UNION, N.J. (9/27/08) - Freshman quarterback Thomas D'Ambrisi (Eatontown, N.J.) completed a school record 34 passes and senior Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, N.J.) had a school-record 14 receptions, however the Kean University football team dropped a heartbreaker to 17th ranked SUNY Cortland, 32-28, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. Cortland sophomore Anthony Giuliano (Thornwood, N.Y.) blocked a key fourth-quarter punt in Kean territory and would catch a 24-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes remaining in what proved to be the game-winning score, as Cortland scored 22 fourth-quarter points to escape with the victory.

After forcing a pair of Cortland turnovers in the third quarter, the Cougars finally capitalized and took their only lead of the game on an eight-yard touchdown pass from D'Ambrisi to Dukes, capping a 10-play, 45-yard drive for the 14-10 lead with 2:29 remaining in the quarter.

Kean forced the Red Dragons to punt early in the fourth quarter and had the ball at midfield before a fumble pushed the Cougars back into their own territory. After an incomplete pass led to fourth down, Giuliano blocked the Cougar punt and recovered the ball at the Kean 23-yard line, setting up the eventual 11-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Ray Miles (Port Byron, N.Y.) to senior Jeffrey Lang (Dryden, N.Y.) for the go-ahead touchdown three plays later, giving the Red Dragons the 17-14 lead with just under 11 minutes to go.

On Kean's next possession, the Cougars managed one first down before punting the ball down inside the Cortland 20-yard line. However, the Red Dragons struck on the first play of the drive as Miles found senior wide receiver Eric Hajnos (Grand Island, N.Y.) across the middle and Hajnos broke away from the Cougar defense for the 81-yard touchdown reception.

On the extra point attempt, holder Wayne Wheeler (Memphis, N.Y.) could not cleanly get the snap down, picked up the ball and found Lang, the Red Dragon kicker, who bounced off a few Kean defenders to score the two-point conversion and give the Red Dragons the 25-14 lead.

The Cougars answered right back on their next possession, as D'Ambrisi completed all three of his pass attempts, including a 31-yard touchdown reception to Dukes, and added the two-point conversion to junior Alex Cade (Galloway, N.J.) to pull within three points at 25-22 with 6:44 remaining.

Kean had a chance to get the ball back without allowing a score, as Cortland faced a pair of long yardage situations on the ensuing drive. After converting a third and 12, the Red Dragons then found themselves facing a fourth and 10 at the Kean 24 that resulted in the 24-yard touchdown reception by Giuliano for the 10-point lead with just 1:35 remaining. That touchdown proved to be the game-winner, as the Cougars marched the ball back down field, scoring on a three-yard touchdown catch by senior James Felton (Plainfield, N.J.) as time expired. On the drive, D'Ambrisi connected on 6-of-9 passes for 60-yards.

In the opening half, Cortland took a 10-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by senior Andrew Giuliano (Thornwood, N.Y.) and 34-yard field goal by Lang. Kean cut the lead to 10-7 when Felton scored on a five-yard touchdown run with 6:46 left in the second quarter.

Cortland threatened on its next possession, however Kean sophomore Chris Lauda (Staten Island, N.Y.) intercepted the Miles pass at the nine-yard line to keep the Red Dragons off the board on the drive.

The Cougars had a chance to add points to the board in the closing minutes of the half after four complete passes and a roughing the passer penalty gave the Cougars a first and ten at the Cortland 12-yard line. However, a pair of bad snaps over D'Ambrisi's head forced the Cougars back to the 41-yard line and out of field goal range.

Both teams came in with the top two rushers in the nation in Cortland's Andrew Giuliano and Kean junior Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, N.J.), however both defenses kept the two in check, as Andrew Giuliano had just 80 yards on 27 carries, while Chunn finished with just 13 carries and 27 yards rushing.

D'Ambrisi completed 34-of-48 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to the school-record completions, his 352 yards ranks second in single-game history and 48 attempts are fourth.

For the third straight game, Dukes had more than 150 yards receiving, as he finished with 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns to move into second place in program history with 2,174 career receiving yards and 129 career receptions. His 14 receptions broke the mark of 13 set by Mike Tharp against Rowan in 1999.

Felton had 52 yards receiving on a career-best 10 catches, tied for the fifth most catches in single-game history.

Defensively, rookie Joseph Laguna (Keansburg, N.J.) had a team-high nine tackles, while sophomore Victor D'Arrigo (Staten Island, N.Y.) added eight tackles and senior Matt Ali (Keasbey, N.J.) had seven tackles, including a sack. The Cougar defense also forced four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions and two fumbles.

Miles finished with 304 yards and three touchdowns, completing 15-of-24 passes, while Lang and Hajnos each had over 100-yards receiving.

The Red Dragon defense was led by sophomore defensive back Chris Hanlon (Patchogue, N.Y.) with a game-high 12 tackles. Senior Matt Berman (Scarsdale, N.Y.) added seven tackles, one forced fumble and one interception, while sophomore Brian Haas (East Aurora, N.Y.) added nine tackles and one forced fumble.