms that he, his defense, and his previously dethroned Lions, were back.

“We didn’t make all the plays we wanted to but we made enough to win the game and stay ahead,” TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton said after the game. “The bottom line is to, defensively, make sure you let them score less than your offense scores.”

Entering its undercard bout against the conference’s worst scoring offense, a teaser between the main event scheduled between the TCNJ pass offense and the William Paterson secondary–both atop the NJAC in respective proliferation, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Especially now that “Flea” is back calling the shots.

“I mean [the interception] speaks for itself,” TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said shortly after a trademark Ryan Flannery afternoon.

Hamilton explained that even the astounding progress achieved by Flannery’s heir-apparent, junior free safety Matt Kreider (43 total tackles; 23 solo; both lead team), there’s just no value to his expansive grasp of the defense’s slightest nuances.

“You saw the difference immediately when he came back into practice. He understands the scheme—top to bottom,” he said, referring to Flannery’s trained eye to spot needed adjustments even on the defensive line.

“When you have a player that can do that having him back there is unbelievable.”

While the Pioneer’s widest margin of defeat is a mere 15 points (Sept. 26; L 28-13 vs. Rowan), that’s a testament to its unforgiving defense keeping games close for as long as conceivably possible–no thanks to its offense. To date, the group’s most active outing was its 20-point afternoon in a win against King’s College, the Middle Atlantic Conference’s seventh-ranked scoring defense (opponents avg. 27.00 ppg).

To their credit, the Pioneers boast a few tenants renting space on the conference’s individual offensive leader boards–sort of.

The team’s featured back, sophomore Marcus McKinney, wedged his way into the NJAC’s third slot for total rushing , averaging a steady 79.2 yards per game. A reputable accomplishment, but one he’s certainly earned.

His number already called 108 times in 2009, McKinney’s received 12 more hand-offs than any other back in the conference, averaging limp 3.67 yards per carry. The only other performer with a flimsier average burst in the category’s top-ten is Montclair State‘s Jeff Bliss (96 att., 305 yds; 3.18 yds/att.), alluded to earlier. In his only snipping of 100-yard tape this season, the 115 he posted on the road at King’s, it took a tedious 35 carries to finally cross the scissors.

McKinney leads a modest Pioneer rushing threat–more like stern warning–that’s manufactured a mere 116 yards in each of its first-five contests (6th in NJAC). While a freak injury in pregame warm-ups a week ago has sidelined the anchor of its linebacker corps and its beacon of defensive leadership in Joe Spahn (35 total tackles; 20 solo; 3rd on team), the Pioneer aerial arsenal–as destructive as a pebble tied to a kite–isn’t exactly going to be keeping the Lions’ secondary honest.

The team’s pedestrian signal-caller, senior quarterback Matt Marshall, certainly hasn’t treated the football with the same irreverence as Jake Graci, Brockport’s wheel-and-dealer that was intercepted three times by Lions’ defenders a week ago, ringing up his past three week’s turnover tab at 12. So no, he’s not particularly reckless. Then again, he’s also not particularly productive for William Paterson, either.

Marshall’s four interceptions on the season rank second-fewest in the conference–tied with Chris James, Tom D’Ambrisi (Kean), and James Williams (West Conn. St.)–to only Kenny Murphy‘s three picks in ’09 (Buffalo State). His five touchdowns, however, rank second-fewest as well–tied with Murphy–not to mention his 113.57 average passer efficiency, also worth mention on the wrong end of the conference spectrum.

For a defense looking to tighten its belt, allowing a wide-bellied 266.80 passing yards per game, step one on its statistical Nutrisystem diet for the second-half of 2009 could come against Marshall, whose 257 yards in an uphill battle against Rowan is the most his right arm has provided this season.

Barring a cataclysmic letdown, the Lions’ defensive unit should build on the foundation laid in its two most-recent performances–arguably its best to date. If it can adequately compliment Division III’s fourth-best scoring offense (45.4 ppg) and play spoiler on the Pioneers’ homecoming–not the brightest of scheduling moves–the TCNJ defense can help prime the arena for the following week, already penciling in some festivities of its own.

Homecoming versus Montclair State, which sits awfully comfy–like it could benefit from stretching its legs–at No. 1 in the NJAC.

Need I say more?

Lions’ Post-game Recap: Loss at Willie P puts spotlight on missing Lions

WAYNE, NJ–Entering its 43-28 road loss to William Paterson (3-3), the lone tarnish on an impeccable NJAC Championship resume epitomized TCNJ’s few early-season failures—all it apparently couldn’t do.

Stumbling on its first steps outside its own turf, the 28-7 loss at Kean University suggested the team couldn’t duplicate success on the road, defeating its three previous opponents by healthy margins from within the comfort of Lions’ Stadium (entered 3-0; all at home).

Unable to dominate in the fashion that bolstered the then-Division III leader in scoring, the skimpy 292 yards allowed by the Cougar D suggested that TCNJ couldn’t hang with the big boys, nor could the nation’s second-most efficient quarterback distribute the football with UPS reliability against worthy opposition (24/41, 234 yds, TD, INT vs. Kean; ranked 1^st in NJAC in pass efficiency defense).

That’s, of course, neglecting to mention the 307 rushing yards its own defense allowed, a reiteration of 2009’s most glaring theme—that TCNJ’s defense just couldn’t stop anybody.

Even in defeat, the team’s second conference loss on Saturday wasn’t a not-so-subtle reminder of the team’s earlier shortcomings. But what began as a coming out party for a number of Lions—a discourteous double-booking on the Pioneers’ homecoming—didn’t end on account of the team’s inadequacy.

It merely accentuated who it needs the most.

Already thin at linebacker after last week’s sudden pregame injury to linebacker Joe Spahn, the Lions’ defense crumbled after the mid-game departure of second-line stud Dan DeCongelio, who left in the second-quarter with undisclosed injuries.

No injury report or timetable for his return is available at this time.

The defense was unequivocally stout when he was in the lineup, forcing turnovers on William Paterson’s opening two possessions and limiting the Pioneer offense to 165 yards in the first half.

Vacated of DeCongelio’s authoritative run-support, the middle of the field was susceptible during each of Marcus McKinney’s school-record 42 carries, most of which seemed like a deliberate exploitation of the apparent weak spot (broke his previous record, 35; set vs. King’s College). The sophomore running back methodically accumulated 231 yards and four touchdowns on the afternoon—147 of those against a defense less the team’s second-leading tackler (41 total, 19 solo; 2^nd to Kreider).

Rookie linebacker Greg Burns adequately filled the void incurred by Spahn’s absence since last week, leading the team with 10 total tackles (5 solo). But even his heroics—the freshman’s best effort to replicate a last week’s spackling, capped by his game-sealing interception against Brockport—couldn’t compensate for DeCongelio’s presence in the middle of the field.

“We start to handle our business but it seems like once things start piling up its tough to come back from that,” defensive end Kevin Allgood said after his defense allowed 282 second-half yards and 29 unanswered points. “We just gotta put it together.”

Free safety Matt Kreider, who matched Burns’ tally with 10 tackles of his own and contributed to the group’s three takeaways with an interception on William Paterson’s second possession, expressed his frustration with the second-half woes that have plagued the team all year long.

“It’s the little things,” he said, alluding to a missed tackle that made way for Joel Rivera’s 70-yard touchdown reception to extend the Pioneer lead 36-38 with 11:49 remaining, among others. “We just keep shooting ourselves in the foot and that’s been the story all season.”

Though he finished the game physically unscathed, running back Chase Misura’s inability to produce for the Lions’ traditionally unstoppable running threat left Justin Donoloski without a viable smash to compliment his dash. Misura finished with a season-low seven yards on eight carries–entering the game consistently shelling out upwards of 60 yards a pop (entered 9th in NJAC; now 10th w/50.3 avg. yds/gm).

The rushing attack disappointed as a whole, as the team’s collaborative efforts only manufactured TCNJ only 107 on 35 attempts, also its least to date (remain 2nd in NJAC, entered 220.0 avg. yds/gm; now 200.8 avg. yds/gm)

“I think our inability to run the ball in the second half definitely hurt us,” Donoloski said, even referring to his own afternoon during which he was held to 19 yards in the second half on seven carries (18 rush, 99 yds, TD in game). “We gotta establish the run to get our passing game going.”

Now, likely knocked from contention for the conference throne, the Lions (4-2; 3-2 NJAC) are left in a scramble to piece together its personnel—and its shot at the post-season.

“We gotta finish plays, but we need to get some players to fill in these spots,” Kreider said. “We can’t have this let-down that we’re having and it’s obvious what we’re missing. We need certain people to step up. We’re there and we’re better than what the scoreboard said we were.”

Despite the looming uncertainty in the health of its own roster, and the definitive talent boasted by Montclair State University‘s list, Kreider spoke optimistically, his voice still strained from the angst of the loss.

“I think we can bounce back. You saw the first half—we were good. That’s a good offense and we played our hearts out. One thing leads to another and we got our heads down. But I think we’ll bounce back.”

Second TCNJ opponent earns NJAC Player of the Week vs. Lions’ D

For placing a load weighing 42 carries squarely between his shoulders, William Paterson running back Marcus McKinney earned this week’s conference honors for its top offensive performer for his effort in the Pioneers’ derailing win over TCNJ–its first against the school since 1993.

He personally accounted for 24 of his team’s 43 points, rolling up his sleeves to score his four touchdowns–all from within the five-yard line (TDs from 2, 1, 4, 1 yds in time order).

Not only were the sophomore’s 224 notches of hard-earned yardage the second time an opponent cracked the 200-yard barrier this season, but he also became the second recipient of the NJAC Offensive Player of the Week award at the expense of the TCNJ defense (Jared Chunn, Kean; 209 rush yds in Week 5).

After his most recent outing, a determined performance to captivate the Pioneers’ homecoming crowd, McKinney leads the conference in rushing, averaging 103.3 yards per game.

The Red Hawk defense provided the NJAC its second award winner for conference’s top weekly performer, holding Buffalo State to a mere 93 yards of total offense in Montclair State‘s 23-7 road win in upstate New York.

For his expansive effort–which included nine total stops (2.5 for loss), two sacks, and interception and a forced fumble toward the team’s fifth-consecutive triumph–the conference named linebacker Brian Tweer Week Seven’s NJAC Defensive Player of the Week.

The senior’s latest outing slides him into a tie for seventh-most sacks among the conference’s pass rushers (avg. 0.50 sacks/gm).

Cortland State witnessed history in its 35-6 rout of Western Connecticut, worthy of NJAC accolades for the weekend’s most outstanding specialist.

Red Dragon return-man Justin Autera followed his 79-yard dash to pay dirt on a kickoff to open the game’s second half–and his team’s scoring–with a 59-yard punt return for six in the fourth quarter. His explosive special team’s performance marks only the second time in program history that a Cortland specialist scored on both punt and kickoff returns, since its first back in 1933.

Familiar faces round out the weekend release for the conference’s noteworthy heroics, as Rowan wide receiver T. J. Pratt and Buffalo State linebacker Eddie Weiser each captured their second NJAC Rookie of the Week award of their respective seasons.

Pratt’s team-high three catches worth 27 receiving yards in the Prof’s 72-14 trouncing over Morrisville State perpetuates the team’s current streak of encouraging performances from inexperienced impact players, now the third-consecutive Prof offensive youngster to win the award–the fourth in 2009. He also tasted his first zest of the end zone, scoring on from 10 yards out during the game’s second quarter.

Overshadowed for its lack of prominence in his team’s losing effort, Weiser personally accounted for two of his Bengals’ four forced turnovers, twice intercepting Montclair State quarterback Tom Fischer. He added five tackles to the afternoon’s commendable defensive display, one which held the Red Hawks’ third-ranked pass attack to a mere 128 aerial yardage (avg. 221.60 pass yds/gm).

Hauling in his second and third picks of his promising career, Weiser shares the conference’s third-place slot for most interceptions on the year (avg. 0.50 INTs/gm).

Players, coaches defend TCNJ quarterback following loss to Willie P

WAYNE, NJ–During the madness immediately following any loss, it seems that all too often, tempers have a funny tendency to flare up.

With the range of player sentiment distributed between ill-tempered peaks, emotionally drained troughs, and variations of either scattered everywhere in between, past experience teaches us that mouths tend to shoot off harsh, uncensored words of criticism without warning—sometimes without warranting.

Take a pill as tough to swallow as Saturday’s inexcusable let-down against William Paterson, one coinciding with a quarterback’s second disappointing performance in as many tries against a top defensive unit in the conference—it’s likely that he’ll be the one to end up in the crosshairs.

But while the Lions might be moaning behind closed doors, nestling into their recliners for their season’s second rant as armchair quarterbacks, they’re outwardly protecting their own.

“We weren’t giving Chris James enough time to make the plays,” TCNJ running back Justin Donoloski said, in defense of his leader’s dismal outing, during which the four-year starter completed only 14 of his 34 passes for 189 yards and an interception—a circus spectacle in the form of a slip screen-gone-awry, still ultimately returned to the TCNJ one-yard line to set up a game-tying touchdown in the second quarter (McKinney 1-yd rush; tied score at 14 w/ 3:47 remaining in half).

Though he contributed two touchdowns to the team’s 28-point final tally, James couldn’t manage to establish a rhythm in the Lions’ passing game, half of an offense that was held to a season-low 294 yards and converted only 4 of its 14 third-down attempts Saturday night.

William Paterson represented James’ second acquaintance with one of the conference’s best defensive units this season (Wm Paterson ranked 1^st in pass efficiency defense). The other? His date with Kean University during TCNJ’s Week Five road loss, an awfully similar outcome with eerily reminiscent details (James 24/41, 234 yds, TD, 2 INT).

Coincidence? Maybe. Causation? Could be possible.

But the sophomore game-breaker for the Lions in the first half of 2009 didn’t point any disdainful fingers at others who hadn’t helped carry the same torch of fiery offensive illumination.

“There was a lot of pressure on him today, they brought the heat,” Donoloski said, describing the image seen through his eyes, accentuated with details in the form of three sacks and plenty of hurries, forcing rushed throws that often landed out of reach of wide-open receivers.

The team’s impact back didn’t offer any contradiction to his established reputation, accounting for 5.5 yards on each of his 18 attempts, finishing just one shy of the century mark. But he was quick to note what he could have done to better serve his team—and his quarterback.

“We didn’t block hard enough, we didn’t run the ball well enough and William Paterson was just the better team today.”

While Donoloski’s defense may have stemmed from player camaraderie, he wasn’t the only one to have James’ back following the game.

“I thought Chris played well,” TCNJ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta said after the game.  “I just thought the breaks we needed, we didn’t get this week.”

Fully exhausting the fire starters on its NJAC schedule, TCNJ (4-2, 3-2 NJAC) now looks to reignite its early-season’s flames against Montclair State University (5-1, 5-0 NJAC), a soggy hunk of timber seated atop the conference totem pole (T-1^st in NJAC). And Acosta believes its premise just might offer a potent enough spark.

“It’s our homecoming and [the rivalry] is very rich in tradition,” he said. “I’m sure our guys are going to show up for that.”

Now, with his team desperately writhing to regain momentum, the second-year play-caller insists his team needs to segment its remaining schedule with the hopes of tearing the envelope off of a post-season bid upon its finale.

“We just have to worry about winning each week. That’s our goal. If you’re taking care of business every week, the playoffs takes care of itself. We’ve got to treat next week as a playoff game.”

Acosta stood by the team charter following the loss, visibly irritated by the scores of missed opportunities wasted during a game his team should have won. But, emphasizing what his team needs to do to improve, Acosta offered a definitive affirmation that it can, and it will.

“We’ve got to be honest. If you’re honest, you get better and you evaluate what you do well and what you do poorly, you get better from it and you move on. We’re not going to get better by making excuses.”

Fully appropriating his own advice, the mastermind behind the Lions’ offensive juggernaut that still rounds out the NJAC’s top-two scoring beasts (avg. 42.5 ppg; Rowan avg. 44.3 ppg) spoke in no uncertain terms to describe what had happened just minutes earlier.

“They kicked our ass,” he said. “They outplayed us. You got to look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘Hey they outcoached us, outplayed us. There’s nothing we could do.’ There’s a winner and a loser for every game. And we were on the losing side tonight.”

Lions’ Post-game analysis: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Saturday’s loss was bad.

That’s probably the only time you’ll ever see me use one of those uselessly vague descriptors, but it’s about as blanketing an adjective to describe what happened. The team didn’t play as well as it should have, dropped a perfectly winnable game on its calendar, lost its second middle-linebacker in as many weeks, and likely its chance at the NJAC crown (could potentially share w/ MSU).

Let’s just get into it.

THE GOOD

• Justin Donoloski

It’s really a shame that the conference’s statisticians don’t record yards after first-contact and break-tackles, nor do they use asterisks notating style-points on otherwise bland four-yard runs. If they did, Donoloski’s afternoon would leap from the stat-sheet, as oppose to mildly hint its lone source of enthusiasm from the Lions’ side.

He finished a yard shy of his second 100-yard game this season, proving he could carry the load on a career-high 18 carries–one of them a 15-yard touchdown (prev. 15 vs. Brockport, finished w/59 rush yds, TD; 3 rec., 76 yds, TD). He personally accounted for about a third of the Lions’ offensive production, which, frankly doesn’t properly attest to his contribution, considering how poorly it functioned.

Picking up the slack for an anomalous one-yard effort from Chase Misura, who entered the game averaging 60 yards every outing (was 9th in NJAC; now 10th, avg. 50.3 yds/gm), Donoloski contributed for all but five of his team’s rush yards, despite accounting for fewer than half its carries (TCNJ-37 att., 107 yds).

Because sacks count against a quarterback’s rushing totals, Chris James technically finished in the red, losing four yards on his seven attempts. Less the three sacks, however, he provided a minimal boost to the Lions’ sputtering rushing attack, adding 20 in the right direction on his other four attempts.

Donoloski should be getting more help in the future, as it’s doubtful that Misura won’t be able to rebound for the remainder of the year. But he’ll have to get used to carrying more and more of the load, especially in the wake of Mike Yetka’s abrupt switch to defensive back–which he declined to comment about earlier in the week.

• Mark Gardner and Cam Richardson

Sure, it was a loss, but Saturday was indescribably huge for both receivers–both looking to rebound from early-season obstacles.

Gardner led the team with five catches, good for 88 yards and two touchdowns–both at pivotal times during the slugfest. He opened the scoring in the first quarter, breaking free on a 57-yard reception just under four minutes into the game. That set the tone early to fuel a 14-point lead earned faster than you can say, to-hell-with-your-homecoming. It was lost just as quickly, about the time needed to finish the following statement:

“We had such crappy field position the entire game” –free safety Matt Kreider. And I’ll get to that in a minute.

The Texas-native’s stellar performance amidst a very earthy team finish is an indelible sign that he’s rebounded from the tw0-week hangover following his season’s best outings. Duplicating his game-breaking performance against FDU-Florham (4 rec., 119 yds, TD) when his team bludgeoned Morrisville State the following week (6 rec., 111 yds, TD), Gardner’s busy ending half of September catapulted his standing to second in the conference in receiving yards per game.

In the weeks that followed, he only caught three balls for a combined 48 yards–first on the road at Kean (2 rec. 11 yds), then against Brockport (rec. 37 yds).

It’s good that he’s back, because the team’s going to need to milk as much venom that it can from all its weapons if it’s going to contend for an outside shot at the NJAC Championship.

Coming off an injury, Richardson’s breakout game didn’t come as much of a surprise. He was limited to only a few possessions a week ago, still needing to get acclimated to the speed of the game. With time to adjust, and for his quarterback to re-familiarize himself with his favorite target, the team’s tri-captain hauled in four catches good for 66 yards–one of them a 30-yarder that nudged the Lions into Pioneer territory.

Another botched snap on a crucial fourth-down conversion attempt put an end to that drive with 12:41 remaining, but that was just about how the night went altogether.

It might not seem like an earth-shattering impact, but his quartet of receptions weren’t his only contribution. He also drew two flags from Pioneer defensive backs, who mauled him on account of their inability to stick with him down the field. That tells me a.) the ankle’s fine b.) he’s still got it and c.) the ankle’s fine.

Prediction sure to go wrong? Maybe. But I’d be damned astonished if he didn’t dice the Red Hawks’ secondary on homecoming.

