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(10/07/14 3:57pm)
The Lions football team will look to get back to its winning ways this coming Saturday, Oct. 11, after going a month without winning a game.
The Lions have lost two straight games following their bye week in Week three. The College dropped a 41-13 decision on Saturday, Oct. 4, in Morrisville, N.Y., to Morrisville State after being shutout to Wisconsin-Whitewater the week prior.
Going into this week, the Lions are 1-3 on the season, as they return home to play SUNY Cortland this Saturday at noon. The College has not defeated Cortland since 2007 when the Lions won 30-0.
This could be the year that their long losing streak ends, as the Upstate New York team is winless on the year. SUNY Cortland’s record currently stands at 0-4, including an 0-2 mark in conference play.
However, this past Saturday, Oct. 4 the Mustangs had 519 total yards and averaged 7.5 yards per play. The College had 340 total yards, while averaging 4.6 yards per play.
Mustangs’ Lemar Johnson went 20 of 30 for 244 yards and a touchdown pass. The Lions, on the other hand, used three touchdowns. Sophomore Michael Marchesano began the game and went eight of 19 for 71 yards and an interception.
Junior signal caller Dylan Cotrell went five of nine for 77 before Trevor Osler came in and went seven for seven for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore wide-receiver Jeff Mattonelli lead the Lions with five receptions for 67 yards. No other player had more than 30 receiving yards. Mustangs wide receiver Anthony Gray had 11 receptions for 120 yards, while senior Josh Powell had four receptions for 108 yards.
Johnson led the game with 14 carries for 115 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Christian Pena had six carries for 26 yards, while Darrel West added four carries for 20 yards.
Sophomore running back Frank Fuccello had 13 carries for 64 yards for the visitors. Freshman running back Khani Glover had eight carries for 52 yards, and junior running back Brad Young had seven carries for 29 yards.
Glover was also named NJAC offensive rooke of the week.
In the second quarter, Johnson scored on a four-yard rushing touchdown at 2:36 to increase the lead to 20-0. At 9:49, they also scored on a trick play when junior running back Christian Pena threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Josh Powell to make it 13-0.
Glover made it 27-6 when he scored on a 31-yard rushing touchdown at 10:43 for the Lions. Opposing player, Dennis Scherrer caught a 13-yard reception from Johnson to give the Mustangs a 27-0 lead.
Senior Mustangs quarterback LeMar Johnson added a 29-yard rushing touchdown at 12:08 to make it 41-6. He also added a one yard rushing touchdown in the third to make it 34-6 at 5:04.
Then, the College’s Mattonelli scored with 1:26 left in the contest to make it 41-13. He caught a 35-yard reception from freshman quarterback Trevor Osler.
Johnson scored on a 46-yard run at 5:12 to open up the scoring, while the extra point failed.
(10/07/14 3:57pm)
Throughout the country, there are college students who feel uncomfortable about attending their college or university. For some students, though, transferring can be the key to feeling better about their situation. Junior Sean Kley was one of those individuals.
He began his college education at Muhlenberg College as a freshman. The school in Allentown, P.A. which is approximately an hour and 20 minutes from his New Jersey home, was not the right fit for him.
“I first attended Muhlenberg my first semester out of (high school),” he said. “I decided to transfer here because I knew I wanted to become a teacher. Also, my brother attended college here, and I knew he loved it.”
The College is only a short distance away from Hopewell Valley Central High School, and while attending high school, Kley played both football and lacrosse.
As a lacrosse player, he scored his lone goal against Notre Dame High School on April 16, 2011.
“It was (a) great experience,” Kley said. “I fell in love with both sports because of all of the good times and friends they provided me on a daily basis.”
He returned to the football field last year where he experienced playing college football for the first time. In his first year in a Lions jersey, he started eight games and played in 10 total games. He also had at least one tackle in every game and had a season-high six tackles in the Ursinus and Morrisville State games.
“I’ve had all positive experiences with (the College’s) Coach (Wayne) Dickens,” Kley said. “My first year playing football here was his first year coaching (at the school). The first couple of weeks of (last) year were new for the team and him. We were all still getting to know each other – the new coaches and how they liked to function. Once we all got on board and got on the right page, we really started to click as a team and became successful.”
This season, he has played in all three games. He has 25 tackles, with 2.5 tackles for a loss, and one pass deflection as of last week.
On Saturday, Sept. 20, Kley had a career day against No. 1 ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater. He led the defense with 15 tackles and earned the Athletic Department’s Male Athlete of the Week following the game.
