The Lions put forth a stout defensive effort, making Salisbury (7-1, 5-0) earn every yard and forcing four turnovers to go along with five sacks. Ultimately, a few big plays and a defensive touchdown made the difference in a contest that saw TCNJ have multiple chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
The Lions (3-5, 2-3) got off to an inauspicious start. Salisbury went in front on its second offensive play of the day, a 51-yard completion from Billy Gant to Hunter Cleaver. Joe Ciempola stole two points back for TCNJ, blocking the extra point and taking it all the way back for a two-point return.
After a short field goal put Salisbury ahead 10-3, the Lions were stuffed on a fake punt attempt in their own territory and the home side capitalized with a 28-yard strike from Gant to Chad Gleason with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.
Charles Barley's 35-yard pick-six expanded the Sea Gulls advantage to 23-2 with 3:50 to go in the second stanza, but in the blink of an eye the Lions got back within one score. Making his first career start at quarterback, Stephen Begen hooked up with Max Hayford for a 77-yard touchdown on the very next play, and Chris McCormick recovered a strip-sack the 1-yard line to set up a TD plunge by Mark Pacini.
Salisbury got one of those scores back before the break, Gant keeping and scoring from three yards out to send the home side into the locker room with a 30-16 advantage.
Matthew Macaulay made a pair of huge plays on the Lions' drive that bridged the end of the third quarter. The senior went up for a highlight-reel grab on third-and-long, then drew a pass interference on a short third down from midfield.
Begen picked up a first down on a designed keeper, then called his own number to scramble up the middle and lower his shoulder into the end zone for a critical touchdown to cut the Salisbury lead to 30-23 with 12:31 to play.
The TCNJ defense continued to rise up, forcing a three-and-out on the next possession and, after punting the ball back to the Lions, taking it right back via Luke Young's interception on an underthrown ball by Gant. But Salisbury used a sack of Begen to overcome a pass interference call on third down, and the Sea Gulls put the game out of reach when Gleason picked up an errant option pitch and snaked his way 41 yards into the end zone for a back-breaking touchdown with 4:04 remaining.
The Lions made it interesting one last time, driving inside the Salisbury 10 thanks in large part to a 41-yard high-pointed catch by Macaulay along the right sideline. On fourth down, the Sea Gulls stripped Lucas Spitzer well short of the end zone to ice it.
Begen finished 14-of-31 for 221 yards and a touchdown on the day, with Hayford racking up a career-high 112 yards on four catches and Macaulay adding four grabs for 72 yards. The Lions were unable to generate anything on the ground, ending with just 13 net rushing yards.
All things considered, the Lions' defense put in yeoman's work and a robust performance against the nation's 4th-ranked rushing attack, a Salisbury offense that that came in averaging 330.1 yards per game on the ground and put up 84 points in last week's matchup with Christopher Newport. This time, the Sea Gulls had 307 yards on the ground and 421 for the game but coughed the ball up four times and never had things easy. Gleason was the standout, notching 142 rushing yards and a score in addition to his receiving touchdown.
In addition to the four takeaways, TCNJ sacked Gant five times and piled up 12 tackles for loss. Michael Siwak (nine tackles) and Gavin Liepe (eight) paced the pride and each recovered a fumble. Nick Celli produced two tackles for loss and forced a fumble, as did Jacob Maurice and Jayson Schmidt.
Chris McCormack recovered a fumble and produced 1.5 sacks. He was one of four Lions to record a full sack on the day, joining Sal Tardogno, Tyler Ludikowski, and Mike Rosati.
TCNJ wraps up its season next Friday night against Rowan at Lions Stadium.
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Football Hangs Tough with No. 11 Salisbury - The College of New Jersey Athletics - The College of New Jersey Athletics
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