Cougar Offense Lifts Football Past Buffalo
State, 50-30
UNION, N.J. (9/30/06) - Kean University junior quarterback AJ
Roque (Matawan, N.J.) threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns while
adding a pair of rushing touchdowns, and the Cougar offense racked
up 531 yards of total offense in a 50-30 victory over Buffalo State
University in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday
afternoon. In their home opener, the Cougars record their third
straight victory for the first time since 1995 in improving to 3-1
overall, 1-0 in the NJAC. Buffalo State drops to 1-3 overall, 0-2
in the conference.
The 50 points was the most scored by Kean in a conference game in
school history and only the seventh time in the 37-year history of
the program that the team has scored at least 50 points.
After forcing the Bengals into punting on their first two
possessions, the Cougars took a 3-0 lead with 3:02 left in the
first quarter on a field goal by junior kicker Jon Robinson (Brick,
N.J.) following a seven-play, 38-yard drive.
Buffalo State responded on its very next drive, going 65-yards in
just three plays, as junior quarterback Dan Aquilio (Depew, N.Y.)
completed a pair of passes to sophomore wide receiver Greg Meyer
(Lancaster, N.Y.), including a five-yard touchdown pass to take a
6-3 lead following a failed extra point attempt.
The Cougars answered back on the first play of their next drive
with a 71-yard touchdown run by sophomore wide receiver Durrell
Dukes (Elizabeth, N.J.) to regain the lead at 9-6 as the first
quarter came to a close.
On the opening drive of the second quarter, Aquilo again connected
with Meyer, this time for a 73-yard touchdown pass with 13:36 to go
in the half to take a 13-9 lead. Buffalo State senior cornerback
Cliff Washington (Buffalo, N.Y.) intercepted Roque in Kean
territory on the very next possession, however Kean junior running
back Anthony Stewart (Atlantic City, N.J.) forced Washington to
fumble the ball on the return and Stewart recovered the ball for
the Cougars. Kean proceeded to go 70-yards in five plays, as Dukes
had the 25-yard pass reception for the touchdown with 10:40
remaining in the half.
After Buffalo State tied the game at 16-16 midway through the
second half on a 40-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Eric Beyler
(Lockport, N.Y.), the Cougars took the lead for good on a two-yard
touchdown run by sophomore running back Chris Aquino (Somerville,
N.J.) on the Cougars' very next drive. Kean extended the lead to
two touchdowns at halftime, as Roque snuck in from the one-yard
line with just 22 seconds left in the half.
In the second half, both teams scored touchdowns on their first two
possessions of the third quarter. After cutting the Kean lead to
43-30, the Bengals recovered the on-sides kick at their own 49-yard
line. On the drive however, Aquilio fumbled the snap and Kean
junior linebacker Brian Cilento (Dunellen, N.J.) recovered the ball
for the Cougars.
The Cougars added their final touchdown of the game midway through
the fourth quarter, as Roque had his second rushing touchdown of
the afternoon to cap a six-play, 51-yard drive.
For Kean, Roque completed an efficient 16-of-23 passes for 271
yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Brian Williams
(Pleasantville, N.J.) scored both third quarter touchdowns for the
Cougars, as he finished the game with five catches for 38-yards
including a two-yard touchdown pass, and eight rushes for 65 yards
with an 11-yard touchdown run. Dukes also added one rushing and one
receiving touchdown, as he had three rushes for 76 yards and three
catches for 61 yards.
Defensively for the Cougars, senior defensive back Aahron Kiett
(Atlantic City, N.J.) and junior defensive back Ryan Staton (Mays
Landing, N.J.) each had seven tackles and two pass break-ups, while
Staton also added an interception. Freshman inside linebacker Jason
Leeds (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) had seven tackles including two for a
loss of 11 yards.
The Bengals were led by Aquilio and Meyer who connected for three
touchdown passes, as Aquilio completed 16-of-27 passes for 344
yards and Meyer caught 10 passes for 252 yards. Junior running back
James Perkins (Troy, N.Y.) gained 80 yards on 15 rushing attempts,
including a six-yard touchdown run for the Bengals final touchdown
of the game.
Buffalo State freshman linebacker Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls,
N.Y.) made a game-high 13 tackles, while senior defensive end Nas
Celestin (Nanuet, N.Y.) made six solo tackles, including three for
a loss of 15 yards.
Both teams return to NJAC action next Saturday, October 7 at 1
p.m.,, as the Cougars take on Cortland State University, and
Buffalo State hosts Montclair State University.