“It was great and (a) new experience playing the No. 1 team in the country,” Kley said. “Not only was it different playing a team, who has won a number of national championships, but it was different playing a team all the way from Wisconsin. In the end, we came up on the short end of the stick. We showed some glimpses of really good football in all three sides of the ball, but (we) had a couple mental mistakes that let them show why they are ranked the No. 1 team in the country.”
As the team embarks on future conference play, Kley will continue to be a leader on the defensive side of the ball. Last year, the Lions began NJAC play with a four-game win streak.
“After the Whitewater game, we are working hard on improving to perform as good as we knew we can play 100 percent of the time, not just some plays here and there,” he said. “We have a positive attitude and are looking forward to competing for our overall goal of winning the NJAC.”
Following this season, Kley, a junior, will have one more year left to play close to home. After graduation, he would like to teach and coach at the same high school as his brother.
“Hopefully, we will be a powerhouse coaching-brother combo,” he said. “That is one of my main future goals. Last spring, I was actually the seventh grade lacrosse coach for the middle school I went to. I look forward to doing it again after this football season as well.”
“I love coaching the little guys,” he said. “It brings me back to when I was younger and still lets me stay involved in the sport of lacrosse.”
(10/01/14 5:52pm)
Senior Ryan Baranowsky thought he was going to be a Division I athlete out of high school. He was recruited by and accepted a scholarship offer to play for the Maine Black Bears in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The Black Bears play in the Colonial Athletic Association, which is arguably one of the toughest conferences in the country for FCS football. The Black Bears were 4-7 in 2010 after being recruited by long-time head coach Jack Cosgrove.
But, while his future with the Bears didn’t go quite as planned, he’s excelled on the home turf of the Lions and is happy to be here.
“I decided to attend the University of Maine originally because it seemed like the right fit for me at the time,” Baranowsky said. “I was offered a scholarship and really enjoyed my official visit. Unfortunately, it did not work out. I redshirted as a freshman and realized Maine was not the right place for me.”
After opting out of Maine, he had to make a decision on where he wanted to continue his education. Baranowsky ultimately chose to attend the College, where he would focus on academics and return to the football field.
“I chose TCNJ for the quality of education and location,” he said. “It was a little closer then Maine. It’s nice not having to fly home for every holiday break. I have no regrets on leaving Maine.”
However, prior to his leave of Maine and his appearance at the College, Baranowsky left his mark at his high school.
The Moorestown, N.J. resident elected not to attend his hometown high school. Instead, he decided to attend Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken, N.J., playing tight end and defensive end for coach Robert Cormier.
As a senior, he was first-team All-Burlington/Olympic League. He was also first-team All-Parochial and second-team All-South Jersey as a defensive end. Bishop Eustace also won a Burlington/Olympic League Championship in his final campaign.
“Playing football for BE (Bishop Eustace) was a great experience for me,” he said. “I developed friendships and memories that will last forever. Rob Cormier was a fantastic coach. I couldn’t have asked for a better high school experience.”
In 2011, he played in 10 games for the College. His first collegiate reception came on a three-yard game against Buffalo State.
The following year, he received a start against Western Connecticut State and played in 10 games. He had six receptions for 52 yards, an average of 8.7 yards per play.
On July 30, 2013, the football program received its new head coach Wayne Dickens. He had the job for just 37 days before his first game, and coached the team to a 5-5 record.
Under Dickens, Baranowsky has excelled while being named All-NJAC First-team as a tight end. He appeared in eight games and was subsequently hurt in two games in which he was unable to play.
He had 17 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown. He had his best game last year against Morrisville State, where he caught three receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown on Homecoming.
He averaged 13.8 yards per catch and 29.4 yards per game. His longest catch of the season came on a 32-yard play against FDU-Florham in the second game of the season.
This season, he missed the FDU-Florham game and has played in the other two games. In those games, he has nine receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown.
“Coach Dickens is a true players coach,” Baranowsky said. “He has this program going in the right direction. It’s amazing how close he has brought this team together in such a short period of time. I feel very comfortable in his system.”
But soon Baranowsky will be trading in football to pursue a career as a financial advisor after he graduates in May.
“I interned with Morgan Stanley for a year and really enjoyed my experience,” he said. “I do not see coaching in my future, but I will stay involved with the program and do anything I can to help this program win.”
(09/24/14 6:21pm)
For the Lions, they played their biggest football game of their careers yesterday, hosting Wisconsin-Whitewater, the No. 1 ranked team in Division III football.
