TCNJ travels to FDU-Florham for season opener
The biggest difference for The College of New Jersey as the 2018 football season approaches isn’t who is returning or who the newcomers are, but rather the familiarity.
For the first time in the last three years, the Lions are beginning the season with the same head coach as Casey Goff begins his second season at the helm.
“The kids know what to expect of the system and they know how to operate within it,” Goff said. “They understand our expectations in terms of tempo and operation. This camp was night and day from last year even with 43 freshman.”
The benefits of that camp will be on display Friday night at 7 p.m. when TCNJ (0-0) travels to Madison to take on FDU-Florham (0-0) in the season opener for both teams.
A year ago, FDU-Florham took a 38-24 win over TCNJ as Jagger Green threw for 593 yards and five touchdowns. Green returns for the Devils.
The Lions defense, however, should be solid with several key players returning. Max Busca led in tackles last year with 77 and 4.5 sacks, Xavier Santos has 58 stops and Jess Streb had 47. The secondary is led by Sam Jackson, who had four interceptions.
“I think our strength was the competition the preseason,” said Goff. “Things were not clear cut in terms of positions. We had, and still have some battles, which will only continue to make us better. Nothing motivates or reveals things better than competition. Now with that comes a lot of youth, we have a young team that needs to grow up quick to be competitive.”
Andrew Donoghue is one of those young players.
The sophomore, who saw time in six games last year, and had a season best 10-for16 against FDU-Florham has earned the starting spot at quarterback.
“Andrew really stepped up during the spring and kept in going during camp,” said Goff. “I think we have something special with this kid. The biggest step he took was commanding the offense. He has also better embraced the role of a leader.”
The Lions return Connor Owen in the backfield and Vinny Guckin, Jack Clevenger and Ibn Bailey at wide receiver to help Donoghue with the offense.
The offensive line has depth in Steinert’s Ryan Signora and Dough Meslar returning, Steve Armstrong and Ryan Vigna also help along the front line.
“We have some young kids that came in hungry,” said Goff. “But, we have some older kids that got the message and were just as hungry. They responded to what we said we were going to do in terms of recruiting and they took the challenge head on.”
A good mix of veterans and newcomers should be one of the reasons the Lions seem primed to take another step forward, especially since they closed 2017 by winning four of the last five.
“That was extremely important in terms of building a little confidence,” said Goff. “But, yet still understanding that we have much to improve on. I think more importantly it solidified a trust in the systems.”
COACHES: TCNJ’s Casey Goff (2nd season, 4-6 TCNJ, Overall 9-11) and FDUFlorham’s Brian Surace (8th season, 12-58).
SERIES: TCNJ leads series, 13-5, but FDU-Florham has won the last two meetings. TCNJ SCOUTING REPORT: Every season begins with question marks, but for the Lions they want to begin right where they left off in 2017, winning four of the final five games. They will have a new quarterback in Andrew Donoghue and Connor Owen steps in as the running back. The offensive line has some depth (if there is such a thing in the NJAC) and that will take some of the pressure off the newer skilled players. The defense returns several key players like Max Busca, Xavier Santos and Jess Streb that give the defense a chance to set the tone. The secondary is led by Sam Jackson and they will be a key as the Devils are expected to throw the ball.
FDU-FLORHAM SCOUTING REPORT: It all starts for the Devils with Jagger Green returning at quarterback. He torched the Lions a year ago, but the receivers aren’t the quality of Malik Pressley, who graduated. The receivers will come around in the Devils upstyle offense and this is still a dangerous team. The defense is suspect and the Lions will need to capitalize. If they can get a running game, it will add to the pressure Green can put on the Lions.
EXTRA POINTS: FDU-Florham won last year’s game 38-24 on the arm of Jagger Green’s 583 yards passing and five touchdowns. … FDU-Florham coach is the brother of Princeton coach Bob Surace. …TCNJ was selected to finish seventh in the NJAC poll, but also looked to as the dark horse. …FDU-Florham was picked eighth in the Middle Atlantic Conference. …Local Players on the Devils, Matthew Verrico (Holy Cross), Jake Swindasz (Steinert), Gabe Sampson (Northern Burlington) and Matt Wible (Delran). …The NJAC began play on Thursday as No. 8 Frostburg State was at Stevenson and Rowan traveled to Widener. Friday’s games have Albright at Salisbury and No. 17 Delaware Valley at No. 9 Wesley. On Saturday, the first conference game of the season has Southern Virginia at Christopher Newport.