• Red-zone Offense

Saturday also marked the second-consecutive week that the Lions were perfect within those unforgiving final 20 yards (3/3 all TDs).

We knew Kevin Brown could run, but there wasn’t any way to be sure that he’d be consistently used in TCNJ’s goal-line offense. Not only did Lions’ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta play Brown’s card–he did it three times in a row, handing K.B. the rock on first, second, and third downs. He didn’t make mention of his confidence level regarding his newest workhorse among a stable of others, but that persistence said plenty.

And, back to Gardner, his gorgeous back-of-the-end-zone strike to the 6’2 senior proved that James doesn’t need endless green pastures to distribute the football, generally a shortcoming of spread offense quarterbacks. In next week’s “playoff” game against Montclair State, they’re going to need all the moxie in the red zone that they can conjure up (MSU RZ def. 3rd in NJAC; opp. 68.8% scoring; 5 TOD).

THE BAD

• Fix that clutch

Over the course of the afternoon, the Lions certainly had their chances to seize momentum and stop the downward spiral that ultimately accelerated out of their control.

The team finished 4/14 on third-down, converting not a single attempt in the fourth quarter (0/4). Marc Zucconi earned his bus ticket this week, sent out 8 times as TCNJ’s field-position mercenary (avg. 43.6 yds/punt). It didn’t attempt to convert a fourth-down attempt until late, during its last-ditch comeback effort–one that, to his credit, Chris James almost pulled off.

It still wasn’t pretty (2/5, 37 yds) but aside from Richardson’s 30-yard grab on the drive, he drew a flag after he was mauled a few plays later on what would have been an undoubted completion. James and Co. arrived at the WPU 24-yard line, staring a must-have fourth-and-four in the eyes. It’s unclear who blinked, quarterback or center, but the Lions botched another exchange on the crucial down, ultimately ending their night.

• Field-position

It’s hard to fathom that the Lions could ever end up on the slighted side of a field-position struggle, but Kreider’s complaints were certainly supported by the numbers. On the afternoon, the Pioneers’ average starting field position was their own 41–unfavorable, but manageable for an opposing defense. Unbelievably, the Paterson offense set up shop from, on average, the TCNJ 46-yard line in the second quarter.

Between turnovers and poor kick coverage (WPU avg. 12.2 yds/punt ret.), the Lions did not come through on special teams. Matters certainly weren’t helped when a snap on what was supposed to be a routine punt sent Zucconi on his horse 20 yards to chase down runaway pigskin, finally catching up in his end zone. The pair of tallies forfeited snipped a seven-point TCNJ lead to five, only ahead 28-23 with 4:07 remaining in the third quarter.

Not only did its frustrated punter have to trot back out to return possession, but he had to let it rip from his own 20-yard line. Paterson started at its own 46 following the return, ultimately scoring a touchdown on the drive to take the lead–one it wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the night.

THE UGLY

• You don’t know what you got…

Until you see exactly how bad it could get.

Zucconi’s been a gem for the Lions–there’s no doubting that. But, even if you tried, I’m pretty sure his three NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week awards would beg to differ. He’s been consistent, fulfilling the bare minimum standard for the position, but he’s exceeded reasonable expectations for the position, to say the least.

William Paterson isn’t as lucky.

Their place-kicker, Ryan Brzycki, did miss a 29-yarder with 4:37 remaining in the second quarter–a chip-shot from the TCNJ 12-yard line. But it certainly had the distance, and, in his defense, was from a tough angle on the left hash-mark. He also made all of his extra points, which aren’t always the gimmies they’re intended to be.

Their punter, however, wasn’t as trustworthy.

(Not naming names) He did average a reputable 29.3 yards per punt (long 37), but his 15-yard dribbler that sailed out of bounds at midfield was a well-received source of comedic relief in the midst of a frustrating day for anyone who was watching–fan or foe. (Unless, of course, you were one of those high-spirited Paterson alums. The team hadn’t pulled off a win in the series since 1993, but you try telling that to the Willie P faithful. Hey, good for them.)

What was funny about the display was how hard he was practicing immediately before he took the field. I’m not going to scoff at anyone’s misfortunes–at least not that much–but watching the football drop like a “lead zeppelin” (actually the same comment that berthed the band’s name–not joking) was a pretty silly sight.

Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag: How TCNJ can still grasp NJAC glory, make the post-season, and why there’s nothing wrong w/ CJ

Every Monday, I’ll take a minute to respond to you — Lions’ Nation — answering questions and offering my predictions and insight surrounding the team’s 2009 campaign. Here’s this week’s installment of Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag.

I fielded a lot of concerns this week regarding the Lions’ playoff hopes and criticism of their quarterback. And here’s what I’ve got to say about each.

• Matty, we knew that the NJAC picture was a mess last week. What, if anything, can TCNJ do to get a piece of the title this year?

I spoke to NJAC Commissioner Terry Small on the phone earlier today, and we had a 17-minute conversation regarding that question precisely. The conference playoff picture isn’t exactly what you’d call HD at this point in time.

To date, TCNJ is ranked fifth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, boasting a mediocre 3-2 conference record. Fortunately for the program, the deficit between it and the two top dogs is a mere two games (Montclair State University and Kean; both 5-0). So I know I said last week that the team needed to win out–technically an errant statement.

My bad.

The team needs to win against Montclair State this weekend, first and foremost. That gives the Red Hawks their first loss of the season, one half of what the Lions need should they handle their business for the remainder of 2009.

The team travels to upstate New York the following week, looking to knead salt in the wounded Red Dragons (lost several quarterbacks, starting running back for season). Cortland State (4-2 overall, NJAC) currently sits fourth in the conference standings, and a loss would without question remove their name from even the most outside chances to contend for the NJAC championship.

TCNJ returns home the following week, welcoming a crippled Western Connecticut State (0-6 overall, 0-5 NJAC) program to Lions’ Stadium. Last week’s loss to William Paterson about rules out any forgoing any conclusions regarding premature ticks in the win column, but you’d like to think the team can manage against the conference’s last-place competitor.

Then there’s Rowan-week, an unofficial summons for players to take a one-week hiatus from class. A win would give the Profs (5-1 overall, 4-1 NJAC) their second conference loss this year, likely sliding them out of the NJAC’s No. 3 slot.

Now, before it dropped the ball–literally, figuratively–in Wayne this weekend, TCNJ controlled its own destiny. Unfortunately for the program, even if it can manipulate its own fate and the rest of its schedule, it can’t thrust itself back into the driver’s seat for the ‘ship. It can still win an outright conference title, though they’d need some serious upsets to mar the NJAC leaders. If it’s going to win a share, they still be banking on a few must-have helping hands.

Actually, three of them. Four if you count not looking past Western Connecticut.

So here’s where fingers start crossing.

Should Rowan manage to topple both Kean and Montclair State, the Profs would be cordially handing each program its first and second respective conference loss. Montclair State would still need to get the best of Kean, which isn’t too far out of the realm of possibility–Kean now has two losses.

So now, in an extrapolation Commissioner Small described as “getting way ahead of [my]self,” there would conceivably be a four-way tie for the conference title. Which would end in a four way tie.

“If at the end of the season there was a three-way tie,” Commissioner Small said via telephone interview. “We’d have tri-champions. If there were four teams we’d have quad-champions or however you’d like to call it.”

Breath of fresh air for the Lions for the here and now. But, unfortunately, that’s only the easy part…

• Matty, what does TCNJ need to do to make the post-season?

All of that, and then some. It’s frankly too much to put into a 4M post, so check in later in the week for the answer to that question.

• What’s the deal with Chris James? This makes two substandard performances against top defenses from the Lions’ QB. How can we still think he’s good compared to the rest of the passers at this level?

Well, it really shouldn’t be too hard, especially if you take a look at the circumstances.

In each of the two games in question, both losses, both on the road, and both against the conference’s top pass efficiency defense, Chris James really didn’t play all that well–for Chris James.

Against Kean, he completed 58.5% of his passes (24/41), which wasn’t too bad, but the two picks certainly weren’t going to help stabilize the team against its toughest opponent to date. His 5.7 yards per attempt was mediocre, also by his standards. Keep in mind, he entered the game averaging a silly 226.6 pass efficiency rating (2nd in NCAA), which is a pretty high standard to consistently match. He could have done better, but he didn’t skimp on setting the bar high for himself in his first three games.

Last week was the first time anyone’s seen that kind of inaccuracy from the Lions’ #4 since his sophomore year two years ago, when he only completed 48% of his passes during the 2007 season. He finished 14/34 on Saturday, good for only 189 yards. Two touchdowns? Good. Interception and fumble on fourth-and-two? Not so much. But can you really blame him for those miscues entirely?

He has to get at least half of a pass for the fumble in the fourth quarter, considering it wasn’t ostensibly anyone’s fault. He needs to make sure that he’s still taking snaps from under center on the in pregame and on the sidelines between drives, but there’s a reason why Colt Brennan caught flak for “questions about his ability to effectively run a pro-style offense” (ESPN Insider Scouting Report 2008). When quarterbacks aren’t used to taking snaps from under center, that’s a risk taken. The team’s jumbo package seems as if it’s here to stay, giving everyone involved–quarterback and center–ample repetition in under-center snaps during practice. You can’t expect those same types of errors in the future–less and less with each passing week.

Now, there’s a distinct difference between coincidence and causation. Just because there happen to be similarities between his two worst performances to date, doesn’t necessarily pave the way for rash leaps toward unfounded conclusions. You want a cause for James’ struggles, aside from an athlete just having a rough afternoon? I’ll give you one.

Aside from Kean and Willie P’s stints as the conference’s top pass defenses, there’s another similarity exclusive to those two performances–no running game.

Against the Cougars, TCNJ ball-carriers only managed to gain 108 yards, omitting the team rushing yards lost on fumble from Kean one-yard line. It’s not to say coordinators didn’t try, as long as they could anyway, signaling in 32 rushing plays over the course of the game. Between the team’s then-No. 12 rushing attack in Division III, Donoloski, Misura and Yetka combined for 100 yards, a slight disparity from the to the 271.3 it averaged entering the contest.

Last week, Donoloski carried the load as best he could, but was still only able to muster 99 yards on his 18 carries. Of those, only seven carries came in the second half, versus James’ 20 drop-backs. The line didn’t handle the blitz particularly well, but it also wasn’t dominated by any means. It was a victim of the situation, however, without any equivocation.

The advantage enjoyed by a defensive end well in tune with the unlikelihood that his opponent is running the football on the upcoming play isn’t quantifiable. Being able to safely take that exaggeratedly wide pass rush around an offensive tackle is disruptive, if not dangerous. The senior was wrangled to the turf behind the line three times by Pioneer pass-rushers, not to mention the multitude of times he was hurried, hit or otherwise badgered.

There’s still plenty of blame to be served on his plate–especially at this stage in his career. But to suggest that he’s not capable is absurd.

I’m elaborating off of my prediction sure to go wrong. I said yesterday that Richardson was going to rack up more than 100 receiving yards this weekend, but I’m going to expand the field. There’s going to be a game-breaking receiving performance this weekend (impossible without stellar quarterback play, so you can throw that in there too). Donoloski is going to have a run-of-the-mill first half before he takes control of the second, probably gashing the Red Hawks on either a lengthy run or screen reception. I mean, he’s done it about 10 times this year already–though the question is regarding James’ performances, so I’ll try not to digress.

Should you like, you could also question offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta’s play-calling. How any of that propaganda would read at this stage in the game isn’t really a concern of mine, considering there’s not a chance I’d be subscribing, given his track record.

There were significantly fewer running plays in the second half than in the first (23 vs. 14). But if you were in attendance, there were few circumstances that even slightly grumbled “why would you call that play?” if there were any at all. And, even under those cases, there may have been other options available–not necessarily better, just different. Several called pass plays were high-percentage throws that were disrupted by pressure, or poorly executed–a few defensive reads on screens were just good efforts by the opposition. I mean, they were ranked first in the conference in pass efficiency defense for a reason.

If you want to throw criticism at anyone, blame everyone. The team didn’t execute in either contest, and it cost them. A missed throw here, a dropped pass there (even Richardson let one slip out of his hands), or a whiffed block (or two, or three) can reroute any offensive party wagon. And that’s exactly what happened Saturday.

***

That’s it for this week’s edition of 4M.

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Lions down, but not out yet–TCNJ’s 2009 playoff picture

Upon the finale of the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s 2009 regular season, therein lies a pretty uncomplicated selection system for dubbing the victor of the conference crown. Should two teams, or four, boast the same record once all the conference’s disputes have been settled, they’ll all be named No. 1–as sacrelige as that might sound.

But any program’s exclusive privilege to post “2009 NJAC Champion” on its school’s web site doesn’t necessarily include playoff implications. If that’s the case, and multiple teams share a piece of fresh-baked glory, someone (or someones) is going to be surfing the web to about the 2009 Stagg Bowl post-season, rather than preparing for it.

TCNJ (4-2, 3-2 NJAC), as ridiculous as it might sound, still has a perfectly feasible opportunity to capture the conference trophy at season’s end. The program has fully exercised all its do-over options, dropping two games so far to in-conference foes, and it’s going to need an organized philanthropic effort of Salvation Army stature from the rest of the league. But it’s not out yet. Like the taught restraints tying its hands in its scramble for NJAC supremacy, the Lions’ ability to impact its shot isn’t entirely within its control.

The NJAC, similar to major conferences in Division I college basketball, is one of few entitled to an automatic bid among the Division III football post-season’s 32-team pool. Most years, like in 2008 when Cortland State University finished with a pristine 9-0 NJAC record, there’s not a distinction between winner and representative in the Stagg Bowl senate. But others require a methodical progression of tie-breakers to settle any disputes.

For the remainder of the article, I’m going to refer to the hypothetical situation presented yesterday, in my tardy posting of 4M. If this doesn’t exactly make sense, skim through that scenario and you’ll be pretty abruptly caught up to speed. Either way, fasten your seat belts, Lions fans.

Here we go.

The first determinant, the most regular and sensible, is head-to-head record. Now, Montclair State would have the edge against both TCNJ and Kean, while the Cougars’ Week 5 win over TCNJ would swing the tiebreaker in their favor. Rowan would also boast wins against Montclair and Kean, though both it and the Red Hawks would have fallen to the Lions.

Sound messy? That’s because it is, and it also wouldn’t suffice as a criterion to determine the NJAC bid-getter.

The next measuring rod to sift out three of these contenders is each program’s win-loss record against whoever finished just outside the first-place party. In this case, it would likely be Cortland State Univeristy. (Again, assuming that the Red Dragons’ loss to TCNJ accounts for its third conference loss, driving the final nail toward prepping their post-season burial.) In this scenario, all of the teams but Rowan would have gotten the best of the defending NJAC champs, eliminating the Profs from this playoff carousel.

The three remaining programs (TCNJ, Kean, Montclair State) would arrive at the conference’s third measuring rod, each opponents’ opponents’ win percentage in Division III. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Also sounds a whole lot like opponent strength of schedule, but NJAC Commissioner Terry Small assured me that it’s a different calculation, executed by the NCAA. Considering its close proximity to SOS, we’ll use that to give a better idea of the playoff scenario.

For these intents and purposes, there’s only one team per program that’s relevant to this particular portion of the discussion. Because the NJAC schedules all but one game between in-conference competitors, all of those opponents’ opponents’ win-loss tallies have already proven insufficient to sorting this mess out in the first place. So they hold no merit here.

We’ll start with TCNJ.

The Lions’ non-conference opponent, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham, hasn’t had itself the great season of every collegiate athlete’s dreams. The Devils’ record (1-5), however, isn’t the determinant used in this assessment–it’s their opponents’ records. Fortunately for the Lions, their schedule graced them with a date against a team with that kind of success.

Using data from the NCAA Division III football statistics web site, FDU-Florham’s cumulative strength of schedule ranks high among the nation’s most difficult coalitions of opposition (cum. opp. is win % 0.638) That’s good for 10th in the country, 24 spots higher than Wilkes (cum. opp. win % is 0.576)–Montclair State University’s non-conference opponent. The Devils, unfortunately, didn’t play a tougher schedule than Delaware Valley (2nd in NCAA) who’ve faced opponents with a winning percentage of 0.666% in 2009.

All is not lost for the Lions, considering there’s still four weeks of the schedule remaining. It just increases the amount of digits needed to be crossed as the season progresses–maybe adding a few toes to already intertwined fingers. There’s still plenty of time for changes in the rankings, should Del Val’s opposition hit a collective wall. And who knows? The teams on FDU’s schedule could all of a sudden be empowered by some freak, late-season surge.

In the unlikelihood that there’s still a tie, the selection committee would focus its assessment toward each team’s opponents’ opponents’ record in the East Region alone–again, in desperate circumstances. Following that would be the Rose Bowl Rule, stipulating that the team with the most recent post-season berth would be excluded from this year’s festivities–in this case both Rowan and TCNJ would let Kean take the NJAC’s keys to its hotrod, zooming down the D3 Autobahn that’s its Stagg Bowl tournament. Had this scenario boiled down to the conference’s second-to-last selection criterion last year, instead including TCNJ and Cortland State, both of which tied for the conference championship the previous year and each had received a playoff berth, the winner of a coin flip would send either onward.

So you see, there’s no ruling out a post-season berth for the Lions just yet. Sure it requires the fulfillment of a series of improbables and unlikelihoods–impossible without a second half chock full of luck–but hope isn’t a fruitless effort, a fool’s errand. Let the haters keep on hating, but TCNJ is far from done. Under these circumstances, when all isn’t necessarily lost but hangs from the most delicate of threads, I offer the adage of a good friend of mine, a poker player whose successes and failures hinge solely upon unbiased swings of fate.

If there’s a chip in the chair, you’ve got a prayer.

Indeed, Joe Cruz.

Lions and Tigers and “Bears” and Bones–the Paul Vichroski story

TCNJ offensive line coach Paul Vichroski during one of the team's Week Four practice sessions

Hang up the phone.

You needn’t call in a shrink—the Lions’ peculiar post-game ritual, appropriately nicknamed “gorillas,” isn’t a token residual of identity crisis. And, no, even in a sports world ridden with perforated corners, primed for abuse by the athletes all too eager to cut them, the ensuing chest-pounding that accompanies its piercing battle cry falls plenty short of grounds to screen the team’s urine for PEDs.

But should the program rebound after last week’s let-down loss on the road at William Paterson University, topping the first-place Red Hawks of Montclair State University, stick around for a while. A win would offer a chance to see what causes all the confusion. Look harder, at the heart of this swaying mob of student-athletes, and you just might catch a glimpse of who.

Or, you could simply ask. And he’d oblige—simply.

“I’m just plain, old Coach Bones.”

Based on his modest description, the ringleader of this jubilant, though admittedly juvenile ceremonial rite of victory sells himself short. Both he and his tradition—eagerly anticipated by players and coaches each and every time the Lions seize victory on the gridiron—have withstood the tests of time and tumult in the collegiate coaching carousel.

Swing by the facility during the week, however, and you’ll find the same Paul Vichroski pacing back and forth in Lions’ Stadium, not quite as loose as the one seen monkeying around after wins. Now is the time for work, not play, prompting his incessant barking of precise expectations to all of the team’s players—not limited to his offensive linemen.

A stickler for excellence with a microscopic fixation on detail, Vichroski prowls the outskirts of team’s least glorious endeavors, generally fostering its most halfhearted efforts: agility drills, dynamic stretch warm-ups, and reps during special teams’ segments. Receivers are scolded for lazy, hanging arms while standing on the line-of-scrimmage, their hands not where they’d be during a street fight. Dare to partake in a conditioning drill without vigor, or worse, perfect form, and players are reprimanded on the spot—until they get it right.

Every last morsel of enjoyment in his life he earned by rolling up his sleeves. Mediocrity, or worse, apathy to any of facet of his beloved game, simply won’t be tolerated, not even toward its most tedious formalities—the kind of stuff that would curl Allen Iverson’s snarling lip of disgust.

Coach Bones, poised to correct Lions' TE James Yates for letting his arms dangle at his side--far from their appropriate locked and cocked position, like during a "street fight"

Each and every practice.

“I hope when I’m that age I have anywhere near that energy,” defensive end Craig Meyer said, now in his fourth year with the program—and Bones’ intensity. “But, you have to respect him for what he knows about the game.”

But Vichroski’s high standards have purpose, well-aware of the daily discipline necessary to compete at the college level. A two-sport letterman during his days at TCNJ, he thrived in any athletic medium that let him throw something—the bigger the better.