The Warhawks, the reigning Stagg Bowl champions who have won five championships since 2007, made their first-ever trip to the College’s campus. Throughout the game, they showed the Lions why they are the top-ranked team as they rolled to a 48-0 win.
“This was the biggest game of my life,” junior strong safety Martin Flately said. “They are the best team I’ll ever play in my football career. I have a lot of respect for them.”
This was the first game played between Wisconsin-Whitewater (3-0) and the College. In turn, the 2016 football team will travel to Wisconsin to return the favor.
The Lions (1-2) have now completed their non-conference part of their schedule. After their bye next week, the team will go into the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) to play a road game against Morrisville State on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“We completed against the No. 1 team in the nation,” Lions head coach Wayne Dickens said. “They didn’t hang 95 points on us. We didn’t come out of the game looking like a mash unit. We played football – and at times, we played very credible football. Now, we’ll use this bye week as we hope to get some guys healed before going into conference play.”
On Saturday, Sept. 20, the Lions averaged 1.5 yards per play against the Warhawks defense. While the offense struggled, Flately made the biggest play of the game.
With a 4th and 7 from the Lions 15-yard line, Wisconsin-Whitewater kicker Lake Bacher had his 32-yard field goal blocked. Flately recovered the ball from the Lions 36-yard line and returned it 54 yards to the 10-yard line.
Following the turnover, the Lions went four plays and negative 10 yards to close out the second quarter.
“It was exciting,” Flately said. “I was just trying to do my best and make it down the field. Once I had the ball, I knew it was going to be a big play. I was running down the sideline, then I completely ran out of gas. It would have been nice if we scored after my big play.”
The Warhawks had 535 total offense yards with 340 yards through the air. They averaged 7.4 yards per play in 72 offensive plays.
“I thought we all played well,” Flately said. “We kept a solid effort throughout the game. Obviously, there are things we need to work on. We need to continue to play the game as hard as we possibly can.”
The Lions defense played against an NFL prospect on Sunday, Sept. 21, as senior Warhawks receiver Jake Kumerow had nine receptions for 184 yards and a touchdown. According to NFL.com, he is ranked as the fourth best prospect from a small school for the 2015 NFL Draft.
“If I was still working for one of those teams on Sunday, he would be on my board – and he wouldn’t be near the bottom,” Dickens said. “He’s a very good player who is skilled and works well in their scheme. They don’t do a lot with him, but what they do, they do it well. When the ball’s in his area, he’s going to come up with the catch. That’s what the big time receivers do.”
On the first drive of the game, the College drove 13 plays and 74 yards down to the Warhawks one-yard line. On third and goal, sophomore quarterback Michael Marchesano handed the ball off to running back Matthew Popek. The sophomore rushed for no gain, and Wisconsin-Whitewater senior safety Zach Nellis caused a fumble that was recovered by senior cornerback Marcus McLin.
“The drive was great,” Flately said. “The defense was watching in awe. It was wonderful watching the drive against the No. 1 team in the country. If we had scored there, it would have been the first time they were down all season. It would have been amazing. That’s just the way things go.”
(09/16/14 9:59pm)
By Anthony Caruso
Staff Writer
The College’s football team could have let the Ursinus blowout hurt them in their game with FDU-Florham. But despite going into the fourth quarter with a losing score, the Lions mounted a comeback, scoring two rushing touchdowns late in the game. The 14 points off of the first two rushing touchdowns of the season helped secure the team’s first win of the season, 17-13, over the FDU-Florham Devils Friday, Sept. 12.
“(Friday) night was a great way to rebound from the Ursinus game,” sophomore quarterback Michael Marchesano mentioned. “Our team really needed to come back and play hard. That’s what we did.”
With 1:59 left in the game, the defense allowed a nine-play, 82-yard drive that would end with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Maurer to Malik Pressley. The extra point failed, giving the Lions a 17-13 lead.
“The touchdown by Pressley was well executed, but they would need more than the six points that they got,” freshman running back Khani Glover said. “When we went back on offense, it was just a matter of running out the clock and not making any mistakes that could result in points their way.”
Following the touchdown, the Lions rushed for eight-yards, and Colin Cazzetta had a 57-yard punt to push the Devils inside their own 20-yard line. On the punt, FDU-Florham was called for roughing the kicker, which gave the Lions the first down.
Marchesano would rush for a one-yard loss before kneeling the ball. Then, the time expired on the Devils comeback attempt.
The College took the lead at 10:38 in the fourth on a five-play, 23-yard drive, allowing Frank Fuccello to score on a five-yard rushing touchdown.
