Chunn Carries Football Past TCNJ

Chunn Carries Football Past TCNJ
Kean Athletics

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 action.. 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 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 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.