In addition to prowess in the shot, javelin and discus throws, the Trenton-native also excelled as a two-way starter on the line for then-Lions’ head man, Bob Salois. Launching iron rods long before the helmets worn by his oft-abused adversaries were constructed with iron masks, Vichroski doesn’t downplay the prominent role that football played in such a delicate time in any young man’s life.

“Tremendously,” he said of its impact, wiping away his stern countenance—a quintessential scowl of a college football coach/drill sergeant, Coach Bones’ warmer side subbing in.

“I never thought I’d be a college boy, a student. I had ambitions of going at one time or another and maybe playing some football. It all came true and I figured I’d take advantage of it.”

Understandably  so, considering he’d all but decided to continue a mildly binding commitment—to the United States Military.

In the few quiet years sandwiched between conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, Vichroski stood where many men his age did, staring at the growing pile of draft notices in his family’s mailbox. Fresh out of high school, he was overcome by indecision, torn between the United States Navy and the Marine Corps. Again, just like any 18-year old would, he asked his father for guidance.

“My father told me, Well, you’ve gotta pick one,” he said, reminiscing about the conversation from a half century earlier. Carefully scrutinizing the advantages and shortcomings of each—both with his father and by himself—Vichroski sought an alternative method.

“He had recommended the Navy, but I liked the Marines at the time. So I flipped a coin.”

Heads for marines, tails for navy. After a brief flight, Vichroski peered across his kitchen table to see which faced upwards. And at the drop of a dime (technically a quarter), he was a midshipman.

Now admitting a retrospective preference for the U. S. Coast Guard, Vichroski invested his next four years to service at sea—two active, followed by another two of inactive duty. When he could, during his vessel’s periodic stops along the Gulf Coast, Vichroski sought out a much-needed fix, from the 1960s highest quality pushers.

During his autonomy of the Southeastern Conference among college football’s elite, Paul “Bear” Bryant organized the University of Alabama’s preseason training camp in the New Orleans area, a frequent port of call of Vichroski’s vessel. An aspiring coach himself, he rushed the gates of the practice facility, giddily like a teenage girl on Black Friday, salivating at the discounted opportunity to obtain priceless knowledge from one of the game’s most storied personas—then and now.

When he arrived, he stood staring through gaps in the chain-link fencing, hoping to catch a glimpse of the otherwise fabled Crimson Tide. And based on its unforgettable first-impression, the experience lived up to the hype.

“Man these guys were good,” his waning memory permits him to recollect. “Quickness, speed—unbelievable. What did I know, I was just a guy in the Navy, but when you see these guys, man. Just amazing.”

It didn’t present an intimate student-teacher experience (though, he recalls, “I shook his hand once), but Vichroski insists much of the world of knowledge he’s gradually accumulated was absorbed on those dusty Creole practice fields.

“He was a hell of a football coach,” citing his first-hand account of a legend in his prime. “I really admired how he got so much out of his guys. He respected his opponent, and he always expected a lot from the kids he had.”

Players await eagerly to erupt during Bones' post-game ritual, here seen following TCNJ's Week 3 win over FDU-Florham

But that wasn’t all his experience garnered. Turning to leave, overly satiated from a gluttonous feast of football food for thought, Vichroski’s return to whatever his commanding officers had in store for the next few thousand hours of his life would have to wait. A synchronized bellowing howl grabbed hold of Vichroski’s attention.

And it hasn’t yet let go.

He incrementally pieced together what had seemed like an ancient tribal ritual—alien to outsiders, a irrevocable facet of culture to its practitioners.

Characterized first, by the rapt sway of a pendulum of bodies, ticking harmoniously as one, players allowed their seething aggression from two hours-worth of hard-labor in Louisiana heat and humidity to boil.

Entranced faces housing wide-eyed glared toward Bryant, their silverback, in anxious advent of the first notion of a signal. Following a tantalizingly long three-count, they unleashed what must’ve seemed like hell to anyone within a few hundred yards of the facility.

“Well you know what a gorilla is, don’t you?” I did, but I egged him on with the slightest indication of doubt regarding where he was going with it. “You always see these documentaries with gorillas in them. And when one defeats his foe, his enemy, he shows his pride by pounding his chest with his troop, feeling like a million dollars.”

Perfectly capable of inciting a deluge of infants’ tears, coinciding with a heart-palpitating startling of their mothers (and fathers), Vichroski smiled.

“When I first saw it I said, I like that,” he said. “From that moment I knew that if I ever got into coaching, I wanted to show that to my team.”

And he would, in time. But fate had its prerequisites.

Vichroski returned home, the aromatic scent of his first tour’s finale lingering just six months away. After he’d requested a brief leave on account of nostalgia, Vichroski made one of his life’s most pivotal road trips—a casual stop at his high school.

There he reunited with his former head coach—who complimented his University of Pennsylvania education with accolades as three-time All-American linebacker—Bob Perigini. As it so often does during those reunions, the conversation shifted toward the future. Investing years of his life in the United States military, service was all Vichroski knew. And, in his mind, it was the lone glimmer of clarity at this juncture in his life.

Paul Vichroski never thought he'd get the opportunity to attend college--let alone establish himself as the longest tenured assistant at TCNJ

Even if a return to the military didn’t make perfect sense, Vichroski thought he knew what was least likely.

“I wasn’t the brightest star in the sky,” he said, referring to his lackluster academic career. “I struggled as a student.”

Indifferent to a waning amour propre, Perigini’s indelible relationship with one of his players prompted his automated response. He offered to contact his Alma mater, hoping to wedge Vichroski’s lanky 6’3 frame into the oft-impenetrable fortress of an Ivy League edification.

Unsuccessful, but not futile. Gears now churning in pursuit of a degree, Vichroski’s life drifted toward the path of on an alternative battle plan—divergent from the service.

Failed attempts at Albright College among others followed. Perigini enacted a last-ditch effort to propelling his former player to academia.

After a series of collaborative efforts, Perigini arranged a spot for Vichroski at an upcoming entrance examination to, as it was called at the time, Trenton State College.

“I couldn’t have told you the last time I’d read a book,” he said of his preemptive nervousness entering the test. “I was hoping God was looking upon my poor soul and said, Hey, I’ll let you in.”

More likely influenced by untapped intellectual resources—and the dependency of the U.S. Postal Service—than divine intervention, Vichroski stood at the mailbox once more. No longer mortified, like he and with thousands of adolescents reluctantly reeled into combat had to have been, he delicately peeled apart the glue from the envelope’s backside. In it contained exclusive admission to the exclusive future—until then, exclusive to his dreams.

Ecstatic, Vichroski immediately accepted his invitation, “especially since the government was paying for it.” Had the military not opened its checkbook, his parents’ financial standing likely wouldn’t have supported it.

His father, Frank, “worked his backside off” as the building manager of an apartment complex that fostered Paul’s childhood. His mother, Stella, pulled double-duty to support the family.

As Frank’s part-time assistant, she scrubbed the floors, tinkered with dubious intricacies of her husband’s plumbing and electricity systems, and spackled the cracks in whatever job a mere 24 hours left unaddressed. As his full-time housewife, she scrubbed dishes, tinkered with the dubious intricacies of raising her husband’s children, and slipped on the apron of a bona fide Super Mom from dawn till dusk.

Conceived through his parents’ diligence, incubated by his coach’s persistence, and birthed following his own unshaken resilience, Vichroski’s education materialized into a college diploma in—of all areas of study—industrial arts.

“It was the easiest way I thought I could get into the school,” he said later, explaining the decision’s Darwinist rationale.

Recognized for his adequate success in the classroom, Vichroski’s prolific gridiron accomplishments didn’t go unnoticed either.

His eligibility exhausted, Vichroski’s football career still flickered. After another casual visit to the portal of his life’s expeditions, he found another two letters in Vichroski mailbox—addressed from prominent personalities in football history as the one he last encountered.

In 1963, during the fledgling stages of the AFL’s rival pro football league, open tryouts were a commonality among the infantile franchises. Hosted by fabled greats in Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry, Vichroski received invites to auditions with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys.

The Packers had filled their roster before his gridiron interview, but Vichroski’s offer was still on the table for what would later become America’s team. Fighting with the vigor that toppled the intellectual obstacles of his college experience, Vichroski dueled with All-Pro guard Jim Ray Smith and College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lee Roy Jordan.

He didn’t make the roster, which was alright with him. His Super Bowl waited for him back home.

His return as Trenton’s prodigious son berthed his long-awaited coaching career, one that’s lasted, uncharacteristically, about as long. Over the past 34 years, he’s seen it all. Head coaches have come and gone since the beginning of his tenure, along with about every offensive philosophy imaginable. On par with his unconditional sentiment toward all his players, Vichroski never favored one scheme over the next.

“We went through every offense there was. I, Power-I, Wishbone, Wing-T, you name it. I liked them all, because each had its own innovative approach. I learned a lot.”

He had his opportunities to claw up the rungs of the ladder, but he wasn’t fazed by the glitz and glam of “big time” coaching jobs. “I’d rather just stay here, with these players and with [TCNJ head] Coach [Eric] Hamilton,” he said. “He’s treated me well and I’ll always appreciate it.”

Hamilton reciprocates the feeling—though it wasn’t his initial impression.

“This big guy, just out of the navy, local legend and player at the College and you’re scared to death because he was such an imposing figure,” he said, recollecting his first glimpse of the ominous Trenton State football legend while waiting for his physical entering his freshman year.

“But, you come to find out that you just met the nicest guy in the world.”

Of all the hall of fame-caliber coaches helping craft his football knowledge, and those of the future that have allowed his career to flourish, he claims the fabric that’s fostered his career isn’t found in any sports almanac—probably not even the phone book.

Married to his wife, Barbara, for “a pretty long time,” Vichroski insists that the tenderness waiting upon his every return from practices and games, sometimes later than she’d like, is what’s made it all possible. And he’s grateful for it.

“I still love her today as much as the first day I met her. Football wives deserve the world, because they go through a lotta hell. And anyone will tell you that’s not an easy thing,” noting her dichotomy—like his own mother’s—raising his three children, now all “in their 30s.”

Uninterested in the results of “popularity contests” he’d likely win (says he “doesn’t care about all that”), there’s no doubting his legacy—a book that, literally, he hasn’t gotten to writing.

“When I leave this game I’m going to write a book,” he says. “I’m going to go off into the woods and write a book. However long it takes, that’s what I’m gonna do—fish and write.”

Bones' gorillas in full force, again after the Lions' 67-point trouncing against FDU-Florham

Not forgetting, of course, “Bear’s” gorillas.

By his own account, he’s made it. He persevered in the navy, survived in college, and thrived on the gridiron. He can’t remember most of the players’ names he’s coached, though he’d “never forget a face.”

But the cat that’s got his tongue, leaving him unable to articulate the mountainous quake that shakes his rock-solid core of emotion is what everyone he’s encountered means to him—a collage of players, seasons, stories and struggles, each a profound entity both individually and as a collective portrait of his impact on the midsection of the Garden State.

“I can’t express it,” he said, struggling to piece his years of experiences into verse.

“It’s just in here,” he continued, lightly tapping his chest with a closed fist…

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: Don’t call it a comeback–in his head James never left

Success and failure in games might hinge upon the difference of inches, but one’s ability to thrive at the quarterback position is even more delicate–a fragile ecosystem of athleticism, brains and, above all else, attitude.

Rookie phenom Mark Sanchez, the Jets’ golden boy with a right arm about as glistening in Jersey’s overcast October skies, has managed to persist through the same tumult that’s spoiled fresh young talent in years past (Ryan Leaf ring a bell?), only because he’s got what they didn’t.

A spirited resilience.

Now, he’s not posing for GQ Magazine, nor is he the topic of New York talk-radio eight-to-nine days a week, but TCNJ quarterback Chris James isn’t much different. While TCNJ’s conference schedule has offered the four-year starter his fair share of successes–decimating individual and team records in each of the Lions’ first four games, not to mention the bragging rights implicit to the nation’s top scoring threat–it hasn’t shied away from rearing its uglier side.

And when it has, as recently as last week’s let-down on the road against William Paterson, James is the first to admit his dissatisfaction with his performance. But more importantly, he’ll also be the first to let it go.

“Any time you lose a game and the numbers weren’t what you’d wanted them to be, you’re always going to be upset,” he said, alluding to the mere 14-of-34 passes he completed a week ago in Wayne. “If I’d made a couple more passes, maybe scored another touchdown that would have put us closer. But I can’t say that if I had played better we would have won the game, because I don’t know. Last week was hard. But you can’t reverse the past. Just live with it—that’s how I feel.”

Serene with what’s behind him, James accepts the irrevocable reality. But that doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.

“Frankly it sucks. But [the loss] is just a stepping stone to get better for this week. It gives me that much more determination to work harder for the next game.”

Which is precisely what he did following Week Five, when the NJAC calendar thrust the Brick Memorial high school legend into his road debut against the Kean University Cougars.

His first appearance as a gladiator matched against the conference’s top-ranked defensive secondary (led NJAC in opp. pass efficiency) was rough on him (season-high 2 INTS in 28-7 loss), but the senior battled on, responding the next week in the team’s 48-34 slug fest win over The College at Brockport. A discernible reminder of his abilities, James posted his year’s third 300-yard passing performance, complete with three aerial scores–rounding out this season’s triad for that feat as well (300+ yds, 3+ pass TDs vs. FDU-Florham, Morrisville St., Brockport).

Which is also precisely the prediction offered by his coach for this weekend, based on James’ track-record. Saturday marks the Lions’ return to Lions Stadium to face Montclair State University–the culmination of TCNJ’s homecoming spirit week, also the last of his collegiate career.

“A big performance,” TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton said, laughing at his blunt response to the question. “I think he’s that kind of a kid, I think he’s that kind of a player. It’s a big stage, it’s a big game. There’s a lot of rivalry and tradition [against Montclair State], and the last time he came off a loss we came back and had a big win. What else would I expect him to do?”

Now facing a weekly do-or-die carousel for the remainder of the season, the first of four remaining tests for the Lions is no cupcake. Rolling through Buffalo State a week ago en route to its fifth-consecutive win, the Red Hawks remain perched atop the NJAC standings.

But neither distant nor recent history offers a vote of confidence, in spite of James’ unshakable swagger.

During his team’s 15-0 loss at Sprague Field a year ago, the then-junior completed a skimpy 16 of his 35 throws, among those, one hauled in by Red Hawk defensive back Cornell Hunt. On the day, James finished with an anemic 128 yards, but without a touchdown, good (or bad) for a dismal 70.7 passer efficiency.

This year, the Red Hawk defense looks about as stout, ranking 6th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (88.25 opp. passer rating) while reining opposing ball-carriers to a flimsy 54.5 total yards rushing–the fourth-fewest in Division III. Considering the only non-Chris James outings of 2009 have come against top-ranked defensive backfields (Kean, WPU both ranked No. 1 in NJAC in opp. pass efficiency entering games) and coincided with the Lions’ worst ground support efforts (58 vs. Kean; 105 vs. WPU) he’s certainly got his work cut out for him, hoping to rekindle his early season success and reroute his team’s post-season aspirations.

“I thought he played pretty hard [against Kean],” Hamilton said, about as faithful in the nation’s 20th-most efficient passer (13 TDs, 5 INTs; 156.85 rating).

“Statistically the numbers weren’t there, but the other things were. He still was a good leader, he tried to make plays and put us in the right positions. It’s just one of those things where some days you’re on and some days you’re not. And I would have to say that was one of those days he just wasn’t on the ‘A-game.’”

He’s not concerned with his records, neither the ones he already holds, nor those he’s about to grab. He’s even more uninterested in his stats, or any other non-numeric quantification of his performance. Chris James isn’t one to offer a bold prediction, one he’s not sure fate will allow him to fulfill. But he–man, not mouse–spat an indelible promise to fans and naysayers alike, assuring the homecoming crowd that he’d be putting on a show, scheduled for a 2:00pm curtain call.

“Montclair’s a good team, but me and the receivers, we’ve only got four games left in our careers,” he said, without much thought or hesitation.

“You can bet we’re going to leave it all out on the field.”

Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: TCNJ Homecoming won’t foster season’s 3rd NJAC POTW award, says Meyer

It’s possible that the day-to-day grind as a collegiate athlete has kept him sheltered, or maybe he does it himself. But even when the conference selected William Paterson running back Marcus McKinney NJAC Offensive Player of the Week following his 200-yard performance his TCNJ Lions–this season’s second award winner at his defense’s expense–Craig Meyer said he hadn’t gotten the memo.

“To be honest with you I didn’t know that,” the defensive end said, a tinge of irritation swelling in his tone. Once he’d heard, the senior tri-captain vowed the intel would immediately be put to good use.

“That’s a good thing that you’re telling me now. I’m going to use that to fuel the fire of our defense when I go to practice today.”

Nearly ousted by key losses on its second level, the Lions defensive flames could benefit from any spark Meyer, the media, or anyone else has to offer.

“Well, there always seems to be something every week,” TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said two days after his unit’s 462 yards of forfeitures during the team’s 48-23 loss. “Unfortunately this week was a little bit of the same as the previous week, losing key guys to injury on game day. You can’t prepare for that.”

When the team’s then-leading tackler, junior linebacker Dan DeCongelio, was knocked out of the game following an undisclosed injury sustained during the game’s opening quarter, the floodgates opened for a deluge of Paterson offensive production.

Beginning the game with a vindictive purpose, the unit only allowed 165 first-half yards and 14 points to Willie P, a stark contrast from the Pioneers’ free rein enjoyed the following 30 minutes–a deliberate exploitation of dwindling depth and player spirits.

“The loss of DeCon on the field, both from a player standpoint and as a morale thing, hurt us a lot,” Meyer said. “We played a great first half of defense. We came out and did exactly what we wanted to do. But [injuries and other factors] take a lot of wind out of a defense’s sail.”

Hamilton explained how the problem exacerbated with every passing minute.

“Where that hurt us was depth-wise as you got in the latter stages of the game,” he said, referring to the limitations imposed on his scheme. “For three quarters we more than held our own. Definitely in the first half was our best half of football, I don’t see any evidence to argue that. But yeah, it definitely hurt.”

Key injuries aren’t ever welcomed by a football program–neither by player nor coach. But the dagger couldn’t have come at a more untimely stage in the season. Not only must the team seize victory in each of its remaining games to contend for the NJAC crown and post-season participation, but DeCongelio’s ailment marks the second TCNJ linebacker lost by the team in as many weeks (Spahn vs. Brockport, out for season).

When asked how he plans to stop Montclair State running back Jeff Bliss, whose performance against the Lions a year ago contradicts his season’s slow start, Hamilton admitted the gravity of the task at hand.

“There’s the million-dollar question. That’s what Paterson did to us in the fourth quarter,” he said, citing the 13 of McKinney’s school-record 42 carries and 93 of his 224 yards recorded on the game’s final drive. “At that point you’re just kind of plugging holes. You’re putting your finger on one spot but four others pop up.”

For the front-seven’s bout penciled in for this Saturday at 2pm, the team’s homecoming bonanza, the battered Lions’ D faces a grudge match, a shot at retribution for last year’s reprehensible 219 yards Bliss tallied on 40 carries in his Red Hawks’ 15-0 win at Sprague Field a year ago.

“Montclair’s definitely beatable, but we’ll see,” Meyer said, relying on determination and persistence to compensate for his team’s lack of depth at linebacker. “We’re asking a lot from the young guys to step up this week.”

A request that, so far, they’ve been able to manage.

Filling in for Joe Spahn following his freak pregame injury suffered during warm-ups, Greg Burns lent a hand on three tackles, not to mention a game-sealing turnover later in the game. Through his eyes, the moxie exhibited during the freshman’s first collegiate appearance sold Meyer, an affirmation only supported by Burns’ 10 total tackle performance the following week.

“After that interception against Brockport, which helped us huge in the end [Burns] showed us how he can step up,” he said, referring to the fourth-quarter pick against the Golden Eagles that halted the same late-game antics that Jake Graci pulled in two successful comebacks earlier in the year.

“Burns knows he’s gotta step up, but he’s a pretty big kid. As a defense we just need to change a lot of things up, try to get some pressure on their QB.”

Should it bolster the same effectiveness as the Lions’ afore-mentioned 48-34 win over Brockport two weeks ag0, the strategy just might be what the doctor ordered. (What? I couldn’t help myself.)