“The play by Fuccello that gave us the 10-7 lead was a game changer,” Glover said. “It gave us the momentum we needed to turn things around.”
Glover, who was making his collegiate debut, led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 38 yards. At 4:25 left in the fourth, he scored a two-yard touchdown to increase the lead by 10 points.
“As a team, we knew that the two-yard run was what we needed,” Glover said. “Points on the board made it a two-possession game late in the 4th quarter. It gave our defense some breathing room, even if a couple mistakes were made. The touchdown for me capped off a great drive with tremendous team efforts that resulted in my first collegiate touchdown.”
The Lions trailed 7-3 at halftime. Cazzetta booted a 29-yard field goal through the uprights at 6:51 in the second. The Devils took a 7-0 lead in the first when Pressley caught a nine-yard pass from Maurer.
The College was without two of their better players for this game. Running back Victor Scalici and Tight End Ryan Baranowsky missed the game. Both players, who played in the Ursinus game, could have been resting for the upcoming game.
“Scalici and Baranowsky are great players, and anyone would love to have them on the field,” Marchesano said. “But their replacements really stepped up and played well.”
The Lions return home to Lions Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 20, at they host national powerhouse University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. This will be the first meeting between the two teams, as the Warhawks make their first-ever trip to the Ewing campus.
In their first two games, the Warhawks have averaged 57.5 points per game. They had a season-high 73 points in their season opening win over the Waldorf Warriors, an NAIA school. The national champions are also allowing 10 points per game.
“Obviously, they are a great team,” Marchesano stated. “We need to go to practice everyday and prepare for the game just like we would any other week.”
(09/09/14 8:04pm)
By Anthony Caruso
Staff Writer
The College’s football team suffered a harsh loss on Friday night, with players hanging their heads following the game’s conclusion. Coach Wayne Dickens told his players to erase the game from their memory following a 47-7 loss to Ursinus College.
This 40-point loss was the worst for the team since the 2007 season. In the final game of that season seven years ago, the College lost to national powerhouse Mt. Union in the second round of the Division III playoffs 59-7.
“We’ve got to look at the mistakes because we’ve made fundamental mistakes,” Dickens said. “These are mistakes we didn’t make on the practice field.”
The team looked at film of the game on Saturday in order to review the previous night’s flaws, according to Dickens. He said there were enough corrections for everybody in the room.
“We made errors throughout (and) all over the field,” he said. “Both sides of the ball made mistakes. We even made a few on special teams, and you can’t win football games with this many mistakes.”
Things started to unravel in the second half of the game as the Bears scored 28 unanswered points. They also added a late touchdown in the fourth quarter to put Ursinus up 47-7.
In the third quarter, the College had a fourth down when the coaching staff decided to go for it instead of kicking a long field goal with Ursinus leading 19-7. Sophomore quarterback Michael Marchesano was tackled and lost the ball before Bears linebacker Timothy Rafter scooped up the ball and ran it down the sidelines to the eight-yard line.
The very next play, Bears quarterback Kevin Monahan scored on an eight-yard rushing touchdown. During the next Lions drive, Rafter intercepted Marchesano for a 30-yard touchdown.
“We have to have better ball security,” Dickens said. “If we don’t fumble the ball there, they take over with our defense having more than half the field to defend.”
The Lions had the momentum going into the locker room following a late touchdown. With one minute and 39 seconds left in the first half, Marchesano connected with senior tightend Ryan Baranowsky for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 12-7.
“We either didn’t match their energy, or we made fatal mistakes on plays,” Dickens said. “We got the ball to begin the second half, and we couldn’t get a drive going. When you get momentum, you need to capitalize on it.”
Ursinus scored the first 12 points with a safety and a 19-yard field goal. Monahan hit teammate Darius Jones for a five-yard touchdown to give them a 12-0 lead prior to the Lions score.
Baranowsky was one of the bright spots in the game for the College. He had five receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore receiver Jeff Mattonelli added three receptions for 47 yards.
Scalici had 55 yards on 19 carries. Brad Young contributed 44 yards on eight rushes.
“It was a team effort, and unfortunately we didn’t succeed,” Baranowsky said. “I hope we have a better effort next week against FDU-Florham.”
This Friday night, the team returns to the field, as they travel to FDU-Florham in Madison, N.J. Last year, the Lions lost to both Ursinus and FDU-Florham to begin the season before going on a four-game win streak.
“I have confidence in my teammates,” junior running back Victor Scalici said. “This isn’t the first time we’ve lost a game. We can do this. We did it last year.”