Football

Balanced Attack Propels Cougars Past USSMA, 48-7, in Season Opener

UNION, N.J. (8/31/07) - The Kean University football team opened the 2007 season scoring 38 unanswered points to defeat the United States Merchant Marine Academy football team, 48-7, in the season opener for both teams in front of nearly 1,300 fans on Friday evening at Kean Alumni Stadium.

The Cougars racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense, including 327 yards rushing and held the Mariners to just nine first downs and 19 yards rushing.  The 48 points scored is the most for Kean in a season opener, while the 41-point victory is the largest margin of victory to start the season.

In the win, sophomore Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, N.J.) rushed for a career high 118 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown run, while senior Jonathan Robinson (Brick, N.J.) connected on all four of his field goal attempts to become the program's all-time leader with 15 career field goals made.  Senior A.J. Roque (Matawan, N.J.) eclipsed 6,000-career passing yards, as he finished with 155 yards passing. 

For Kings Point, senior linebacker Garron Edgington (Fairview, N.C.) made a game-high 15 tackles, while sophomore Calder Kaatz (Sheridan, Mont.) added 11 tackles. 

The Cougars scored on the first play of their second drive, as Chunn broke off a career-high 60-yard touchdown run for the 7-0 lead with 6:05 left in the first quarter.  On the Mariners next possession, Kean sophomore inside linebacker Jim Tedesco (Staten Island, N.Y.) intercepted the pass inside Kings Point territory, leading to Robinson's first field goal of the evening, a 38-yard shot, for the 10-0 Cougar advantage.

Kings Point responded on their next drive, going 62-yards on six plays, as sophomore quarterback Carlton Hobkirk (Tampa, Fla.) had a one-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Michael Stuart (Charlotte, N.C.) to cut the deficit to three points at 10-7.  On the first play of the drive, Hobkirk connected with sophomore wide receiver Garret Washington (Chatham, N.Y.) on a 48-yard reception to put the Mariners inside the red zone for the first time in the game.

In the second quarter, Kean pushed the lead back out to six points on a 35-yard field goal by Robinson with 7:57 left in the quarter.  With 66 seconds to go before halftime, Kean senior Clarence Goodman (Old Bridge, N.J.) blocked a USMMA punt in the end zone that eventually resulted in a safety and the 15-7 lead.  On the ensuing free kick, Kean senior Brian Williams (Pleasantville, N.J.) returned the ball 64-yards back to the USMMA 15-yard line and the Cougars added another Robinson field goal before the half for the nine-point lead (18-7) at the break. 

The Cougars broke the game open in the second half, scoring on four straight possessions spanning the final two quarters.  Junior James Felton (Plainfield, N.J.) and freshman running back Chris DiMicco (Lanoka Harbor, N.J.) had touchdown runs of 12-yards and seven-yards, respectively to build a 31-7 lead.  Robinson added his final field goal of the game with 29 seconds left in the third quarter for the 34-7 advantage. 

Kean added a pair of touchdowns just 1:23 apart in the fourth quarter, as junior wide receiver Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, N.J.) capped a five-play, 80-yard drive with a 59-yard touchdown reception, and senior Ryan Staton (Mays Landing, N.J.) returned an interception 36 yards for the final points of the game. 

In the game, Dukes caught four passes for 92 yards and added six rushes for 50 yards, while DiMicco finished with 59 yards rushing on 10 attempts.  Williams had a pair of kick-off returns for 102 yards to give the Cougars good field position, while also adding seven rushes for 47 yards and two receptions for 27 yards.

Roque complete 9-of-18 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown, giving the four-year starter 6,135 career passing yards. 

Defensively, Goodman had a solid all-around game, finishing with six tackles, including two sacks, while juniors Matt Ali (Keasbey, N.J.) and Markal Ginyard (Cape May Courthouse, N.J.) each added six tackles and two pass breakups.  Junior outside linebacker Jake Pew (Sussex, N.J.) had six tackles and senior defensive end Brian Cilento (Dunellen, N.J.) had four tackles.

For the Mariners, Hobkirk completed 8-of-18 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown, while rookie Derrick Ventre (Cincinnati, Ohio) added four completions for 42 yards. 

Senior Jon Spiropoulos (Fort Meyers, N.J.) had seven receptions for 65 yards and sophomore Grant Wright (Orlando, Fla.) had two receptions for 30 yards.  Defensively, junior outside linebacker Alex Maza (Pennsburg, Pa.) added eight tackles. 

The Cougars return to action next weekend, when they travel to Reading, Pa., to take on Albright College in non-conference action on Saturday, September 8.  Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.