Entering his Week Six meeting with the Lions, Graci had tossed nine interceptions in his previous two starts (4 vs. Montclair St.; 5 vs. Rowan; both losses). Forced into multiple rushed decisions amidst the barrage of blitzers, the gunslinger accounted for three of the team’s five giveaways, successfully (or unsuccessfully) locating Lions in pass coverage for a triad of turnovers.

It’s quarterback situation still in the air, Montclair State’s passers fared about as well in the weeks preceding its scheduled conference clash with the Lions.

Before he was benched in the second quarter of his Red Hawks’ 23-7 edging over a substandard Buffalo State defense (allow avg. 38.33 ppg; 7th in NJAC) Tim Fischer completed 4 passes to Bengals’ defenders–only hitting teammates on 10 of his 24 passes. Two weeks earlier, when his team slid by the Pioneer defense, the sophomore didn’t impress much either, completing a similarly poor 13 of his 33 passes, complete with another four picks.

His replacement, Ryan Boysen, finished the game without a glaring error, but he’s far from battle-tested. In Fischer’s stead, the junior threw seven passes and completed four, tallying a mere 29 yards.

Whoever takes the field Saturday to lead a spoiler’s rally against the Lions on their annual festivities, Hamilton plans to throw any and all fixtures at the man under center–not excluding the kitchen sink. He’s just banking on deception, an admittedly risky endeavor he hopes can make things happen.

“It’s gonna be interesting I’ll tell you that,” he said. “We’re just going to try and be aggressive, do some different things and show them some things we haven’t shown them before. I don’t wanna say smoke in mirrors, that’s not the right phrase. But we’re going to have to try and do some things that leave us weak in some areas but disguise it well enough that they don’t pick up on it.”

Lions’ Post-game recap: Homecoming loss to MSU still statement game for TCNJ

After his former-New Jersey Athletic Conference No. 1 squad lost a tear-jerking 16-13 decision on his seniors’ last homecoming, TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton reiterated the obvious, expected from a football coach at the collegiate level.

There would be absolutely no talk, nor mere mention, of any moral victory.

“Nope. We lost,” he said, minutes after Montclair State University (6-1, 6-0 NJAC) handed the Lions (4-3, 3-3 NJAC) their third-conference loss and an abrupt elimination from conference title contention.

Now in his 33rd year at the program’s helm, Hamilton’s credible diagnosis continued, classifying the contest as a litmus test of Division III’s premier flight, one its elite would have managed to pass.

“That was a game we could have won and if we want to get to that next level we should have won,” he said, citing two red-zone holding penalties incurred during the team’s two failed red zone attempts (finished 2/4 in RZ). “That’s a game that we have to win for the rest of the way if we’re going to at least have a reputable record at the end.”

A realist, Hamilton’s initial frankness wouldn’t be his final word on the afternoon.

During a statement game in every perceptible sense of the term, the drowning roar of its homecoming crowd wasn’t the only noise reverberating from Lions’ Stadium. Contrasting the game’s final score, the resilience with which the team and a number of its individuals hurdled adversity delivered an exhilarating speech—a 60-minute sequence of bold and unequivocal affirmations about its character.

“I don’t know, man,” said running back Kevin Brown, who fought for 32 hard-earned yards on his eight carries, highlighted on a seven-yard touchdown with 10:38 remaining in the final period to put his team within a field goal from overtime (only trailed 16-13). “We’re just tough.”

Primarily utilized as the Lions’ goal-line back entering the contest, the freshman responded when thrust into an every-down role in lieu of successive injuries to the nation’s 38th-best running back tandem (team’s two leading rushers, Justin Donoloski, Chase Misura injured in 1Q, 4Q respectively; combined 18 rush, 67 yds).

In a collaborative spackling, the pastiche backfield mustered up a cheek-slapping 126 yards in the face of the nation’s fourth-stingiest group against the run (MSU opp. avg. 54.5 rush yds/gm).

Accentuated on his 10-yard over-achievement on third-and-goal from the Red Hawks’ 21-yard line, designed only to relinquish inches of penalty yardage forfeited three plays earlier, Brown’s role became integral in quarterback Chris James‘ fourth-quarter comeback attempt—one implicit of the four-year starter’s poise as well.

When Lions’ kicker Marc Zucconi pushed the 28-yard attempt outside the far upright, missing on a tricky angle from the left hash-mark, the drive didn’t culminate with the glorious result for which the former-Louisville transfer had hoped, nor could it overshadow the other two kicks tipped at the line earlier (47, 44 in 1Q, 3Q respectively).

But more brightly, the series epitomized James’ particular determination (finished 20/34 176 yds TD, 2 INTs), unwilling to submit after struggling for seven quarters prior.

“He’s a senior and he wants to win,” Hamilton said, referring to his signal-caller’s persistence in the fourth quarter, during which he completed six of his eight balls for 66 yards. “This is his last go-round so, there’s no way you’re keeping him down, not with his attitude. He’s a winner. Even though we didn’t win, he’s a winner.”

After throwing a pair of first-half interceptions as one eleventh of an overall 30 minutes of lackluster offensive disappointment (33 plays, 149 yards; trailed 13-6 at halftime), James’ ability to segment the task at hand from last week’s loss and his misfires deceivingly short minutes earlier didn’t astound teammates. They’ve learned to expect that, too.

“He’s got a real short memory,” said team quad-captain Cam Richardson, whose statistical contribution consisted of three yards on his only catch (Colin Weber 5 rec., 67 yds; led TCNJ receivers).

One of five beacons of senior leadership on the group’s receiver corps, Richardson’s description of his quarterback’s personality isn’t far from his own, still tirelessly working to reintegrate into the scheme after suffering an injury in the season-opener.

“If something bad happens it doesn’t faze Chris at all. He maybe gets a little upset, but you can tell when we get back out there he’s over it. He’s really good at that, focusing on the present, not what’s happened.”

Like its end result itself, characterized by Hamilton as a “team loss,” the afternoon’s resounding theme wasn’t exclusive to its attacking side. Entering the week as its gimp (9^th NJAC in total defense), the TCNJ defense’s best performance to date served as the pinnacle of a season plagued with misfortune—one during which it, too, refused to quit.

“Everyone was so excited,” strong safety Shawn Brown said after his unit held the conference leaders to 169 yards of total offense on 55 plays—its first sub-200 yard domination since its NJAC title run two years ago (avg. 460.83 total yds/gm in 2009).

“Up front, the guys just worked their butts off this week, and those guys stepping in for [injured linebackers Joe] Spahn and [Dan] DeConelio are doing a hell of a job,” he continued, referring to the team-leading 5.5 tackles recorded by both Greg Burns and Jimmy Kleen in the absence of the two leaders lost in consecutive weeks, likely Saturday’s only surprise among those close to the program.

“I would never expect it to say the least, but they are doing work. I’m loving playing with these guys right now.”

“[Montclair State’s] game plan was to come out and run the ball,” said team quad-captain Ryan Flannery, after his second-worst rush defense limited Red Hawk ball carriers to a mere 32 gains of ground yardage on 29 tries—allowing only 15 entering the game’s final period.

“It was a testament to our D-line being able to stop them, and they did. I don’t want to say moral victory, I hate saying that. But we showed what we can do on defense every game.”

And in his post-game forward to his embattled players, Eric Hamilton wouldn’t mutter anything of the sort either. He would, however, praise the group of maturing young men for validating what he’d known all along.

“I’ll tell you what I told them. It’s tough sometimes when you go through a season, teams do a lot sometimes to disappoint you. But this group today was just phenomenal, he said, his voice tinged with a fatherly approval.

“We made mistakes, but if you look the scenarios that we had to go through, to be in that game by those guys on the field—those kids went out there and took advantage of their opportunities to the best of their ability.”

Emotionally he was torn. Maddened by miscues and squandered opportunities, Hamilton conceded that everything else made him proud beyond his most ambitious expectations.

“When you get an effort like that, that’s all you can ask for.”

TCNJ’s Burns wins NJAC award after leading Lions’ D at its best

Following a captivating patchwork effort put forth during Saturday’s disheartening loss to Montclair State University on his team’s homecoming, TCNJ linebacker Greg Burns earned this week’s honors as the conference’s top rookie performer.

Leading his team in tackles for the second-consecutive week (10 total, 5 solo vs. William Paterson), Burns’ emergence as a force at the Lions’ battered second-level coincided with the unit’s stingiest defensive performance of the season, limiting the  NJAC No. 1 Red Haws to 32 rushing yards on 29 attempts in the contest.

Tied with fellow backup-turned-impact performer Jimmy Kleen with 5.5 total tackles (2 solo), Lions’ head coach Eric Hamilton insists his freshmen’s success epitomizes the persistence of the linebacker corps as a whole.

“We don’t have many options,” he said, pleased with the effort in spite of the group’s laundry list of injuries in recent weeks. “I think it’s a credit to all the linebackers for getting ready to play, getting their opportunities to play and making the most of it. It’s a numbers game, it always is in Division III and it’s starting to catch up with us.”

His teammates echoed the sentiment.

“When someone goes down it’s always a loss,” said team quad-captain Ryan Flannery, an anchor of talent and inspiration in the TCNJ secondary. “You can’t replace someone like [Joe] Spahn and [Dan] DeCongelio,” both injured as the team’s leading tacklers in consecutive games entering the team’s latest.

“But for the young guys to come in and step up, it’s big. We’ve simplified the game plan and just told them to go out there and makes plays and that’s what they did.”

Celebrated in the midst of a loss, Burns earned first NJAC accolades along with a group of four others–all given their respective nods for their participation in the same game.

Carrying (literally) his Colonials to their first triumph of 2009, Western Connecticut State running back Lionel Assie earned the league’s Offensive Player of the Week award in the wake its one-point victory over The College at Brockport in a marginal 45-44 decision.

The senior averaged 11 yards on his 13 carries, well eclipsing the century mark with room to spare (finished w/ 143 rush yds). Accounting for 18 points on his three touchdowns, Assie personally delivered the program its first triumph in over a year via 1, 48, and 35 trips to pay dirt on the ground (last won Oct. 4, 2008).

To date, the Bridgeport, CT-native ranks 14th in the NJAC, averaging 35.6 yards per game.

A consistent stud at his Golden Eagles’ second level, Nathan Bull perpetuated his season’s blanketing defensive performance, dubbed the conference’s outstanding defensive performer for the third time in 2009.

The junior lead his team with 14 total tackles (9 solo), complete with 1.5 for a loss and a sack ( loss of 6 yds). In the losing effort, the local product hailing from Brockport, NY also created opportunities for his offense, forcing a fumble and recording an interception on the day.

No surprise, Bull continues to lead the conference with an astounding 12.6 stops per outing.

Embracing limited opportunities, defensive back Cevon Carver was recognized as the conference’s best special team’s performer, capitalizing on his only two kickoff returns and an uncharacteristically inaccurate weekend for Lions’ kicker Marc Zucconi. The senior stayed hungry after returning the game’s opening inaugural kickoff 80 yards to the house, rising to the occasion later on a second from 10 yards deeper in his own territory.

After grossing 170 total return yards in his afternoon’s two glimmers, Carver solidified a lead atop the conference in relative kickoff return yardage (avg. 30.4 yds/return).

Emerging as a viable option toward the tail end of his Colonials’ dismal season (West. Conn. St. last in NAJC), Jeff Johnston complimented the commendable rushing performance put forth by another conference award winner, earning his first taste of league-wide recognition.

Complete with lengthy gains of 30 and 15 yards, the latter of which accounted for the second score of his collegiate career, the freshman averaged 16.2 yards on each of his five receptions, in total worth 81 tallies through the air.

Looming at the middle of the pack among the NJAC’s top receivers while rounding out the top two of his own squad, Johnston’s latest outing bolstered his average output to 32 yards per game (ranks 24th).

Lions’ Post-game recap: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Well, that one hurt.

In the immediate, the closing minutes to the Lions’ 2009 homecoming were emotionally turbulent, to say the least. Starting with what appeared like Chris James’ second fourth-quarter comeback of the year, ended with a baffling missed field goal attempt from a right leg as reliable as the postal service–even in the substandard weather conditions.

Looking just around the corner, well, there’s not a whole lot worth seeing–with regard to the post-season, that is.

Throwing up their blinders, the team hopes to cut out the past and the periphery, remaining focused on salvaging a once-promising 2009 gone awry, largely thanks to factors beyond their control. But for us, those are precisely the details on which we’ll need to focus, in order to better hone in on our expectations.

THE GOOD

• TCNJ defensive “beef”

No offense, but the Lions’ D-line knows it’s not the biggest group in the country, let alone the conference. If they didn’t, or are in denial, the coaching staff is well aware of this all-too-true reality.

“Up front we don’t have the size other teams have,” TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said over the phone before the game. “We’re always at a disadvantage size-wise and teams are going to try and pound us inside. We know, physically, we’re limited. We know what we’ve got. Other teams know what we’ve got. We generally know every week, we go into a game with a size disadvantage, nine times out of ten.”

Though he alluded to some of the unit’s other strengths: “We have to use what we have, which is generally a little bit quicker and generally a little bit smarter—at least we try to tell ourselves that,” this unit’s ability to stop the run was a major concern entering the week for a score of reasons.

“It’s quite simple. If it comes down to it in the fourth quarter and we’re behind that’s what’s going to happen. That’s what happened against Kean and against Paterson—late in the game, we were behind. It’s not hard to figure out. Just run the ball, take the clock down, run the ball, run the ball, run the ball–just pound them inside.

“And if that’s how it’s going to be, we’re going to struggle.”

Ironically enough, that’s exactly how it was Saturday. Montclair allotted 29 of its 55 snaps-from-scrimmage in an effort to exploit that “weakness.” After it gained only 32 yards (inches over a one-yard average), it’s safe to say that the strategy backfired–or that TCNJ’s soldiers in the trenches blew it up for them.

When senior quad-captain Craig Meyer is wrangling down shifty wideouts on jailbreak screens, it serves as a testament to just how tirelessly someone(s) was (were) busting his (their) ass(es) all week season long.

• C-Web

Senior wide receiver Colin Weber has made this segment a few times already this season, and for good reason. So no, I won’t feel like I”m bludgeoning a senselessly bloodied horse by singing his praises again.

He’s stepped as one of Lions’ quarterback Chris James‘ favorite options in the absence of Cam Richardson, quietly lingering among the conference’s top-two most prolific receiving threats (currently 2nd NJAC; 79.71 rec. yds/gm). But, less subtly, he’s also emerged as one of the team’s most outspoken leaders in verse and in action.

He led all Lions’ receivers in both catches and yardage (5 rec., 67 yds)–none more pivotal than his 24-yard grab to start the team’s first scoring drive of the afternoon. The series was a collaborative effort, no doubting that, capped when Chase Misura caught his first touchdown pass of the year, but it undoubtedly set the tone for a scoring possession that was desperately needed at the time.

Safe to say he’s lived up to that appointment as quad-captain prior to the Kean game.

• Tricky, tricky

Let’s keep this short and sweet.

In two games since the christening of the Lions’ goal-line package (genius by itself), offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta has handed the ball off three straight times to bruiser back Kevin Brown twice, both resulting in touchdowns. An undoubted trend, identified by studying film.

He rolled it out again on third-and-two from the Montclair five-yard line, but went with a play-action pass that left Misura standing by his lonesome in the corner of the end zone.

In case you were wondering, Coach, someone noticed.

• Mattan Hoffman

In my post-game recap, there was a lot of talk of resilience and players battling various obstacles in order to set themselves up to potentially upset the No. 1 team in the conference. Hoffman is no exception.

Considering the nature of his injuries, it’s not something that I’m going to detail specifically. But know that there was a time that the junior looked at his playing career through much more finite lenses than the rest of his teammates. For players faced with the end of their athletic careers, that tends be a traumatic experience–one difficult to rebound from.

Doesn’t seem to be the case here.

All season long, he’s been one of the guys whose effort has consistently surpassed the minimum, gradually climbing his way up a depth chart ridden with experienced senior talent (not to mention working through that strained hammy suffered during training camp). Refusing to be complacent with the P. T. he rightfully earned, Hoffman has made as impactful a contribution as has been permitted, evidenced first by a full-extension sideline grab against Kean University–a baller play on one of the few times he was targeted, kind of like what he did Saturday.

This week, his 21-yard reception just plays before a potentially-equalizing field goal attempt, was certainly extraordinary at face value. But a look at the bigger picture is more astonishing.

Entering the fourth-quarter, after three periods of generally ineffective offensive execution, Hoffman had recorded two grabs for 11 yards. As a statistical performance for someone not considered a primary target of the offense, on, again, one of its off-days, it’s not bad at all. But as a foundation upon which one would have settled in and established a rhythm–kind of like the one you’d needed to make a big play at that point in the game–not even close.

Now, he doesn’t happen to have particularly good hands, which probably accounts for the majority of his drops, but Dolphins’ WR Ted Ginn, Jr. highlights the expectation for receivers whose number is called for the first time far too late in games. Targeted late during two of the Fins’ last drives in this weekend’s upset-turned-upset (as in sad), the former-Buckeye let two Chad Henne throws ricochet off his hands like Brandon Marshall’s batted balls during training camp.

It was equally as repulsive, but at least the Broncos’ WR did it on purpose.

You hear people say things like, “those are the easiest ones to catch” referring to when you’re as wide-open as Hoffman was on that 18-yard comeback, in and of itself an epitome of his work ethic. But it’s also sometimes hard for a guy who hasn’t touched the pigskin in organized competition in literally hours to maintain his focus on those types of plays.

Now, his teammates allegedly busted his chops after the game, saying he should have scored on the play. And who knows–the WTSR guys (myself included) were going nuts, unable to accurately gauge if he could have maintained his balance down the sideline. Had he been able to, it would have been analogous to overtime hours on Christmas Eve. When he flipping the ball to the referee, it may have well been his time card, punching out after doing his job, and doing it well.

THE BAD

• Rain, rain, go the hell away

Now, I certainly wasn’t going to allow any purple prose to sneak its way into my game recap, but the weather seemed as if it may have been a slight factor in TCNJ’s offensive strategy.

Again, this is an observation, not a reflection based on opinions from anyone within the program.

Running game aside, especially considering weather is a non-factor in any ground-and-pound game, let alone one that worked pretty well (in spite of the circumstances), the Lions’ offense looked dampened by its inability to stretch the field–something of which players and coaches share fondness.

Most of the team’s passes are of intermediate distances–curls, slants, quick-hitter stuff like that. But, like his dedication to feeding his backs some pigskin, the concept behind Acosta’s strategy (it seems, considering you’re not getting that type of intel out of him) is to condition the second and third-level players to gradually creep toward the line-of-scrimmage.

Call him Ivan Pavlov, and defenses a pack of ravenous dogs, but ringing that dinner bell early in games allows his game-breakers (Gardner, Weber) to get behind the defense has worked a number of times in games already (a la Webers’ 41 yard touchdown vs. Brockport). It almost worked again, Chris James threading the needle in that soft spot in a Cover 2 zone down the sideline late in the game. But it seemed like a reliable (and fruitful) part of his repertoire was forfeited once the rain started falling.

Even if it wasn’t….

• EXECUTION, anyone?

The deep ball aside, nothing changed with regard to Acosta’s play-calling. Nor should it, considering the team still ranks in the nation’s Top-25 in scoring and yardage (16th, 24th, respectively). But when he signaled in plays to exploit the Red Hawk defense–his usual array of jailbreak, slip and swing screens, not to mention a number of his outside zone rushes and…(I could go on and on)–the Lions’ couldn’t take advantage.

And players knew it.

“I feel like the effort was there, the plays were there, but we just couldn’t execute,” quad-captain Cam Richardson said after the game. Himself a staple in the offense for three of his four years in Trenton, the senior knew what was missing, and how much it hurt.

“Some plays we did, we obviously had a couple big plays, but we didn’t develop any consistency or rhythm and that’s very important for our offense.”

Offensive linemen couldn’t quite get to the flanks on screens, and running backs didn’t look comfortable behind them. Screens are an integral facet of the scheme, so losing that would be about as detrimental as Amy Winehouse without renal function.

Yeah, I know.

Each group has struggled on its own, but never before have James and his receivers looked like they were so far out of tune with one another. One of his picks resulted from a receiver (to be remained nameless)  not coming back for the football on a hitch, failing to get necessary separation from a corner who made a textbook play on the ball. The other looked like he wanted to break downfield off a post-route, or have the ball thrown behind him to keep the safety unable to make a play.

