Union, N.J. (9/16/17) – Salisbury University edged the Kean University football team by the final of 21-13 on Saturday afternoon in New Jersey Athletic Conference action.
Salisbury jumped right out of the gate, winning the toss and claiming possession of the opening kickoff. First play from scrimmage Brandon Lewis found Josh McClain for a 52 yard reception for the quick 7-0 lead.
Kean (0-2, 0-1 NJAC) answered right back as Charles App found Ben Guarino for a 48 yard pickup to start the drive that was finished by Brian Matthews on a one yard plunge as the Cougars trailed 7-6.
The score remained way through the first quarter until the Cougars took their first lead of the day just into the second quarter. The drive started as Nick Sachs forced a Michael Fowler fumble and D'Wan McCrary scooped it up deep into Salisbury territory. Damian Corredor finished off the 34 yard drive with a one yard rush to give the Cougars a 13-7 advantage.
Two drives later the Sea Gulls (2-1, 2-0 NJAC) took the lead for good on a 10 play 80 yard drive, highlighted by a 42 yard completion to Sean Rowland. Lewis passed to Brian Legue for the five yard TD strike and a 14-13 edge.
Neither team was able to find the endzone or able to put points on the board in the third quarter. Salisbury scored what would be the final points of the day early in the fourth quarter on 11 plays, driving 83 yards. The triple option offense used 10 rushes in the sequence with Legue ending the drive on a five yard TD score (21-13).
The Cougars had one last opportunity with three minutes on the clock. Facing third and eight on their own 31 yard line, Corredor burst through for 222 yards, pushing into Salisbury territory. Later facing fourth and nine App connected with Ben Guarino for 17 yards to keep the drive and hope alive. App scrambled out of a fourth and five in the next series to again keep the drive alive. The Sea Gull defense sacked App on the next play, pinning Kean around the 30 yard line. With time running out, App's endzone pass was intercepted by Keith Payne for a touchback and ultimately ending the game.
Darin Hungerford finished with 13 total tackles, including 12 solo stops with two sacks and three tackles for a loss to lead the Kean defense. Offensively, Guarino finished with 123 receiving yards on eight catches with an additional 18 yards on the ground. App was 14-of-30 with 144 yards and one interception.
For the Sea Gulls, Lewis was 9-of-12 for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He added 39 rushing yards.
In total the teams were evenly matched in overall yardage on the day (185 yards rushing-SU, 183 yards rushing-KU), (157 yards passing-SU, 144 yards passing-KU). Kean controlled time of possession with 32:32 on the day.
Kean heads to the road next week to face Southern Virginia on Saturday in NJAC action.
