FINAL PUSH
Four rehabbing Yanks to pitch for Thunder in ELCS
When The College of New Jersey football team headed to face No. 8 Muhlenberg in the season opener, it knew the task would be a difficult one.
The Mules were coming off an NCAA caliber season and the Lions were a young team coming off a threewin season.
It took the Lions (0-1, 0-0 NJAC) a little time to get adjusted, and by the time they did the damage had been done as Muhlenberg (1-0, 0-0 Centennial) enjoyed a 21-0 lead and 35-7 halftime lead.
TCNJ rallied late to make the final score 45-26.
This coming Saturday will be the home opener for the Lions as former NJAC foe, Cortland State comes to Lions Stadium at 12 p.m. The Red Dragons are coming off a 63-0 season opening win over Fitchburg State.
“We can’t spot anybody a 21-point lead, let alone the No. 8 team in the country,’’ said TCNJ coach Casey Goff. “Muhlenberg is a damn good football team and they showed that from the first play. You can’t make the early mistakes we made and beat a team like that.’’
When the Lions were able to rally it was on the arm of junior quarterback Andrew Donoghue, who threw for three touchdowns, including a 76-yard toss to Jack Clevenger, and 271 yards.
Two interceptions and a pair of fumbles through the first three quarters never let the Lions get started while Muhlenberg scored on three of its first four possessions.
“We need consistency at all 11 spots in all phases,’’ said Goff. “We have to evaluate everyone, every week. Some guys really stepped up but others were exposed. It’s on me to make sure we have 11 that are ready to go and that we make quicker adjustments in personnel and strategy. That’s on me to make sure that my staff and kids are prepared to adjust. We took too long to get that done on Saturday.’’
As frustrating as the early mistakes were, the Lions did settle down and show some signs of the team it can be this season.
“The kids settled down, the coaches made adjustments and mainly the kids took one play at a time and realized they could play with those guys,’’ said Goff.
Once again one of the Lions’ best weapons was AllAmerica punter, Zach Warcola.
Warcola averaged 51.4 yards on seven punts and was named the NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Donoghue had TD passes to Clevenger for 3 and 76 yards and one to Vinny Guckin for 4 yards. The running game was gained 14 net yards due to three sacks for 16 yards.
Michael Siwak, who played at Holy Cross, led the TCNJ defense with eight tackles. Trenton High’s Bryant Sanchez and Rancocas Valley’s Xavier Santos each had six stops for the Lions.
The most encouraging part of the game for TCNJ was it never quit.
“We fought for four quarters and we fought for four quarters against their starters,’’ said Goff. “That says a lot to me. What says more is that our kids never stopped, never got down. They just buckled up and played with confidence. We have to carry that into week two and come out with that confidence.’’
And it has to start right from the opening kickoff.