The offense is talented, and they’re certainly put in the best spots to succeed, but they just need to perform like they have been early in the year. You can say all you want about the “talent disparity” between various teams in the NJAC, but when this group is on its game, no one has been able to touch it. Not Kean, not Montclair, and certainly not Willie P (no disrespect to the Pioneers, who are much more talented than their record suggests). For the rest of the year, consider execution the linchpin of this unit’s ability to put up a ton of points against worthy adversaries.

THE UGLY

• Of which, the “Big Uglies” were guilty

“When the opportunities presented themselves we didn’t take advantage of it,” TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton said after the loss “We left some points out there. You go through all three of our losses and we’re a team that can’t squander opportunities on either side of the ball.”

Well put, Coach.

Early in the year, when the offense proved ineffective within striking distance, the TCNJ red-zone offense was a stark concern of the coaching staff and their players. Offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta even reached out to other coaches that use the spread, to pick their brains on what types of strategies can be employed within those all-important, final 20 yards. He mixed up personnel packages and formations, even found expansive ways to include weapons that had otherwise been relinquished to backup duties.

And guess what? It worked.

Following the team’s reprehensible 1-of-4 showing in the red-zone against Kean University, TCNJ responded defiantly, capitalizing on each of the next seven consecutive attempts prior to Saturday. It even succeeded on two of the game’s four chances, both pivotal touchdowns in a slug fest of a defensive battle (not sure I”ve said that all year). The two it didn’t weren’t a product of the game plan’s shelf-life, nor was it any credit to Montclair State–sorry Red Hawk fans, if you disagree you weren’t at the game. And or if you missed the two plays in question, that singlehandedly blew the Lions’ chances of toppling one of the NJAC’s top dogs, I’ll fill in those blanks.

The Lions were flagged for two holding penalties in the red-zone–both on first-and-goal. Considering one of them was a mere three plays before Marc Zucconi’s hopeful let’s-settle-this-in-OT attempt (one that failed) there’s no arguing the impact imposed on the game’s outcome. One immediately followed an untimely exit from left tackle Drew Mason, one of the most talented bodies on the team–maybe the conference. But the other.

COME ON, MAN.

Ask anyone:  first-down holding penalty can kill a drive, even one orchestrated by the most potent of offensive weapons. Now think about it’s detriment so tantalizingly close to pay dirt, in the rain, working against a spread offense, one rendered ineffective until–literally–just moments before.

Ouch…

 

 

Matty’s Monday Morning Mailbag: TCNJ’s Lions vs. Cortland State University’s Wildcat

One of the most common, though unfortunately most inapplicable, reader questions I’ve fielded this season has dealt with the professional and collegiate flave-of-the-past-two-years: the Wildcat offense.

Sure, I understand why you’d be open, dare I say excited, to read about it. But imagine how badly I’ve been waiting for a date on the Lions’ schedule to warrant any kind of writing about it.

Seems like this week, everybody wins.

Based on what I’ve been reading between the D3 football forums and what little I’ve heard about SUNY Cortland’s offensive attack, there’s reason to believe that, in fact, TCNJ will be encountering its first opponent that implements a Wildcat formation. Similarly to how I broke down the spread in a 4M segment earlier in the year, I’ll do my best to help everyone understand what makes the package so exotic, and further, extremely difficult to defend against.

Now before we partake in some mutual enjoyment at opposite terminals of this World Wide Web, let’s not get carried away. I’m not suggesting that the package is a staple in the reigning champs’ playbook, nor is it among any of the teams that implement it. But, hell, even if it’s buried at the bottom next to the hook-and-laterals (or as we used to call it 87 Circus) why not have some fun?

• What is the “Wildcat” and how did it come about?

Ironically, just about the same place every fad offense has–the Wing T.

Much like the spread, the Wildcat was based off a book written by fabled Delware Blue Hens’ head coach Harold “Tubby” Raymond, in high demand following its three decades of success with the D-IA program (inclusive of three national titles) up until he retired in the 70s. Also like its precursors, the formation has several different adaptations and variations. All of these accentuate the personnel and philosophy most preferred by any particular offensive coordinator.

There was a surge in the 1980s, during which a number of NFL teams implemented a skills position player receiving a direct snap from center. But none of those enjoyed the same success as this most recent generation of Wildcats. Back when he was ravaging SEC defenses, the most effective was without question the package put together by then-coordinator Gus Malzahn (not current Miami Dolphins’ QB coach David Lee–though there still seems to be some misappropriated accreditation) and executed by the 2008 first-round draft selection by the Oakland Raiders, Darren McFadden.

A maddening Ronnie Brown-esque performance characterized his 2006-08 seasons. During the span, McFadden finished second in the 2006 Heisman Trophy voting, earning 1,662 points (sandwiched between a pair of quarterbacks at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn; 1750, 1622 points, respectively). He also won the Doak Walker award for two consecutive seasons (NCAA’s top RB) and was named Sporting News magazine’s national player of the year.

Probably didn’t hurt too, too much that his “Ricky Williams,” to use the same analogy, was played by fellow 2008 first-rounder Felix Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.

It worked, and it worked well. So much so, in spite of the preconceived notions regarding other “gimmick” offense’s impracticality in the NFL, a number of professional organizations have allowed the package temporary membership in a club of resounding exclusivity.

• So, how exactly does it work? I get the whole direct-snap thing, but how do teams try to attack defenses with it?

Believe it or not, it’s brilliance is in its simplicity and astounding similarity between each of the plays executed out of the look.

Considering the vast diversity of its adaptations across all platforms of competitive football, we’ll highlight specifically how its used within the Miami Dolphins’ attack–the most effective approach at the highest level. Again, there’s more to it than what we’ll delve into. But for the intents and purposes of this article, this is the gist of it.

Picture your quintessential “Ace” formation–a one-running back set with two tight ends next to each offensive tackle, with two wide receivers split wide (off the line-of-scrimmage). Now, swap the quarterback and the wide receiver on the left (assuming we’re talking about a right-handed QB). Slide that player (likely, now a running back) to a wing position on the left side, and you’re looking at the most rudimentary of Wildcat formations.

The four basic plays integral to the scheme are a “quarterback” power, a jet sweep, a play-action seam pass, and a play-action boot. Immediately preceding the snap and for the initial moments that follow, all of these plays look exactly the same.

The wing on the left will sprint (or “jet”) across the field, bubbling back toward the tips of the quarterback’s toes, synchronous with the snap. He’ll then “bracket” (put hands up to receive a hand-off) and continue on semi-circular arc taking him up the right “alley” (space between last man on the line-of-scrimmage and the wide receiver).

The left guard (offensive lineman next to the center) will take a bucket step (exaggerated swing of hips to throw his body parallel to line-of-scrimmage) after the snap, allowing him a better bodily alignment to pull across the formation. The rest of the line zone-blocks (takes successive steps to the point-of-attack, responsible for an area rather than any predetermined defender).

The right tight end attacks the seam (about a two-yard wide strip on either side of a TE that extends vertically down the field), while the left tight end will run about a 10-yard out route. Both wide receivers streak down the field.

The first play, quarterback power, starts with a fake hand-off to the wingback streaking across the formation. The running back receiving the direct snap five yards down the field will then attack the A or B gap (between center and guard, and guard and tackle, respectively). The backside guard will pull and lead through the hole, blocking either the playside defensive tackle (vs. a 4-3) or a middle linebacker (vs. a 3-4).

The jet sweep starts exactly the same, only the wingback would receive the hand-off (rather than fake) and the backside guard would lead block up the alley, rather than cutting off his path and attacking a player in the box (area inclusive of the offensive line, tight ends, defensive line and linebackers).

There are, however, passing options. The Wildcat formation hinges upon the quarterback’s ability to force a defense to respect the threat of a passing play, so who ever is working out of it should have at least a respectable arm.

One such option dictates the same exact action as the quarterback power, up to and including a jab step by the Wildcat QB toward the line of scrimmage, to show that same running look. Hopefully successful in sucking in the linebackers, this should open a passing lane through which he can loft a pass to the right tight end, who should be absurdly wide open, for a number of different reasons.

The other would include all of the same player responsibilities, including the jab step, only instead of setting up in the pocket, the running back would then roll out to his left, hitting the tight end on the out route.

If there’s a Cover 2 corner in the flat (sitting within 6-8 yards of the line-of-scrimmage, responsible for any eligible receivers in that zone) the quarterback can opt to hit the left receiver in the soft spot in the zone (generally 12-15 yards downfield, in between the shallow cornerback and an over-the-top safety playing a deep half of the field). It’s highly unlikely for reasons you’ll see later, but I suppose it’s a possible reaction.

If he’s going for it all, though, he’d better make sure he’s got the cannon to pull it off. Coaches get mad when legitimate quarterbacks throw picks and when running backs fumble. Imagine how salty one would get over a running back turning forcing a throw he has no business or capability making.

• So you’re telling me that the Miami Dolphins have rushed for multiple 200+ yard games this season using four plays? Why is that so difficult to defend against?

Remember how I emphasized how every play starts exactly the same? Well if every play looks alike within a few seconds before and after the snap, imagine how time consuming it becomes for linebackers and defensive backs to take reads and identify what’s going on. Those seconds are pivotal to a defense’s ability to stop any given play, let alone one so effective for reasons we’ll get to later. Any hesitation by one player incapacitates his ability to adhere to his assignment, creating gaping holes in a defense.

With regard to player reaction, the jet motion before the snap creates a delightful mess of the defense for any offense implementing the scheme. Should any one player over-pursue or overreact to that lateral movement, it can be just as detrimental than if he were to prematurely attack the line of scrimmage or do nothing–other two common and likely scenarios.

But, should he receive a hand-off, the running back creates an indelible advantage against his opponent, considering he’s off to a running start toward the outside of the line-of-scrimmage. If the tight ends on either side can seal off the defensive ends, there’s just no way that an outside linebacker can make a play without giving up several yards–assuming, of course, he’s not blocked first. Should he cheat to the outside, there’s a gaping hole left in the middle of the field for the quarterback power, or a play-action seam, considering how much he’d be giving up inside.

Yeah, I know. Imagine how Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan–reveled as one of the brightest defensive minds in the league–felt after 60 minutes of that.

Not sure if it spawned the name, but then kids run wild.

Even if they can anticipate what’s coming, it’s crucial that they maintain discipline and respect all of the other options. If not, as happens each and every time Ronnie Brown gets his fantasy owners points for a touchdown pass, you’ll get burned.

Paying more close attention to the Xes and Os, the defense simply can’t win the numbers game imposed by the formation.

Let’s assume that the defense stacks the box–the most hyperbolic reaction to the look–and loads eight defenders at the line-of-scrimmage. One safety plays over the top, while one corner lines up on each wide receiver. Even though one of them is a true quarterback, the opposition still must allocate a defender to prevent any trickeration or antics–say, for example, a quick screen or double-pass. Stuff like that.

What’s now happened is, rather than the 10-to-11 advantage that the defense used to enjoy, when there was a quarterback under center that would be distributing the football to one of his teammates, the playing field becomes evened. Now that a running back, a much more athletic body capable of running or throwing, is receiving a direct shotgun snap, there’s no longer the same necessity for the football to change hands.

There’s not, per se, a disadvantage, considering that a safety can step up and make the tackle. But any such play would likely take place five or six yards downfield. If I’m an offensive coordinator, I’ll take that any day.

• So, if the Wildcat is so unstoppable, why isn’t it run every play?

It’s not that it’s impossible to defend against, but on paper, it just creates a favorable pre-snap scenario for the offense. Like any other play an offensive coordinator conjures up, there’s no compensating for blown assignments, mismatches in talent, and, especially, miscues and penalties.

The Wildcat also isn’t practical for certain down-and-distances. Imagine the multitude of household appliances that would be thrown at Philadelphia television sets if the Eagles trotted Westbrook out for a Wildcat play on 3rd and 16.

On the field, the Wildcat is a cancer to its opposition in the red-zone, where defensive players are much more apt to overreact and play undisciplined football. Play-calling also generally becomes more aggressive, allowing an offense to exploit vacated zones in a defensive front. It also can be used to chew up clock, or just as a change of pace that keeps a defense consistently on its toes, changing gears–whatever you want to call it.

But most of the damage, believe it or not, takes place during the week in practice before a defense even faces the Wildcat.

Because it’s such a nouveau offensive approach, there are so few players, let alone coordinators, that have any experience dealing with it. So, like anything else you’re unsure of, it gets practiced. Over, and over, and over, and over…

Even the most Wildcat-heavy game-plans will only roll it out, at most, 15 plays per game. Considering the average NJAC offense averages 67.25 offensive snaps, that’s no more than any other personnel package. But the amount of time needed to prepare for the formation’s various nooks and crannies (well, just nooks I guess) detracts precious minutes away from prepping for everything else–frankly a much more worthy cause. If you’re not going to get burned by the Wildcat itself, the off-the-field distraction created by it can certainly take its toll on any opposing defense.

***

I hope all of you enjoy reading that as much as I did writing it. And, as always, to see your questions answered, fill out the form below…

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Lions out, but not down–TCNJ: We ain’t about to quit

What a difference a week makes.

That’s got to be this week’s theme, doesn’t it? What better lede to unravel this untimely twist to the Lions’ once-promising campaign? The dagger of a homecoming defeat compounded with its heartwrenching fashion–even the weather maintained par with the purple prose dampening the conference’s No. 1  squad imposed on players and their season gone awry.

In true New Jersey fashion, the state-school’s football program double-dipped entering competition early in the season–reigning atop the NJAC leader board, synchronously tenured as the NCAA’s scoring kingpin (after Wk 4). Hopes have shifted, in both plausible impact and pleasure doing it.

For a team once looking to perpetuate its three-game winning streak, the remaining three games on its schedule present, at best, a chance to pay similar gloom forward to other hopeful contenders (Rowan, Cortland St.; 3rd, 4th in NJAC).

Likely? No, anticipated. Or better yet, expected.

But even in its dust-settling aftermath, disheartened and drained from the emotional tumult experienced minutes before, not a soul dared to submit. Nor would a single Lion turned its back on its pride–both the term’s appropriation on the streets, and in the animal kingdom.

“Absolutely not,” quad-captain Cam Richardson said, when posed that question. “We’re playing for each other out there. Obviously you want to win every game but we understand that we can’t. That’s not always going to happen for us.”

Fate may have predetermined his injury, suffered back during his 2009 season-opener-turned-closer. But neither destiny, nor a triad of Ls on TCNJ’s schedule–next to Montclair State, William Paterson, and Kean universities–could avert his determination.

“We’re not going to let down, we’re going to keep the intensity up and we’re going to finish the season out. We’ll be alright.”

Misfortune in his final year in Trenton magnify the season’s most pertinent disappointments, as  Richardson’s third All-NJAC honors (2nd-team in 2008; honorable mention in 2007) likely escaped him as early as the first half of TCNJ’s’ Week 1 win over Buffalo State. Players’ eager anticipation of meaningful competion ended for his teammates, but that relief would pass the slot receiver by. A high ankle sprain extended his jitters extended for over a month after he pulled up lame that now-distant September afternoon.

His story parallels that of a fellow quad-captain, senior free safety Ryan Flannery. Well familiar with the angst of missing time already, he suffered his half-season-long ailment even before record-implicit action, going down during August training camp. After he, too, tweaked an ankle, the cerebral leader of his defense traded his helmet and shoulder pads for a clipboard and a pair of cupped hands–perfect for echoing his supportive voice.

“In the NJAC it’s always usually a one-game season,” he said, privy to the consequences of earlier let-downs. “If you lose two games you know you’re pretty much done. So you attack every game like it’s a playoff game. Even now I don’t think we’ll take a different approach.”

According to the NCAA, Pac-Man Flan maintained a year of eligibility when he redshirted in 2007, sidelined for that season with a crippling hip-flexor tear. Well in the midst of his first of two remaining academic semesters at TCNJ, however, the culmination of 2009 will likely mark the end to his athletic career.

But, as he optimistically noted, there’s still football to be played–a final chapter to be written.

“We got Cortland next week and they’re the defending NJAC champs,” he said, still speaking with definitive purpose after his unit’s historic defensive performance couldn’t salvage the game–or the season.

He continued, his tone shifting toward more selfless fixations on importance of wrapping up a reputable season.

“I know that [Cortland State is] not what they used to be, but we’re going to try and go out pretty strong and win the last three games. If we can do that we’ll have some momentum going into next year.”

There will be tomorrow for other Lions, among them strong safety Shawn Brown–a star rising as abruptly as he’s sent those daring to contest the junior packing. Straight to the turf.

“We’re going to finish the season strong,” he said sternly, much more accustomed to dropping his shoulder during games than dropping knowledge after them. “There’s not much else I can tell you about that.”

Not to undermine each remaining game’s indisputable importance, but with regard to “next year,” TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton expects much more 2009′s last-Saturdays, as opposed to its every-other-days.

“If you win out, there’s good chance you might get an ECAC game,” he said via phone interview, alluding to the likelihood of a consolation game before his intended point of emphasis. “At the very least—last year we ended with a blowout loss to Rowan. If you can turn that around, it could a.) knock them out of the conference [championship contention] or b.) just a world of difference entering spring ball from last year. We just got to keep rolling, keep going. And I think they will. I think they know they’re pretty damn good as a whole.”

But, quick to admit that such awareness has its potential for detriment, the second-year defensive play-caller stressed the importance of embodying humility from here on out. Especially now that his unit has started to perform.

“They’re feeling it, they just can’t get complacent,” he said of his defense that limited the No. 1 Montclair State University Red Hawks to 32 yards rushing on 29 carries–fewer than 200 total yards. Now, complete with the emergence of his finally stout defense–a long-awaited compliment to the season’s consistently hearty offensive attack–is not the time to disengage on account of 2009′s lone glimmer of apogee.

“It’s just one game. They’ve got to have a couple here to end it. We played one game out of seven. That’s not a very good ratio. Considering if you want to turn it around and look at our offense, they’ve played well six out of seven games. That’s what we want to get to.”

A destination, he says, is inevitable–based on his side’s initial addiction to the euphoria those games tend to provoke.

“They’ve got a taste of it, they’ve got a little experience in doing it, maybe they’ve got a little arrogance to them—which isn’t the greatest. But if you can take that arrogance and knock it down into cockiness and confidence, that’s the kind of attitude you want to have defensively.”

Hell, even he likes the feeling–one of comforting warmth that’s ensuring him this season’s end should parallel the its early success.

“Feels a whole lot better on the weekends after a performance like that than it does playing terribly like we did against Brockport and winning,” he said. “We just got to keep the ball for our offense, which is damn good. If we play like that we’ll win out.”

Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: TCNJ vs. Cortland to showcase “Battle of the Battered”

Immediately following TCNJ’s preemptive post-season-ending fall against Montclair State University, players put any questions of  motivation to rest. Their determination to shake things up for this season’s remainder can work in its favor, but only if its harnessed–focused on appropriate targets.

Surely applicable to its offense, a group generally less susceptible to self-inflicted wounds of excessive excitement, sustaining this control becomes a necessity for the Lion defense. Finally performing on par with its potential, the group needs this level-headedness to compete for the rest of 2009–especially during its pending date with the reigning conference champs.

Entering this weekend’s road-trip to Cortland University, there’s plenty of room for flexibility. Not only does TCNJ bear an unsavory a losing streak from its most recent consecutive contests (Ls vs. WPU, Montclair State), but the team hasn’t emerged victorious in either of its road trips to date (L vs. Kean, WPU). Conversely, and convergently, the Red Dragons’ past two outings share a more positive commonality–both finished with more points on the board in its favor than opponents (Ws vs. West Conn., WPU).

While both teams trek in opposite directions with regard to wrinkles (or ironing of them) in their respective seasons, the match-up won’t showcase an intergalactic collision of these worlds.

The TCNJ defense and Cortland State’s offense have been stricken with a similar ailment–each showing symptoms as early as August. Both institutions might offer H1N1 vaccinations for students, but the notoriously widespread health epidemic (thankfully) isn’t what’s gotten under these groups’ collective skin. But that’s no suggestion that they’re any better off. Modern medicine (and, only according to them, TV infomercials) has offered its fair share of miracle cures, but none exists for their shared sickness.

The injury bug.

