UNION, N.J. (11/15/14) – The Kean University football team came within two points of spoiling rival Montclair State's NJAC Championship bid, but came up on the short end of a 16-14 decision in the season finale on Saturday.
Things looked auspicious for Kean to start, as the Cougars' Steve Cleaver (pictured left) forced a fumble on the game's opening kickoff. Kean took possession on the Montclair 37, drove down to the three but the drive stalled there. The Cougars than rang a field goal off the right upright to leave the game scoreless.
On their next possession, Montclair thundered down the field on the strength of Tariq Turner, who rushed three times for gains of 25, 31 and 24 yards into the endzone for six. Kean's Jeremy Leavy blocked PAT attempt, though, to make the score 6-0.
Kean employed running back Will Ingram to take a good amount of snaps directly from center in the first half. The senior capped Kean's only scoring drive of the first 30 minutes by taking the opening play of the second quarter three yards into the endzone for the score. Steve Ferlisi hit the PAT to put Kean up 7-6.
The Cougars missed a total of two field goal attempts in the first half and trailed 13-7 at the break.
In the only scoring of the third quarter, Montclair kicked a field goal set up by an interception at the Kean 12 yard line. The Kean defense held firm in the red zone, led by Tom Winters who had a tackle for a loss on second down.
Trailing 16-7 to open the fourth quarter, Kean opened its gadget drawer and called a halfback pass from Damian Corredor to Qaudir Johnson that gained 27 yards down to the MSU 3. Quarterback Robert Meade III slipped into the endzone on the next play to get Kean within two points with 6:39 remaining.
The Cougars got the ball back with 4:04 to go, and Meade broke a big 25-yard run to midfield to start the drive.
With the new set of downs, Ingram, after being hurt on the previous play, gave the last full measure and lept over the line to convert 4th-and-2 at the Montclair 34 with two minutes to go.
With Kean nearly within field goal range, C.J. Conway made a game-saving play for the Red Hawks by picking off a pass at the Montclair 10 yard line, clinching the win for MSU with 40 ticks remaining.
Ingram finished with 84 rushing yards, and tight end Jonathan Schmitt led the team with 70 yards on four catches. Meade was 18-for-28 passing and led the team with a season-high 102 rushing yards.
Defensive back LeRon Dillard (pictured right) had seven tackles, including two for a loss, and Isaac Flores had a sack for a loss of 10 yards for the Cougars.
With the narrow victory, the Red Hawks clinch a share of the NJAC title, tied with Rowan University and Morrisville State College atop the standings at 6-1 in the league. Rowan will represent the conference in the NCAA Tournament via the strength of tiebreakers.
The Kean football program ends the 2014 season with a 2-8 record and a 2-5 record in the NJAC.
