MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College football team rolled to a 41-13 conference win Saturday afternoon over visiting The College of New Jersey, collecting their second New Jersey hletic Conference (NJAC) win of the 2014 campaign.
The victory lifts the Mustangs to 4-1 overall and a 2-0 conference record, the best start Morrisville State has seen in the history of the program since its transition to the NCAA in 2006.
TCNJ drops to 1-3 overall with the loss, 0-1 in NJAC play.
Morrisville State generated 519 total yards offense on the day, 308 of which came in the passing game. The Lions put forth a 340 total offensive yard performance, collecting a majority of their gains in the air with 228 yards passing.
Senior quarterback Lemar Johnson (Ossining, N.Y.) led the Mustang charge, completing 20-of-30 passes for 244 yards and a scoring strike, while leading all ball carriers on the day with 115 net yards on 14 carries and four rushing scores.
Eleven of Johnson's completions were to junior Anthony Gray (Smallwood, N.Y.) who tallied 120 yards. Josh Powell (Yonkers, N.Y.) registered a 100+ yard receiving day as well, catching four passes for 108 yards and a score.
Zack Drake (Canastota, N.Y.) converted 5-of-6 point after kicks to add to the Mustang scoring.
Delroy Young (Binghamton, N.Y.) and Maurice Russell (Syracuse, N.Y.) each posted nine tackles in the win, Young adding a sack for a loss of 10 yards, and registering a total seven solo stops.
Colton Evans (West Winfield, N.Y.) added to the defensive success for the Mustangs, adding eight tackles while recording two sacks for a loss of 17 yards, forcing a fumble, and recording a diving interception.
Julian Serrano (Bronx, N.Y.) also added eight stops, three solo, one of which was a sack for a loss of 11 yards and recovering a fumble.
Three different quarterbacks saw time under center for the visitors, including Mike Marcesano who went 8-for-19 for 71 yards and an interception. Dylan Cotrell added 77 yards on 5-of-9 completions, and Trevor Osler connected on all seven attempts for 80 yards and the lone TCNJ passing strike.
Frank Fuccello led the efforts in the running game, posting a net 64 yards on 13 carries, while Khani Glover added 52 on eight attempts for the lone rushing score.
Jeff Mattonelli was the lead receiver for the Lions, posting a team high 67 yards on five receptions.
Matthew Fleck and Zack Vasilenko each were in double figures with tackles to lead the TCNJ efforts, Fleck recording 13 with seven solo stops and two pass break ups, while Vasilenko added 11 stops and a quarterback hurry.
Morrisville State was first to strike on the day, capitalizing on a four play drive that covered 67 yards. Johnson posted back-to-back carries up the center for the Mustangs, one of 8-yards and another nine, before breaking two straight tackles again on an attempt up center that turned into a 46-yard rushing score and 6-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.
Early in the second quarter, TCNJ forced a quick three and out Mustangs series, and signaled to receive a fair catch on the Morrisville State punt at midfield, but the ball ricocheted off the back of a Lions special teams member and into the hands of Cristian Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.) who recovered the live ball on the Mustangs own 46 yard line.
On the ensuing play, Johnson connected with Pena in the backfield on the halfback option, and Pena hit a wide open Powell along the right sideline for the 54-yard passing score and 13-0 Mustang lead.
Midway through the second, Morrisville State extended their lead to 20-0, as Johnson hit Gray for a 27 yard gain down to the Lions four yard line on fourth down, before tucking the ball on the following play and powering behind left guard Tyler Cowley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) for the four-yard rushing score.
With TCNJ threating and moving the ball up field, Morrisville State forced Marchesano out of the pocket on a quarterback hurry by Serrano, and as a wobbly ball sailed through the air, Evans dove for the interception on the Mustangs 42 yard line.
Morrisville State scored on their first possession of the second half, extending the lead to 27-0. A 36 yard pass completion to Powell, who spun off two tackles, brought the Mustangs into Lion territory setting up the 13-yard scoring strike from Johnson to tight end Dennis Scherrer (Washingtonville, N.Y.) minutes into the third.
TCNJ was able to get on the board on the ensuing offensive possession, as Glover got two blocks on the right side behind the offensive line and was able to go the distance for the 31 yard rushing score. Colin Cazzetta's kick sailed wide right on the point after attempt.
Morrisville State's defensive forced TCNJ to a quick three and out series on their next drive attempt, but an illegal touch on the punt by the visitors at their own 33 yard line resulted in possession for the Mustangs within Lion territory.
After two quick strikes in heavy traffic, Morrisville State was able to move down to the TCNJ one yard line following a 6-yard carry by Edwin Soto (Liberty, N.Y.), which Johnson capped off with his third score of the day, a one yard dive over center for the touchdown score and 34-6 Mustang lead.
The Lions carried possession into the final quarter, but quickly turned the ball over to the Mustangs on downs as Cotrell was sacked for a loss of 10 yards by Young on fourth down.
Morrisville State was unable to capitalize on their next drive, but again the defense came up huge on the ensuing Lions offensive attempt as Evans came around the left corner and caught the arm of Cotrell to force a fumble that was recovered by Serrano on the TCNJ 29 yard line.
On the ensuing Mustang possession, Johnson scrambled up center and found a hole that led to the end zone for a 29-yard rushing score, his fourth of the day, and a 41-6 Morrisville State lead with just over 12 minutes to go in the final stanza.
TCNJ was able to add a final score with 1:26 remaining in the contest, a 35-yard scoring completion from Osler to Mattonelli to make it a 41-13 ball game.
Morrisville State returns to the field next Saturday, hosting Kean University at noon on Drake Field. The Cougars picked up their first win of the season today, defeating Southern Virginia 28-27.