Administering a crippling venom with even the smallest of bites, the disease’s effects are frequently irreversible, less a few fortunate exceptions.

It’s too early to tell–eloquently referenced by TCNJ’s defensive coordinator as “just one game”–but the Lions’ latest effort embodied just that kind of start-to-finish heartiness (or just heart). It might have taken longer than he liked, but last week’s effort fulfilled his high expectations–far from surpassing mediocrity.

“We had seen that for stretches in games, but we never put that together for four quarters,” he said a few days after his unit’s boys-to-men maturation on display last weekend, just in time for the congregation of decades of TCNJ alums for the school’s homecoming.

Impressive, indeed. More so, however, under the well-documented circumstances.

A first loss to the group’s linebacker corps prompted Hamilton’s shift from his base 4-3 front–one requiring three separate skill sets from its second-level players–to a 4-2-5–designed to accentuate its strength in the defensive secondary (Chris Jones injured earlier in year). Then, in successive weeks, the team lost two more of those intermediate reinforcements in LBs Joe Spahn (injured pregame vs. Brockport) and Dan DeCongelio (injured 2Q vs William Paterson).

In an unlikely effort that earned the younger of the two weekly conference acclaim, the fallen Lions’ replacements shared the team lead for tackles in its best outing to date (Greg Burns, Jimmy Kleen both recorded 5.5 total tackles; Burns won NJAC Rookie of the Week Award afterward).

This week features an balanced bout of the embattled, in a show-down of on-paper mediocrity.

Cortland’s rushing offense ranks fifth, TCNJ’s rush D qualifies as sixth (avg. 140 rush yds/gm; opp avg. 175 rush yds/gm). The Red Dragons also take a marginal edge in the passing game, slighting the Lions in both yards and efficiency (7th pass off., 6th QB rating; 9th pass def., 7th opp. QB rating). Still an undercard contender, TCNJ’s recent track-record couldn’t clean its slate, dirtied from early-season struggles. On the whole–advantage Cortland State, in a sixth-versus-ninth gross margin (C-St. avg. 308.71 yds/gm; TCNJ opp avg. 419.14 yds/gm).

Walking into their home arena Saturday, Cortland State’s has problems of its own, which started as a product of bad timing.

Entering the year, the group lost all five of last year’s starting linemen for various reasons. In the wake of the undersized unit’s performance a week ago, Hamilton says he likes the match-up.

“Again, it really comes down to the guys in the box and we’re really allowing them to take control,” he said, during the same phone interview. “For the second-level guys to have the game they did and the defensive line up front, they know they’ve struggled up front all year and especially the two tackles inside [Chris Flynn and Terry Woolverton] those guys did an outstanding job.”

Not only is its conference-winning protection gone, but so is the protected–then-senior quarterback Ray Miles. The tandem’s collaborative efforts resulted in the conference’s best passing attack in 2008, both in yards and efficiency (avg. 238.62 ypg, 155.87 QB rating).

Ready in waiting, Cortland invested faith in the practice-proven abilities of Miles’ heir-apparent, Dan Pitcher. The junior won swept opponents in his two-game debut with the team, playing with adequate accuracy and a nose for the end-zone that offset untimely turnovers (2 TDs in each first 2 gms; 3 total INTs). Hampering the elation that followed the latter, one gladly handing a bitter conference rival Rowan its only conference loss, Pitcher suffered a torn Achilles during the intense competition.

He’d be lost for the season.

Any injury to at that integral position can set a team backward. But when compounded with the loss of its anticipated backup–Greg Barcomb, who went down during preseason training camp–coaches could have only felt increasingly antsy. Pouring on the hurt, literally, the program likely lost its third-string quarterback for the season in its Week 6 loss to Montclair State University. Hudson Woodward may have thrown five interceptions to his season’s lone touchdown, also starting in the team’s only two losses of the season (Kean, Montclair St.), but he at least provided a bare-minimum level of stability for the position.

The content of those closed-door meetings between the Cortland State staff remains unknown, but coaches seemed to choose an internal solution to address the issue. Again, literally.

Listed as a coaching assistant in programs for the school’s season-opener, past-turned-present quarterback Alex Smith returned to the Red Dragon program after graduating from the college 2007. He started early in New York, taking hold of the reins in his first collegiate season. His assumed dynasty was sideswiped by unforseen influence, when Smith suffered a season-ending injury in his sixth game as a junior. Battling through his off-season rehabilitation, Smith reinjured the knee again his senior season, ending his career.

Or so he, and just about everyone else, thought.

Now fielding signals from the sidelines, rather than gesturing them in himself, Smith hasn’t dazzled on the stat sheet. But he hasn’t tarnished it either, completing 18 of his 34 passes–good for 225 yards. He’s matched his only interception with a touchdown, both thrown in his first of two starts. To those uninterested in stats, his performance did yield a universally eye-widening figure, a pristine 2-0 record.

Anticlimactic compared to the melodrama at quarterback, the off-season’s impact on the backfield wasn’t limited to its men-behind-center.

The group also lost one of the league’s top rushing threats, waving goodbye to the 113.85 per-game yardage lost with the departure of senior tailback Andrew Giuliano. Sliding into the then-vacancy in the Red Dragon backfield, a fill-in described by sources close to the program as “not very effective,” Cory Russell disappointed early, never accruing more than 50 total yards on the ground (season-high 49 rush yds vs. Rowan). Less flattering, the “accomplishment” took a persevering 19 carries. Looking for a spark in its existing backyard…er…backfield, the Red Dragons shifted their attack toward a power-run I-formation, finding a perfect suitor in last year’s starting fullback, Don Sair.

His two starts coincided with Smith’s emergence, his back-to-back 100-yard performances also synchronous with the team’s revitalized success on the ground, totaling 220 and 138 yards in successive weeks (most since Wk 5 vs. Buff St., 242). The team’s only other eclipse of the century mark dated back in its season-opener, when before its roster’s outsourcing of names to its IR (186 yds vs. Morrisville St.).

Hamilton expects a barrage similar to the inside-power tactics employed by its last two opponents, who enjoyed vast disparity in their success (WPU’s McKinney-42 rush, 224 yds; MSU’s Bliss-29 rush, 32 yds). But he doesn’t anticipate exactness in its outward appearance.

“This week we’re going to see a lot of the same type of runs from different formations,” he said. “They’re going to try and spread us out, especially after watching film from Saturday.”

But that same tape fortifies the group’s apparent linchpin of success–one with which Hamilton expressed comfort, a first-time feeling in this 2009 season.

“They’re not going to want to attack the box, so we’re putting the challenge on the two inside backers. We like the match-up, and if we come to play like we did this past Saturday, we’ll be fine.”

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: Road trip to Cortland St. begins with game, ends with answers

Early in the season, it was the TCNJ defense that was so often responsible for evoking speechlessness among those trying to diagnose its issues. But now, in what seems like a courtroom quid-pro quo, it seems as it’s the Lions’ offense that needs explaining.

Since the team’s most recent win at Brockport, during which the offense posted its second plus-500 yard compilation of the season, the past two weeks have seen the once-immortal juggernaut fall to its knees–and against its opponents.

The unlikely, not untimely, emergence of the Lions’ defense in conference its bouts against William Paterson and Montclair State coincide with two of its attacking-11′s poorest outings to date (294, 302 total yds). This LIFO inventory of recent history first recollects 2009′s least-memorable appearances, worst only to the 292 posted during its duel with Kean University–the first of these three unwanted misfits toward its record.

The statistician might argue in favor of a trend. But, well in the midst of his third-decade with the program (not including his All-American playing days) a scholar of the game would kindly disagree.

“As the competition gets better and you’ve got more games on film, there’s more opportunities for your opponents to dissect your strengths and weaknesses,” TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton said via phone interview.

Quit while you’re ahead–his perspective doesn’t suggest that his group’s been figured out, the trade-secrets of its lucrative enterprise revealed. Even if its offense no longer surprises opponents with its star-studded potency, the group’s predictability isn’t its glaring issue.

“It takes that much more time to be prepared and that much more time to develop depth,” he said, alluding to the long season’s added workload toward his film room, and the team’s list of absentees.

A few short weeks after it celebrated quad-captain Cam Richardson’s return from injury, the Lions offense watched in horror as last week’s loss robbed far more than an outside chance at conference championship contention. Key losses in its backfield–entirely eliminating the nation’s then 38th-most productive running back duo–become thrust to the forefront of pregame discussions.

Both injuries are indisclosed, which offers little insight toward their expected return. Preparing for the worst, the impact of last week’s “nicks” to Justin Donoloski and Chase Misura surpasses the immediate and most quantifiable measure of detriment.

“You can look at statistically what they’ve done,” Hamilton said, likely braced to endure cravings for their combined average, totaling just over 120 yards. “Obviously when you’re replacing a proven commodity with a work-in-progress, the numbers aren’t going to be there.”

Cautious? Maybe. But his observation doesn’t qualify as outright negativity. He’s skeptical, fairly certain of what both are capable, but still unsure of what to expect from the two backs remaining on the depth chart.

Either way–likely a bi-product of his cozy hotel accommodations–he’s not losing sleep over it.

“In the same breath, you can’t worry about what you don’t have. You have to be prepared to deal with what you do have, and take advantage of what they do well. That question,” referring to the pros and cons of either combination, “can’t be answered until Saturday.”

He might not have sufficient data to compare and contrast what he’s lost with what he’s still got, their dynamic as a group still largely unknown. Individually, however, his fill-ins’ limited track records offer enough evidence to bode hope.

Entering the week, Mike Yetka and Kevin Brown remain the lonely two, standing among the fallen. While neither is as battle-tested, both have enjoyed reputable successes during their brief stints in the action.

His sophomore campaign paralleled Donoloski’s surprise success, during which he filled a similar role. A shifter compliment to Misura’s distinguishing hard-nosed bluntness at the line-of-scrimmage, the two rounded out the 2008 Lions’ backfield–and the conference’s rushing leaderboard (finished 10th, 7th in NJAC avg. rush yds/gm).

“Mike’s been around,” Hamilton said. “He’s certainly not a power runner, but if you get him out in space he can make people miss. He does that well.”

More recently, christening the Lions’ list among those honored with the conference’s weekly awards, Yetka showcased those capabilities exactly. Exploiting all 50 of his 3rd quarter touchdown’s yards in space–nearly half of the season’s first plus-100-yard rushing performance–he received NJAC accolades as 2009′s first top offensive performer (finished w/ 14 rush, 102 yds, 2 TD). He scored the first of those two touchdowns from a yard out, but that’s not his specialty.

Earning playing time predominantly as its short-yardage option, freshman phenom Kevin Brown’s excelled in this apparent niche (3 TDs in pst 3 gms—all w/in RZ). While his role expands gradually, his increasing integration corresponding with growth of the field itself, Hamilton wholly believes in his rookie’s ability to grind out tough yardage.

“I’m not sure if anybody on our team runs as hard as Kevin,” he said.

But as he continues to re-acquaint himself with the physicality of the sport and the intricacies of its offenses, Browns’ dedication in the classroom has put a ceiling on his accelerated learning curve.

“His package isn’t anywhere near where Chase’s would be, who’s got obviously got a lot years and games under his belt,” he said, noting years Brown missed after he’d graduated high school (DNP in 2007-08) and practices missed while he’s at class.

Unproven, but promising, any optimism toward his backfield is a welcomed sentiment. Hamilton’s just not sure if it’s the right recipient of all the attention.

“The running backs and the quarterbacks get all the credit. But the bottom line is it’s the guys you don’t really hear about or read about—up front. The key to Saturday’s game is going to be up front, it ain’t about who’s running the ball.”

While the statuses of its two ailing starters in the trenches remains up in the air (Drew Mason, Joe Mecca), there’s no doubt enshrouded around the tenacity of any front-five’s biggest threat in Cortland.

Leading one of the conference’s most collectively dominant defensive-11s, the success Bryan Wiley has enjoyed during this, his final season in New York, has proven contagious toward his team’s accomplishments—his tenacity off the right corner singlehandedly thrusting the Red Dragons’ D into the national spotlight.

Personally accounting for more than a third of the nation’s 23rd most effective pass rush (Wiley-1.14 sacks/gm, TEAM-3.00 sacks/gm), the senior has also propelled one of Division III’s most active units in opposing backfields (Wiley-2.00 TFL/gm, TEAM-8.57 TFL/gm; 16^th in NCAA).

For the constant relent with which he’s flown off the edge in 2009, Wiley rounds out the nation’s Top-10 for both statistical categories.

Unfamiliar with success on the road this season, Hamilton’s Lions have fared well in its history in Cortland. The team has won seven of the series’ past-10 games, though it’s dropped three of its last four. Compounded with his perceived quality of play—aside from scoreboard implications—he believes the trip itself might offer a therapeutic purpose.

“We’ve always played Cortland tough up there. We’ve always stood tough there. I’m hoping that getting away, getting the guys off-campus, we can focus on what’s really going on. Maybe this is the kind of trip that can be good for us, help us realize what it’s all about.”

Saturday won’t offer answers to all this season’s questions. While fate and Cortland State have their fair share in store for the Lions—only time will tell whether they’ll foster cordial enlightenment.

Or a rude awakening.

BONUS Lions’ Defensive Pregame Preview: Gimmick offense doesn’t faze TCNJ coordinator

Prior to this weekend road trip to Cortland State University, the Lions’ past two opponents hadn’t thrown anything fancy by way of TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton.

While William Paterson University and Montclair State enjoyed disparity with regard to their success (WPU’s McKinney-42 rush, 224 yds; MSU’s Bliss-29 rush, 32 yds) the traditional I-formation set that each team showed before the snap wasn’t anything the second-year man hadn’t seen in his days as coorinator.

Simplicity doesn’t characterize his bigger-picture expectations this week, as he’s fully anticipating a montage of pre-snap alignments from this much-maligned Red Dragon offense.

“They’re going to try and out-formation us,” he said, picking his opponents’ brains by dissecting their film during the week. “A lot of motion, a lot more different looks than Montclair [used].”

Different, not flashy, he expects the 4-2-5 front implemented during last week’s blanketing success that limited the Red Hawk offense to fewer than 200 yards to perpetuate this Saturday.

“Having the extra safety gives us the versatility to play coverage,” he said, should coach-becoming-player Alex Smith drop back to pass. “They’re not going to want to attack the box,” if coordinators signal in rushing plays–not necessarily via a hand-off, the most conventional form of exchange

“… They’re going to try and spread us out, especially after watching film from Saturday. … This week we’re going to see a lot of the same type of runs from different formations.”

Complete with an exotic array of plays in the Red Dragon repertoire–one the Lions haven’t encountered yet in 2009–one such set isn’t quite as pedestrian, nor is its celebrated success among all levels of competitive football. Unveiled as early as its season opener, Cortland State’s offensive diversity includes, but isn’t limited to, it’s version of the reveled Wildcat offense, which sources close to the program have appropriately dubbed its “Red Dragon.”

Operating out of a pseudo-shotgun set, running back Anthony Guiliano has thrived in the scheme, accumulating all 139 his season’s rushing yards on runs beginning with a direct snap he receives. In spite of the issues the formation poses against even NFL-caliber defenses, Hamilton’s confidence in his intricate alignment isn’t budging.

“It’s not going to pose an issue because what they’re running out of it is stuff we’ve seen before,” he said, citing his unit’s familiarity based on early-season competition. “FDU ran a lot of the same plays, centered around their quarterback [Bill Winters],” who led his devils to one, lonely score in the first half of that game–before it dissolved into meaninglessness.

“It’s nothing that we haven’t already seen on film and in games. I’m not worried about it.”

Largely a product of the group’s acclaimed preparedness and dominance in recent weeks, Hamilton’s faith stems from what he’s seen around his facility—in spite the charm it’s worked for these Red Dragons.

Battling instability at quarterback, the team’s passing game propelled it to its two-point victory a week ago over William Paterson University (W, 12-10). But the 54-yard strike that gave the team last six of its afternoon’s points wasn’t the thrown by a conventional passer.

Instead, Anthony Guiliano—listed as a wide receiver in its program—connected with one of his own, fellow wideout Eric Hanjos for the score, and the win. The younger sibling to the conference’s third-leading rusher from a year ago, Andrew Guiliano, baby bro’s 2009 campaign hasn’t by any means tainted his elder’s legacy.

Privy to the talented group he’s scheduled to face, Hamilton knows he’s entering Cortland State’s state-of-the-art facilities—the same site that hosted the New York Jets’ preseason training camp.

He just doesn’t think trickery is the greatest of his worries.

“The kid they bring in to do it, he’s a good athlete, but by no stretch is he nearly as good as that FDU quarterback [Bill Winters].

“[Those plays] aren’t anything we haven’t seen before. We’ll be fine.”

Lions’ third consecutive loss produces season’s third NJAC award winner

Becoming the third player this season to seize honors at the expense of the TCNJ defense, the New Jersey Athletic Conference dubbed SUNY-Cortland wide receiver Justin Autera its Offensive Rookie of the Week.

Extending a recent trend, the freshman has now appeared on the conference top-player weekly release for his second time in three weeks.

He garnered this week’s accolades for his effort toward the Red Dragons’ decisive win over the Lions, during which he carried five times for 67 yards. Contributing most of his ground tallies via misdirected and reverse rushes, one good for 29 yards, he bolstered his average yards per carry to 13.4 on the afternoon. He also recorded a lone reception for no gain.

The conference’s top specialist for Week 7, the freshman delivered another outstanding performance toward SUNY-Cortland’s effort in the field position battle.

Autera returned one of his four punts 51 yards to the TCNJ 27-yard line, setting up the team’s coach-turned-captain Alex Smith‘s first of two touchdown passes, a three yard lob to Eric Hanjos in the second quarter. Another, worth a solid 31 yards, he brought back to the Lions’ 29, priming an opportunity for kicker Marc Corrado‘s 40-yard field goal to extend the Red Dragon lead to 16-0.

Elsewhere in the conference, Brockport quarterback Jake Graci also earned his season’s second conference shout-out, propelling his Golden Eagles to its 59-28 win over Morrisville State. He completed just over 55% of his throws (16-of-29), but averaged 9.06 yards per attempt in the victory, snapping the program’s five-game losing skid.

The senior accounted for four touchdowns through the air–from 20, 3, 18, and 5 yards out, in time order. At week’s end Graci leads all conference passers, averaging 245 yards per game.

A compelling force in his Cougars’ comeback win this weekend, Kean safety Jamahl Williams earned honors as the NJAC’s Defensive Player of the Week.

The sophomore recorded 10 tackles (5 solo) toward the programs’ 23-20 win over Rowan–a double-overtime thriller–to maintain its seat atop the league standings (Kean 1st in NJAC). In addition to his 92-yard score by way of a kickoff return, Williams added another pick to his conference-best five interceptions.

Relishing one of the position’s rare opportunities for glory, Kean’s utility kicker Billy Daniels was named the NJAC’s top special teams player for Week 8.

During the contest–one in which every last point held the utmost importance–he converted three field goals and was perfect on his two extra-point attempts. Successful on tries from 22 and 37 earlier, Daniels’ 26-yard attempt in the its second overtime proved the game’s winning points.

Busy throughout afternoon, coaches sent the sophomore and his punting unit out on the field eight times in the game. Daniels averaged 39.1 yards per punt–one of which soared 80 yards before it was downed at the Profs’ 10-yard line.

Daniels’ currently leads the conference in converted field goals, now with 10 on the year.

A familiar face on these weekly NJAC releases, linebacker Eddie Weiser added to his season’s expansive trophy chest for his effort toward Buffalo State‘s latest installment of its conference rivalry against William Paterson University this weekend.

Unfortunately for the Weiser–this week not being an exception–all but one of performances recognized by the league’s selection committee this came during Begnals’ losses.

Earning his fourth Defensive Rookie of the Week award, the freshman recorded eight stops before reading a scoreboard that indicated an extension of his team’s lengthy losing streak–now reaching five games. The program’s winless October began one week removed from its only win this year, on  September 26 win over Western Connecticut State.

The youngster assisted on a tackle behind the line-of-scrimmage, paling in comparison to the 47-yard return following his interception.

Already leading his team in his first collegiate season, Weiser currently ranks sixth in the conference in average tackles per game (avg. 7.6 tackles/gm.).

