Chunn Carries Football Past
TCNJ
EWING, N.J. (10/3/08) - Junior
running back Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, N.J.)
rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner
with 2:48 remaining to lift the Kean University football team to a
35-24 victory over host The College of New Jersey in New Jersey
Athletic Conference on Friday evening.
Chunn carried the ball 27 times and scored on an 18-yard run
with less than three minutes remaining as the Cougars (3-1, 2-1
NJAC) erased a 10-point second half deficit to defeat the Lions
(2-2, 2-1 NJAC) in back-to-back seasons for the first time in
program history. 
Kean sophomore Chris Lauda (Staten Island,
N.Y.) intercepted a Chris James (Brick, N.J.)
pass as time expired and ran the ball back 62-yards for the
game-ending touchdown to seal the 11-point victory.
For TCNJ, James was 18-of-41 for 232 yards in the game.
Trailing 24-17 with 11:01 left in the game, Chunn (pictured
right) capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive with a three-yard
touchdown run to pull the Cougars to within one point. On the
extra point attempt, TCNJ freshman Scotty Mathurin (Mahwah,
N.J.) blocked the Kean kick to preserve the Lions' 24-23
lead with 7:21 left in the game.
The Cougars regained possession after a TCNJ punt, and took
advantage of good field position as Kean moved the ball 49-yards on
seven plays, with Chunn scoring the go-ahead touchdown on an
18-yard scamper into the endzone for the 29-24 lead. The
Cougars loook to extend the lead to a touchdown and extra
point, however Kean fumbled the two-point conversion attempt
and settled for the five-point advantage.
TCNJ had two more possessions in the final two minutes, however
a fumble ended one drive and then Lauda intercepted the James pass
at the Kean 38-yard line and his 62-yard touchdown return ranked
tied for third in program history for longest interception
return.
Both teams came up empty on their first possessions of the game,
after a 65-yard returns by Kean senior Durell Dukes (Elizabeth,
N.J.) gave the Cougars excellent field position at the TCNJ 34-yard
line. After a rush for a loss of three-yards and a pair
of passes fell incomplete, the Cougars were forced to punt the
ball and pinned the Lions inside the 10-yard line.
On the Lions' first drive of the game, TCNJ moved the ball
78-yards on 13 plays but the 31-yard field goal attempt was wide
left and both teams were still scoreless.
On the enxt possession, the Cougars took over on their own
20-yard line and got the ball to Chunn on five straight plays, as
he moved the ball 42 yards and into Lion territory. After a
31-yard pass completion to senior James Felton (Plainfield,
N.J.) gave the Cougars first and goal inside the 10-yard
line, sophomore Chris Aquino (Somerville, N.J.)
scored from seven-yards out for his first touchdown of the
season. The Cougars took the 7-0 lead after junior
Rick Jaeger (Hazlet, N.J.) converted the extra
point.
In the second quarter, the Lions got on the board with a long
47-yard field goal by junior Mark Zucconi (Marlton, N.J.)
to cut the Cougar lead to 7-3.
Late in the quarter, the Cougars took over at their own 42-yard
line and moved back into Lion territory on a 17-yard reception by
Dukes with less than 30 seconds remaining in the quarter.
However on the next play, TCNJ junior Paul Mychalczuk (
Hillsborough, N.J.) intercepted a pass by
Kean freshman Thomas D'Ambrisi (Eatontown, N.J.) and
returned the ball 67-yards for the touchdown and a 10-7 TCNJ lead
after the extra point conversion.
In the third quarter, the Lions looked to build on the momentum
of the end of the first half, as they received the kickoff and had
a first and ten on their own 37-yard line after a face mask penalty
on Kean. The Cougars looked to catch a break when junior
Kyle Maher (Red Bank, N.J.) intercepted the James
pass, however the Lions forced and recovered the fumble right back
near the original line of scrimmage to regain possession.
The Lions then proceeded to move the ball down the field and
James connected with junior Jeffrey deZutter (Bedminster,
N.J.) for the 27-yard touchdown reception and a ten-point
lead at 17-7, following the extra point conversion.
On the Cougars' next possession, Kean looked to have a touchdown
when Dukes took a D'Ambrisi pass 18-yards into the endzone, however
the play was called off due to a late flag for a Cougar false start
and Kean had to settle for a 31-yard Jaeger field goal to cut the
deficit to 17-10 midway through the third quarter.
After TCNJ missed a 28-yard field goal, the Cougars took over
and moved the ball 80-yards in eight plays, as sophomore
Sean Atkins (Perth Amboy, N.J.) plunged into the
endzone from just outside the goal line to tie the game at 17-17
just 37 seconds into the fourth quarter.
TCNJ answered right back, retaking the lead on a one-yard run by
junior Chase Misiura (Holmdel, N.J.) with 11:01 left in
the game for the 24-17 lead after the extra point.
Chunn rushed for over 200 yards in a game for the second time
this season, as his 201 yards rank 10th in single game
history. In the season-opener, Chunn had 238 yards
rushing. His 
seven rushing touchdowns this season are also tied for second in
single season history, while his 14 career rushing TDs are tied for
third in single season history.
A three-time NJAC offensive rookie of the week already this
season, D'Ambrisi connected on just 9-of-20 attempts. Dukes,
the NJAC leader in receiving yards per game, had just two catches
for 25 yards, while Felton had four receptions for 64 yards.
Defensively for Kean, Maher finished with 12 tackles and his one
interception, while Lauda (pictured left) had four tackles and four
pass break-ups to go alongwith his game-ending interception.
Sophomore defensive back Terrance Hardy (South Toms River,
N.J.) had seven tackles and one forced fumble, while
rookie Joseph Laguna (Keansburg, N.J.) added six
tackles, including four solo stops.
Misiura, who transferred to TCNJ from Kean last season, finished
with 15 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown. Junior
defensive lineman Marc Fabiano (Scotch Plains, N.J.) had
eight tackles and one forced fumble, while Mychalczuk and junior
Justin Beres (Galloway, N.J.) each had eight tackles.
The Cougars remain on the road next week, traveling to Buffalo
State College for a NJAC match-up on Saturday, October 11.
Kick-off is set for noon.