Lions’ Post-game Recap: TCNJ loses 30-7 at SUNY-Cortland–but hey, it could have been worse

CORTLAND, NY–What went well during Saturday’s blowout in SUNY-Cortland Stadium Complex—moreover, what didn’t—depended on your perspective. And for the few Lions’ faithful seated among the 825 in the arena, the 30-7 rout offered plenty of fuel for pessimism.

Holding onto a feasible shot at New Jersey Athletic Conference championship contention as recently as a month earlier, SUNY-Cortland (6-2, 6-3 NJAC) handed TCNJ (4-4, 3-4 NJAC) its fourth conference loss this weekend—extending the Lions’ late-October skid to three games.

The streak itself buries memories of the team’s once-promising 2009 campaign, an unanticipated start that—had it continued—could have distanced the program from disappointing seasons past. Its worst three-week period in years, literally, the Lions’ hadn’t dropped three straight since 2006, when they lost consecutive dates from October 21 until November 10 (W 14-10 vs. Kean on Nov. 11).

The team finished 4-6 overall that year.

An epic win toward the Red Dragons’ season, the Lions’ effort in its latest installment was historic with regard to the series.

The 23-point margin returned the favor for the TCNJ’s 30-0 win two years ago, its successful effort to wedge its way toward a piece of the 2007 NJAC throne—one it shared with SUNY-Cortland. Ranking in the top-five most-lopsided deficits in rivalry history, the spread was its widest since 1967 (Cortland W 40-0).

But even in the immediate, the loss showed early signs of a horrific worst-case scenario for the team and toward hopes to salvage its season.

When Chris James went down late in the first quarter, hit while throwing a third-down interception, TCNJ fans could only watch in helpless disbelief. The team had lost both its starting running backs in 60 minutes a week ago, apparently the advanced stages of an injury bug that already ravaged its offensive line.

“Do you know what we’re playing with right now?” TCNJ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta said of the team’s recent depth chart woes. “Two tailbacks out (starters Justin Donoloski, Chase Misura), our quarterback’s banged up. Tackles are banged up (Drew Mason). Guards are banged up (Joe Mecca). We’re not deep at all.”

The cerebral leader of its complex offense, losing the four-year starter would diminish any hopes of finishing the season strong with only two games remaining—clear that the one in progress was far out of reach.

The scene demanded heartfelt sympathy for the senior personally, considering how close he’d come to setting a few more career marks to add to his expansive trophy cabinet.

Entering the game as the record-holder for most attempts, completions and yards in school history, James needed only 235 yards to eclipse the program’s mark for yardage in a single season, and three more scores through the air to reign supreme as its undisputed passing king (Bob Schurtz-1937 pass yds in 2001, Flip Faherty-48 pass TDs bet. 1982-83). Had an injury ended this season prematurely, robbing him from one last crack at TCNJ’s most bitter rival (Wk 11 vs. Rowan), it also would have cut short an already accomplished career that could have been padded with a few more starts.

When he returned for three of his offense’s four second-quarter possessions it supported teammates’ claims of his toughness.

“He’s a fighter, man,” backup quarterback Jay Donoghue said afterward. “He never gives up.”

But when he explained his departure for the entirety of the second half, his decision to pull himself out of the game epitomized another distinguishing feature—his selflessness. Not to mention, of course, it permitted much-appreciated sighs of relief.

“I didn’t want to hurt the team’s chances, being selfish and playing on a bum [wheel] when I can’t run that much and I can’t move,” James said of his limitations, completing only seven of his 14 throws for 55 yards while leading the struggling offense that garnered only 90 first-half yards (finished w/ season-low 165 total yds).

“I just told [coaches] to take me out and put Jay in. He needs the experience for next year.”

The move made sense—though the assumptions it provoked couldn’t have gone over well with fans.

The Lions only trailed by 16 with just over three minutes remaining in the second quarter, after SUNY-Cortland kicker Marc Corrado added three with his successful 40-yard attempt. But later, just nine ticks away from a chance to regroup in the locker room, Anthony Guiliano’s touchdown grab from 26 yards out dissolved any realistic chances of a TCNJ comeback (Cortland led 23-0 at halftime).

Frustrated with the game’s end result and his inability to impact it, James couldn’t help but project how things could have gone differently after.

“In the beginning, a couple turnovers and then the fumble down there,” he said, alluding to the untimely turnover at SUNY-Cortland’s 33-yard line, ending the Lions’ second possession. “I really believe might have it switched the whole thing. Maybe I don’t get hurt, maybe we score a touchdown right there and get momentum—college football’s all about momentum.”

The sentiment is understandable, considering how poor a taste any loss—let alone one that decisive—leaves in any true competitor’s mouth. But even though no official information was given from the program, his words and demeanor suggest he’ll likely be back next Saturday for his final home game as a collegiate athlete (Nov. 7 vs. Western Connecticut St.)—another shot to cement his name in record books and reroute the course of his season gone awry.

So for those struggling to maintain a positive outlook moving forward, be mindful of this past Saturday—a brief reminder that no matter how bad the going gets, it could always be worse.

TCNJ impressed with backup QB’s poise in hostile environment

Should a quarterback finish a game he didn’t start, there’s a few premises under which the change can take place.

And no–at face value, not all are positive. Two in particular lay on opposite ends of the benefit-detriment spectrum.

Should a backup enter the action, it could indicate that the starter’s been given the rest of the afternoon (or evening) off—a gesture of appreciation for his immediate effort, and bigger-picture respect for his body of work.

The other, a fear-strickening sight for sore eyes, can thrust a reserve player into the mix without his or his coaches’ consent. If its No. 1 quarterback goes down with an injury, the inflicted program can only hope for the best from his understudy—generally younger, less proven and/or battle-tested.

Listed on the bottom half of TCNJ’s two-deep, quarterback Jay Donoghue has experienced both this season.

The sophomore saw his season’s first action as early as Week 3, handed the keys to the Lions’ high-octane offense that already posted 51 points after 45 lopsided minutes. He threw only twice, connecting with wide receiver Erik Hendrickson on an unsuccessful 3^rd down attempt in the third quarter.

Though limited, his 2009 resume boasts an eight-play, 79 yard scoring drive orchestrated with the offense’s seasoned program player offering support from the sidelines.

He didn’t make much noise, but he didn’t make crippling mistakes either. His evening was quiet, but at least it didn’t plant seeds of doubt in his coaches’ minds in advent of this off-season’s most pivotal decision—selecting a suitor for a Chris James-less offense.

Contrasting the favorable scenario preceding its comfy move earlier in the year, Saturday’s first-half scare during the team’s 30-7 loss forced its No. 2 into the volatile atmosphere imposed by Division III’s 23^rd most-effective pass rush (SUNY-Cortland avg. 8.75 sacks/gm). In spite of the circumstances—including, but not limited to temperamental weather conditions, physical inferiority in the trenches, and, of course, the sight of the team’s four-year starter writhing near the sideline late in the game’s opening period—Donoghue seemed ready, if not excited.

He completed two of his first three throws—both shovel passes to hybrid wide receiver/tight end Bill Picatagi in the waning minutes of the first half—surviving, not yet asked to thrive. But after he’d been entrusted with leading the offense and carrying his team, already buried in a 23-point abyss, Donoghue erupted out of the locker room.

He rushed toward the sideline, his head on a swivel in search a center—or anyone really—with whom he could take warm-up snaps. Only when he felt comfortable with handling those crucial exchanges, he turned his attention to his seething anxious energy, leaping while kicked up his knees into his chest.

Only in his second year with the program, his childlike vigor was understood, maybe even expected. But his veteran resilience and poise under the least forgiving of environments couldn’t have been anticipated, in part an input toward its resounding impression.

“He did well,” TCNJ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta said after the game. “Under the circumstances coming into today, I think he really stepped up and managed what we had,” or didn’t–considering he operated an offense less its two starting tailbacks and a handful of offensive linemen.

His shoulder pads already unclipped for the game’s final 30 minutes, a half-unsuited Chris James reverberated his coach’s praise.

“I think he played well. I talked to him about a couple things, putting the ball on the carpet,” he said, referring to two fumbles after poorly executed hand-offs—both the youngster’s fault. “That’s not good at any standpoint. But he definitely did a good job.”

Sure to mention its immediate flaws, James insisted that his performance and the experience should pay dividends down the road.

“He also got some experience today. That’s gonna do a lot for him next year and however many more he has.”

Surprisingly upbeat afterward, even following a fourth-quarter shot from SUNY-Cortland defensive end Alex Greenberg that dislodged the lanky 19-year-old from the football, Donoghue spoke of his career’s first realistic simulation like he’d enjoyed himself.

Animated, not jaded by enthusiasm, he assumed blame for the few tarnishes on his afternoon.

“It could have went a lot better,” he said, critically noting the expected rookie errors. “A couple plays out there, I gotta hold onto the ball. But other than that it, I mean, it’s my first real half I got to play so it was [still pretty good].”

Battered, not rattled, he didn’t seem phased by N. F. L. prospect Bryan Wiley—ranked No. 10 on the national sack leader board—nor would he buckle under the weight of the unfamiliar responsibility.

“I felt pretty comfortable in there,” said Donoghue, a claim supported after he’d completed nine of his 13 passes for 59 yards. “Wet, rain, cold—it doesn’t help, but I’ve still gotta make the plays out there.”

The team’s ailing starter didn’t appear to be seriously injured during the game. But if Chris James can’t go next week, Donoghue said he’s fully capable of rising to the challenge.

“Oh yeah—I’m definitely comfortable. Chris is the toughest competitor there is, so I’m sure he’ll be back. But if he’s not, I’ll be ready.”

No official information on James’ return is available, nor is it expected to be released. But next Saturday’s home finale is anticipated to be chock-full of insight—both into James’ health, and Donoghue’s self-proclaimed readiness.

Flannery: Saturday’s loss was a step backward for TCNJ defense

Ryan Flannery definitely would have welcomed a chance to acclaim his defense in response to post-game interview questions, hoping to stand minutes removed from perpetuating last week’s dominance.

Conditioned to seeing the redshirted junior’s limbs extended toward blocked extra points and errant passes, it’s not hard to picture the TCNJ free safety’s arms wide open at the opportunity.

But after what he’d seen during his team’s 30-7 loss at SUNY-Cortland, he said his unit’s performance didn’t warrant praising.

“I think we definitely took a step back,” he said, a short week removed from TCNJ’s first sub-200-yard defensive stand since 2007—the year it claimed a share of the conference title (limited MSU to 169 yds total offense).

In contrast to its stout effort put forth during a16-13 homecoming loss to Montclair State University, Red Dragons’ running back Dom Sair finished just 14 yards shy of extending his two-game streak of eclipsing the century mark to three, averaging 4.5 yards on his 19 attempts (MSU Jeff Bliss—29 rush, 32 yds).

It may have maintained status as the conference’s sixth-best–or, fourth-worst–unit against the run (avg. 179 yds/gm). But the dissolving mixture of precipitation (compliments of Mother Nature) and pressure (attributed to SUNY-Cortland) eroded any foundation erected upon its short-lived success.

Entering the season listed as the Red Dragons’ starting fullback—predominantly a blocking back in his offense’s conventional I-formation—the junior barreled through Lion tacklers for the entirety of the afternoon, epitomized during a one-yard touchdown to christen his team’s scoring.

“Montclair [State] was clearly our best game we had as a defense and we were trying to follow that up with a solid performance,” said Flannery, minutes after SUNY-Cortland garnered offensive yardage totals over 300 for the seventh time this season (Cortland-310 total off.) “We didn’t do that today.”

Maybe not. But outside circumstances didn’t often offer favorable opportunities for success. And Flannery—an on-the-field extension of TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton—knew it.

“As a team, we put ourselves in bad situations—fumbling the ball and on special teams. It hurt us a lot.”

The impact of altogether ineffective afternoon for the Lions offense (season-low 190 yds) pervaded even after changes of possession, evidenced by SUNY-Cortland’s absurd starting field-position throughout the contest (avg. start C41). Setting up shop, on average, from the TCNJ 44 during the second quarter, the period produced 16 of the Red Dragons’ third-highest point-total of the season (most-42, Sept. 3 vs. Buffalo St.).

Well-aware of the stacked odds—it’d be hard not to notice—Pac-Man Flan still argued that his defense needed to improve its effort toward damage-control.

“As a defensive side, we’ve gotta stop them,” though it did on 10-of-12 unsuccessful Red Dragon 3^rd downs. “We’ve gotta force field goals. We can’t always allow easy touchdowns.”

The group settled into new digs after Week 5 while gradually progressing elsewhere according to NJAC barometers.   Actually adding a quarter-tally to average opponent point totals , the unit hasn’t to budged from the conference’s sixth-ranked spot since early October (opp. avg. 30.50 pts/gm).

But scoreboard currency wasn’t all it issued in 2009. Ravaged by injuries and hampered by its schizophrenic offense, the group already fostered two performances worthy of weekly conference accolades entering Saturday’s match-up.

…To players not wearing TCNJ navy and gold (Chunn-Kean, McKinney-WPU won NJAC Offensive Player of the Week for Wks 5, 7). And after the versatile contribution by one of its emerging stars, a recent SUNY-Cortland impact player earned this season’s third at the expense of the ailing Lions’ D.

Wide receiver Justin Autera’s statistical impact toward coach-turned-captain Alex Smith’s 10-of-20 performance on his third step on 2009’s progressive reclamation consisted of a lonely catch for no gain.

But, adding 67 toward the Red Dragons’ 207 total gains on the ground on his only five carries, the freshman woke up to an early-morning shout-out from the conference commissioner’s office, named this week’s top rookie performer.

Two Saturdays removed from winning league honors as Week Seven’s top specialist, Autera’s afternoon also reiterated his value as a weapon-of-mass-yardage in any field position battle.

Of the four punts he fielded—gaining 98 yards altogether—he returned one 51 yards to the TCNJ seven yard-line, priming a SUNY-Cortland touchdown three plays later. He was tackled 31 yards into another, three plays before a 40-yard field-goal that extended his squad’s advantage to 16 points.

Flannery and the rest of the team conceded hopes of a post-season berth two weeks ago, after it lost its third inter-conference bout to Montclair State. But even after Saturday added to a game to the team’s losing skid (lost last 3 gms.)—the streak its defense didn’t continued—one of its proven leaders focused on what could be salvaged.

“We’ve got two games left,” said Flannery, looking forward to next weekend’s home finale versus Western Connecticut State (1-6, 1-5 NJAC; last in conf.). “Six-and-four is a still a lot better than five-hundred.”

Rowan can wait–TCNJ: We got West Conn first

November 14 happens be its culmination, but the game scheduled that afternoon more closely embodies the climax of the Lions’ New Jersey Athletic Conference calendar.

Rowan University.

The rivalry between the two programs is as bitter as they come, analogous to the irrevocable flavor that goes along with dismissal from the conference championship conversation—what the Lions have tasted now for weeks.

Fortunately for TCNJ—or Rowan, upon the finale of a different season, one it hoped might have turned out better—a win against the Profs can undo some of what did inflict disappointment on its 2009 campaign.

If nothing else, it’s just a game that players look forward to.

“No matter how good either team’s record is, it’s always a close game,” wide receiver Mark Gardner said over the phone. “It’s a big game.”

Gardner, one of the team’s senior leaders, says he was exposed to the sentiment early.

“My freshman year, [former Lions’ offensive coordinator] Coach [Rich] Alerico used to tell us, ‘We only play one team that’s puke orange—and that’s Rowan.’”

Now, two weeks removed from his career’s fourth installment of the series, the Texas-native’s enthusiasm pervaded his voice, his words themselves seething with anxiousness in advent of his last crack at the much-despised gang, hailing from Glassboro.

“It’s going to be the last game for the seniors and we’re going to leave it all out there. It’s going to be great. I’m excited.”

But, duly redirecting attention to the current text of his season, Gardner insisted that—for now—any such discussion overemphasizes a footnote, one that won’t be important until later.

“We have to deal with Western Connecticut first, though. I know their record isn’t great, but they’re a scary team. You don’t really know what to expect. You just don’t know what they’re going to do and when they’re going to do it.”

Before they’ll hitch a ride down the New Jersey Turnpike for each program’s predestined engagement of mutual tenacity, Gardner and the rest of his TCNJ squad will welcome an inferior opponent to Lions’ Stadium—both with regard to prestige and bigger-picture implications.

This calendar year, Western Connecticut State (1-7, 1-6 NJAC) won its lonesome triumph two weeks ago, in an classic finish during which, it seemed, fate had slighted The College at Brockport.

How epic?

With only 62 seconds remaining in the shootout—destined to produce 89 points—Colonials’ quarterback James Williams found his second-year tight end, sophomore Mike Keating, standing all alone in the end zone during a 3^rd and goal play from the Golden Eagles’ three-yard line. After statisticians added the seven points that thrust Western Connecticut State ahead, 45-44, it represented the game’s ninth lead-change—a rare advantage that wouldn’t be relinquished.

Though most numerals beside the Colonials’ early-season outcomes indicate less decisive margins, often at the their expense—kind of like the 72-10 pounding it took from, coincidentally, Rowan University—the Lions’ locker room doesn’t show any signs of underestimation.

“The team as a whole, especially with the seniors, we only have two more games,” Gardner said in continuation. “We’re busting our butts [to make sure we’re ready].”

And, he says, the team’s elders aren’t the only ones acting that way.

“But also, Coach Ham’s been giving a lot of the younger guys time on special teams and they’ve been busting their butts. I don’t think anyone’s overlooking them at all.”

The unit’s collective focus is honorable, for sure. But, according to coaches—more mindful of recent past than future—they can’t justify any reason it would be.

“We lost the last three weeks in a row,” TCNJ head coach Eric Hamilton said. “We’re not interested in looking past anyone. We need to get a ‘W.’ I could care less who we’re playing in two weeks. We’re playing Western Connecticut this week.

“Losing focus looking ahead? I don’t think so.”

Offering his answer as an interruption to the prompting question, Hamilton’s staff emulated the same reaction.

“First things, first. Rowan doesn’t even come into the equation. We’ve lost three straight.” Lions’ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said—in an entirely separate telephone interview.

“We’ve got to beat Western Connecticut. Their record might not show it but they’ve got some players. If we’re not prepared to play, we’re going to be in for a long day.”

And that’s about exactly how Gardner and the rest of the program has approached this upcoming weekend—by all appearances an insignificant stepping stone. Trying to ready himself mentally for Saturday’s impending opponent, Gardner—both a diligent student toward classroom lectures and film study sessions—has noticed only one tendency based on what he’s seen.

Unpredictability.

“They bring the house on first down just as many times as they do on third down. That’s just how they are.”

But most advantageous to the Colonials, a vulnerability to unwary competitors, is their assumed attitude— an immeasurable ally that’s gradually fostered over the course of a season ridden with so many Ls.

“They’ve only won one game. They’ve got nothing to lose. That’s kind of scary.”

TCNJ deals with unfamiliar foe: recent 3-game skid

Talk about a weird feeling.

TCNJ’s recent three-week skid embodies a number of variations of the term. It’s weird in the literal sense, for certain a digression from what you’d hope to experience over the course of the season. It also reflects irony, a stark contrast from an early-season span—in total, three weekends—during which the team stomped out its opposition and its history.

But above all, the Lions’ three-game losing streak invokes an unfamiliar culture-shock to the program, one that hasn’t faced a similar period in, you guessed it, three years. Excavating recent memory, you’d have to look all the way back to the 2006 season, during which the team dropped consecutive games from October 21 until November 4, before it finally ousted the long-unwelcomed guest a week later (def. Kean, 14-10).

Needless to say, it’s tricky for everyone involved.

It poses a predicament for coaches, striving to maintain team cohesion—not to mention prepare their players for this weekend’s pending challenge.

You know. The games it hasn’t yet played?

“It’s not easy,” defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said over the phone. “I would say when you go through a stretch like that, players and coaches get frustrated much quicker and much easier. You’ve gotta make sure you’re not letting the little things blow over and set you off.”

Now in his second year wearing Nokia headphones on the Lions’ sidelines, the former TCNJ specialist insists team unity exists as a cure-it-all elixir for this or any struggle bound to arise over the course of a season.

“If everybody stays together, morale stays high. When you’re together, you’re on the highs together and the lows together. It’s when you get frustrated and start bickering about the little things that everything falls [apart].”

His father, perhaps minimally more tenured in Trenton, suggests that even the most effective means of treatment is a misallocation of ever-so-precious time.

“You don’t,” said head coach Eric Hamilton, his quipped response to the raised notion of any prospective difficulty. “You can’t drive a car looking in the rear view mirror. What’s happened has happened. That’s like me telling you, two weeks ago, a team we almost put into overtime is playing for a conference championship. Montclair State. You can’t worry about what could have been or what might have been. You have to worry about what is.”

Now in his 33^rd year, Hamilton, Sr. has seen his fair share of…well…anything and everything a parodied college football season might offer. But, resurrecting the mentality of his former Division III All-American self, he’s well-versed in the language spoken in any true competitor’s internal monologue.

“If you’re an athlete, when you put the helmet on and the pads on, you know you’ve got ten opportunities to win. This is opportunity number nine coming up. You don’t worry about the last game, or the next game. You worry about this game. That’s where the pride factor comes in. If you put on blue and gold, you play each game to win. Regardless of what your record has been or what it might be. You play that game.”

The ones playing now said they feel about the same.

“It sucks,” said Drew Mason, a starter on the Lions’ offensive line. “But every week you wanna go out and win. Your focus is still the same. Losing sucks, and there’s not a whole lot you can do about it during the week other than going out there and working hard.”

Now, in the waning moments of his fourth year, Mason can recollect feelings from his earliest memories with the program—that 4-6 season years past.

He says there’s not much difference.

“It’s always tough. No one likes to lose.”

Mason, however, doesn’t hold the only subscription to that school of thought. Other faces around the TCNJ locker room spoke in a similar tone, regardless of familiarity with such a daunting perpetual hangover.

“I’ve had the same situation in high school, so I guess I could say I’m used to it,” said cornerback Dean Misura, experiencing much of the same his third year at Holmdel high.

After an internal dispute among members of the school’s athletics department, the program’s entire coaching staff refused to finish out its 2005 season. With local Pop Warner coaches helping out as canisters of volunteer spackling, Misura and his then-teammates experienced a winless drought—lasting the remaining four dates on the schedule.

“Obviously it’s different here, and I like to notice how the players react. Some people are down, but it seems like for the most part everyone has their own way of keeping their heads up and getting at it in practice.”

Based on what he believes is a proper prescription, the observation reflects what he would hope to see.

“You try to not let losing effect you—how you play, how you feel mentally. Everyone has a bad day, [stuff] happens, you gotta pick yourself up emotionally and just get ready for the next week. Ultimately I guess it hurts, it might bring you down a little bit.”

Hailed more regularly for his play on the Lions’ special teams than as its back-porch poet of philosophy, Misura managed to mold the scenario into a breeding ground for unlikely benefits.

“But you could look at it another way. It might make you stronger, it might make you more mad—that you wanna just get at it. You’ve got less to lose essentially.

“You just want to give it everything you got next week.”

Lions’ Offensive Pregame Preview: TCNJ, Donoghue ready for West Conn–and each other

A passerby roams the halls just outside the TCNJ locker room. He sees a familiar scene—player and reporter, discussing usual pre-game points of emphasis.

He continues without much thought.

But, upon hearing the subject matter of an otherwise pedestrian conversation—the team’s condition in the tentative care of its backup quarterback—his proverbial mental train is rerouted, the itinerary of his impulses provoking the following reaction:

“Oh Jay Donoghue? He’s the man.”

Whether he’ll be the man for the Lions this weekend is uncertain. The status of starting quarterback Chris James is under raps, and his understudy remains largely unproven—on paper, at least. But, should he get the nod, there doesn’t seem to be anyone willing to voice concerns.

Maybe it’s because there aren’t any.

“We have complete confidence in Donoghue,” said wide receiver Colin Weber, who’s worked with the youngster daily since August.

Weber, whose 69.75 receiving yards a game rounds out the conference’s top-three most prolific weekly averages, says he’s window-shopped for months now, browsing aisle after aisle of the kid’s goods.

And he says he’s sold.

“He’s been our backup quarterback for two years—he’s been practicing every day. He’s a smart kid, he knows the system and he works hard. Like I said, we have complete confidence that he can lead us to a win tomorrow.”

Sure to mention that his friend and fellow senior would surely be missed—both presence and production—Weber couldn’t identify a resounding deviance from the team’s weekly business, even with the prospect of Donoghue under center.

“Nothing’s really changing at all. We’re not game-planning any different than we would. We’re game planning for West[ern] Conn[ecticut], not necessarily considering Chris out, we’re just continuing with what we have and with our game plan. He knows the system.”

Now, if it were written as a textbook, the Lions’ spread offense wouldn’t quite qualify as light reading. Chapters would include lessons on the zone-read option, scores of combination routes and pass schemes—all with specified progressions—and those are just the fundamentals. Suggested, accessory readings would include various works on option routes, identifying coverages, and intro to footwork instructional manuscripts.

Mind you, that’s what can be taught. Lest we forget intangibles like pocket presence, decision-making and—most important of all—it.

Fortunately for Donoghue, its architect designed the scheme specifically for easy operation. He also kept malleability in mind.

“Our system is friendly,” TCNJ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta said after Friday’s walk-through. “It adapts to all the different kids we have and talent we have. Some things we had to push back because Chris does things—he creates. Being young, we don’t want to put Jay in that situation. We just want him to play.”

Which, according to the man of the hour—potentially closer than a full 24 before his most telling—is about what he’s going for.

“I don’t know,” said Donoghue—his revelation of predetermined strategy before tomorrow’s contest. “I guess whatever the coaches tell me to do.”

Elaborating on his otherwise vague break-down, Donoghue said he’s just trying to keep an even keel, banking on his approximated recipe for success calling for a few heaping tablespoons of staying within himself.

“Quarterback is one of those positions you just gotta stay composed and make sure you’re making all the right reads. [You] don’t get too crazy. Save all that stuff on the defense.”

Invoking a reserved sense of assuredness from the program, Donoghue still might not be asked of much—neither by himself or coaches. But those around him have already tailored their expectations of themselves

“We’re trying to make every play for him,” wide receiver Cam Richardson said. “If he puts a ball out there we gotta make sure we go get it for him, so he gets rhythm, gets confidence and we can get it rolling.”

Weber might stand alone as its statistical leader, but the corps as a whole represents the most high-wattage beacon of senior leadership. The backbone of its pentagon shape incorporates five student-athletes—all wideouts, all in their fourth and final year of eligibility (Gardner, Hendrickson, Picatagi, Richardson, Weber).

And according to Richardson, designated in training camp as one of the team’s four official headship representatives, there’s plenty more Donoghue’s group of targets can offer.

“From a mental aspect, we’re just trying to keep him calm. Obviously it’s a new situation for him, whereas with Chris, he’s been playing as longer than any of us receivers have been playing, at least here at the College. So mentally, we definitely feel responsible. Keep him calm, help him make plays, and maybe let him lean on us where we might have leaned on Chris.”

Funny thing is, most of the program is having a difficult enough time composing themselves.

“I’m pretty excited for Jay this week,” Acosta said, anxious to see his project fully function. “That’s our future. You definitely want to give playing time to your future, because when it comes around next year, he has playing experience.”

An undoubted benefit on the side, the second-year coordinator doesn’t consider tomorrow an investment toward years to come. Nor does he necessarily foresee pending rookie mistakes—a guarantee for just about anyone else.

“Jay’s ready to go. He’s gonna do some special things tomorrow. And we’re going to take the good with the bad with it—we’ll live with him.”

For Saturday, but a ninth of their season’s collective existence, Acosta, the offense—maybe even the team—could very well hinge upon the fluid swing of Donoghue’s right arm.

But the man himself? He’s just trying to live.

In the moment, that is.

“Absolutely,” he said, insisting he’ll relish an opportunity.

“It’s a great game. Why not?”

Bounds limitless for TCNJ defense–Hamilton: They finally get it

Last Saturday—a week removed from his defense’s most outstanding performance to date—Ryan Flannery gazed into nothingness, minutes after what seemed like all that progress’ deconstruction. He spoke out in heated frustration, saying about as much.

The unit’s most recent outing might not have expanded construction on the monument of success erected during a 16-13 loss against Montclair State University. But even if it seemed like the group had resorted to its old ways—allowing 300+ yards of SUNY-Cortland offense—it just wouldn’t be possible for 60 minutes to erase countless hours of building, resulting in this foundation.

It can’t be quantified—certainly not by NCAA standards, like the ones that rank TCNJ’s among other run-of-the-mill defenses in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (ranked no higher than 6^th in any statistical category). But it’s there nonetheless, the earliest sprouts of seeds planted way back in August, finally starting to germinate.

What is it, besides that X-factor swag—a quality collectively offered by each player’s colorful personality and ostensible chip on their shoulders? It is understanding.

And now that they’ve got it, it’s not going anywhere.

It can’t.

“Compared to the beginning of the year it’s night and day,” free safety Matt Kreider said before Friday’s walk through. “…Starting then, working until now, we’re a completely different team. I know it seems like we may have taken a step back last week…but I still see us improving.”

Kreider, now a junior, said he was well-versed in specificities immediately after the team broke camp—the Xes and Os of the scheme. But even so, he hadn’t quite put it all together.

“In Week One, I feel like I had the knowledge to regurgitate it to you—like how when you cram for a test. I could tell you everything, but I couldn’t use it functionally.”

Becoming the team’s leading tackler by Week Nine, Kreider spoke retrospectively, remembering on experiences of his and everyone else’s inexperience. But looking around now, he’s begun to notice an overwhelming grasp of what he’s asked, immediately processing the order and deducing the philosophy behind it.

“Now I feel like I know what everyone’s doing, why they’re doing it. And I feel like more and more players on our defense are at that point now. Before you’re in position and you don’t know what the hell’s going on. Now it’s starting to click.”

It’s taken a while, and from time to time, they’ve taken a beating while the matter sorted itself out.

Twice has the Lions’ defense forfeited opponent yards totals in excess of 500 yards (Morrisville St., Brockport). Its across-the-ball adversaries have garnered 30 points in all but two of the unit’s appearances—one being Kean’s 28 points in Week 5. Perhaps worst of all is the ravaging toll fate has taken over the course of this trying 2009 season, sending seven frequent starters to the sideline for varying severities of injury and stretches of time (Beres, DeCongelio, Flannery, Goreczny, Hadduch, Jones, Spahn).

Some might even argue that it’s greatest misfortunes have helped incubate it’s achievements.

“The silver lining of a lot of guys being hurt is it gives an opportunity to a lot of different guys to get playing time,” TCNJ defensive coordinator Matt Hamilton said over the phone, earlier in the week.

“From that standpoint we’d like to think that no matter who we put in, he’s got a grasp of what he’s doing and can do the job for us.”

Hiccups aside—those within and beyond control—there’s no doubt that the scheme has finally nestled in, taking residence in players’ unconsciousness thought processes. And now that it’s internalized, a sixth-sense since it’s become second-nature, players say it allows them to…well…just play the game.

“From the beginning, I feel like we were thinking too much out there,” Flannery said after Friday’s light workout.

“Young guys stepped up and started understanding the scheme. We’re doing more reacting than thinking. That’s always good—instead of being a step slower.”

And, according to one of those afore mentioned youngsters—whose personal success has fortified the Lions’ much-maligned second-level—that ability to allow innate impulses dictate his play has been a big reason why.

“Now it’s just pretty much being there and making the play. The physical part’s done. It’s more mentally. Just making sure I’m where I’m supposed to be on every play. …I feel confident. I pretty much know everything I’m doing.”

Whether they’ve reached this alleged breakthrough remains unknown, a secret locked in the inner-most workings of each player’s mind. Whatever the case may be, coaches say the recently completed work-in-progress is good enough, a pleasure to watch in their mind.

“It’s just encouraging to look at it from a staff perspective,” Hamilton said, all too proud of his players’ development.

“Early in the season, when we were struggling, it looked like kids were just confused a lot of different times. … But our best games have come later in the season. That’s the positive we’re taking out of it. We’re on the rise and that’s all you can ask for.”

Hamilton said he had no complaints, but TCNJ’s second-year defensive play-caller said he knows what he’d wish for, should he happen to trip on a magic lamp before the season—and his time with this group—comes to an end.

“When all of a sudden it clicks, and things are going well … you say, ‘Damn it.

“‘I wish we had five or six more weeks to really start having some fun.’”

Lions’ Post-game Recap: Colonials’ big plays gash TCNJ, which couldn’t return the favor

Equivocation, puffery, and jaded optimism aside—that one was tough to watch.

For those with invested sentiments prior to TCNJ’s loss to Western Connecticut State—friends and family gathered for TCNJ Senior Day 2009—hearts ached at the sight, translated as a tear-jerking defeat that interrupted seniors’ final bow from Lions Stadium’s field-turf stage.

“It’s definitely tough,” Lions’ quad-captain Cam Richardson said, moments after he dazzled fans for one last time with 78 yards on his team-leading eight catches.

“Obviously last game ever in the place you’ve played in for four years you wanna go out on top, with a win.”

For everyone else, the 37-34 margin struck the same chord, a slight advantage in a disheartening upset.

The Colonials (2-7, 2-6 New Jersey Athletic Conference) second win of 2009 marked the fifth tally in the wrong column for TCNJ (4-5, 3-5 NJAC). After walking away victors from four of their first five—sizing up hopes for an unlikely run at the conference crown—the Lions have been beaten into humility of late, their now eyes fixated on a four-game skid (last won Oct. 10).

“Every week’s different,” head coach Eric Hamilton said of whether he thought the past month has gotten to players. “Maybe the last two weeks, because it was hard these last two weeks.”

Consensus could be reached on that comment, players ailing both body and spirit. But more than any other—one with which even the agnostic fellowship could agree—instead of an anticipated day of celebration, what fans got was one straight from hell.

An unsightly beginning paralleled its sour finish. The image of quarterback Chris James’ blue number four jersey without shoulder pads beneath it indicated he’d been scratched from his final home start as a collegiate athlete.

Though, coaches and players insisted it wasn’t the absence of their four-year starter that determined Saturday’s outcome.

“Jay did well,” Hamilton said of the sophomore’s first career start. “But Jay will be the first one to tell you we lost the game.”

It wasn’t his fault, but Chris James’ two-year understudy said he wasn’t as troubled by the game’s end as much as a part of its means that might have changed it, had things gone differently.

“I did OK,” said Jay Donoghue of his 22-of-28 overachievement, inclusive of 194 yards and three touchdowns.

“I mean, that play is going to haunt me a little bit,” he said later, referring to a late, fourth-quarter interception that slipped through senior wide receiver Mark Gardner’s hands. “I didn’t see exactly what happened, but … that’s definitely in part my fault. I’ve gotta take that one a little bit.”

Trailing those three deciding points with just over six minutes remaining, Donoghue was perfect on the first 13 plays of that 76-yard drive—one started just inside the Lions’ 10-yard line.

His backfield offered ample support, namely through of 40 yards on Mike Yetka’s five carries during the possession–a sizable portion of his afternoon’s totals (Yetka-20 rush, 118 yds; led TCNJ).

But Donoghue’s precision on five passes that safely found four different targets—fittingly all senior wideouts—marched James’ offense to 15 yards outside the storybook finish for which onlookers hoped.

But after that first-down play, invoking generally understood angst, the only debate argued which hurt more:

The big plays the Colonials made, or the ones the Lions couldn’t.

“Everything we were able to do is what we wanted to with the game plan,” said TCNJ offensive coordinator Bobby Acosta, after the group amassed 444 yards of total offense. “But right now we’re lacking the big-play potential.”

The explosion that ignited the nation’s former No. 1 scoring offense showed glimpses Saturday, magnified by Colin Weber’s 22-yard grab to break TCNJ’s season scoring mark (originally 295, set in 1989).

Gardner, who led the corps of five seniors with 83 yards on eight grabs, scaled defenders for circus scores on two fade routes earlier, from 15 and 14 yards out. Even after the latter created an eight point deficit four minutes into the third period (TCNJ led 34-26), Acosta said he needed one more a quarter later.

“You get your hands on the football, you gotta catch it. … It’s a shame that it had to come down to this because this is a talented football team we have.”

While Bill Picatagi’s 25-yard first-quarter dash to pay dirt represented the Lions longest play-from-scrimmage, three early receptions accounted for 145 of the Colonials’ 265 first-half yards, not to mention 19 of its points (finished w/ 359 yds).

“When you blow coverages in Week Eight, that’s tough,” Hamilton said of the lengthy gains. “We just weren’t on the same page.”

His defense allowed only a single third-down conversion on Western Connecticut’s 10 attempts, while his offense scored five touchdowns. But, himself stripped of emotion, Hamilton offered equal opportunity criticism.

“It wasn’t the defense’s fault. It was as much the offense’s fault as the defense’s. … But offensively when we get the opportunity we’ve gotta step on the neck. We didn’t do that in a couple of situations. It’s a team loss. What are you gonna do?”

Maybe it’s a stretch, a desperate clenching to what was supposed to be positive. But according to Hamilton’s assistants, there’s only one way to respond.

You grow.

“Do you dwell on this and get down?” Acosta said. “Nah. You build on it.

“This is what coaching is about, what playing is about. Building up, moving on and getting better. It’s just bringing these guys back tomorrow and getting them together so they can believe.”

TCNJ’s Burns earns 2nd NJAC award–both with strings attached

TCNJ linebacker Greg Burns must be the most emotionally torn man in Trenton.

In the immediate, he watched Western Connecticut State tarnish the program’s Senior Day festivities, robbing the group of an unhampered farewell to fans with a 37-34 loss Saturday.

A day later, he was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s outstanding rookie performer.

Another brush stroke in a dismal bigger picture, his season’s second weekly award marks another captured in defeat—each having disheartening implications.

His first, won with his 9-tackle outing during the Lions’ Week Seven loss to Montclair State University, coincided with his defense’s best outing of the season–and his team’s ousting from conference championship contention.

That game was the program’s homecoming, too.

His latest, earned with another team-leading 10 stops, overlapped its chances to salvage a winning record.

Upset by the NJAC’s resident last-place tenant, the Lions dropped a fifth date on their 2009 calendar this past weekend, relinquishing an opportunity to finish over par. Now, hoping to avoid extending its mid-October skid to five games, any hopes at a .500 record need to outlast next weekend’s road trip to Rowan University.

Success without strings about summed up the remainder of the weekly release, with none of the other honorees subjected to that kind of backhanded fortune.

***

Helping Kean University maintain its pristine record, Cougars running back Jared Chunn brought home Week 10 decorations as its Offensive Player of the Week.

The senior’s 246 yards on 37 carries marked the most stout rushing total his career, and of any league performer this season. He also scored twice toward his team’s 20-0 margin over William Paterson University.

Named twice subjectively—after both his season’s 200+ yard performances—the NJAC’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year rules its statistical leader board outright, topping the list with his 114.6-yard game average.

***

An integral player in the Lions’ woes during and after Saturday’s game, Western Connecticut State linebacker Greg Galasso was named the conference’s top defensive performer. The sophomore recorded 22 tackles toward his Colonials’ win Saturday—each notable with regard to this season.

Bolstered by accessory accomplishments, including a sack and tackle-for-loss, his individual output was the most produced by an NJAC performer this year. Its records dating back only to 2003, the league could only offer with certainty that it was also the best single-game total during the span.

Additionally, the W helped foster his program’s second victory in 2009—both in the past three weeks (won vs. Brockport in Wk. 8).

**

SUNY-Cortland utility kicker Kyle Peterson won this week’s accolades for its top specialist, emerging as yet another weapon in the Red Dragons’ third-dimension.

The senior became his team’s second captor of the NJAC’s Special Teams Player of the Week this season, averaging 38.5 yards on each of his four punts.

Punishing the Golden Eagles as directly as he could, Peterson landed three punts inside Brockport’s 20-yard line. He twice cornered the team’s offense within its own five-yard line, likely accounting for some of the difference in a potent offensive bout that finished 56-42—advantage SUNY-Cortland.

***

Helping the Profs big rebound from last week’s double-overtime loss, Rowan wide receiver James Kinloch snagged NJAC recognition as its top offensive rookie–his second already in his inaugural collegiate season.

The freshman averaged 26.6 yards on his three catches, good for 80 yards on the afternoon. His 56-yard touchdown accounted for half of the team’s points scored against Montclair State University, in a contest decided by only seven (Rowan def. MSU, 14-7).

Now third in league standings, Rowan’s win this weekend handed the Red Hawks (prev. undefeated in NJAC) a dethroning loss, knocking Montclair State from the top of the conference.