BUFFALO, N.Y. (10/11/08) - Senior Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, N.J.) had 300 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns to help Kean University defeat host Buffalo State College, 45-25, in New Jersey Athletic Conference football action on Saturday afternoon. Dukes had nine catches for 146 yards, including touchdown grabs of 10 and 13 yards, while also adding six rushes for 73 yards and one kick-off return for 81 yards to lead the balanced Cougar (4-1, 3-1 NJAC) offensive attack. Rookie quarterback Tom D'Ambrisi (Eatontown, N.J.) was 15 of 22 for 201 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, and added a rushing touchdown.

Junior Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, N.J.) (pictured right) paced the Cougars on the ground with 13 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown, giving him eight rushing touchdowns this season to tie the single season record. On the afternoon, Kean gained a total of 528 yards, including 327 on the ground, while the Cougar defense limited the Bengals to 77 yards rushing.

For Buffalo State (0-5, 0-4 NJAC) freshman quarterback Kenny Murphy (Lancaster, N.Y.) was 18 of 42 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

After Buffalo State took a 7-0 lead on a two-yard run by E. Todd Hurlbut (Phoenix, N.Y.) in the opening quarter following a 59-yard interception return by Paul Gruber (Levittown, N.Y.), the Cougars tied the game on a 19-yard pass from D'Ambrisi to junior Alex Cade (Galloway, N.J.). Chunn then found the endzone on a one-yard run to take the lead for good. Both scoring drives were aided by big plays, with Chunn breaking a 44-yard run on the first scoring series, and Chris Aquino (Somerville, N.J.) broke a 54-yard run on the next drive.
Buffalo State cut the deficit to 14-13 early in the second quarter with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Murphy to Joe Russell (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) that capped a 10-play 79-yard march.

Dukes carried the Cougars on the ensuing drive, busting loose for a 64-yard run, before reeling in a 10-yard touchdown strike from D'Ambrisi to extend the advantage to 21-13.

Buffalo State had an answer again, connecting on a 38-yard pass from Murphy to Russell to move the ball downfield, and then scoring on a 19-yard run by Sammy Smith (Buffalo, N.Y.). After a failed two-point conversion, the Bengals trailed just 21-19.

On the ensuing kick-off, Dukes returned the ball 81-yards deep into Bengals territory and the Cougars eventually extended the lead to 24-19 on a 23-yard field goal by junior Richard Jaeger (Hazlet, N.J.). After forcing a Bengal punt, the Cougars completed the first-half scoring with a 16-yard run by Derric Harris (Freehold, N.J.), one play after a 61-yard catch and run by Dukes.

The Cougars pushed the advantage to 38-19 with the only score of the third quarter, coming on a 13-yard pass play from D'Ambrisi to Dukes.

Buffalo State added a fourth-quarter score on a 3-yard catch by Greg Meyer (Lancaster, N.Y.) from Murphy, and Kean completed the scoring with a 13-yard quarterback keeper by D'Ambrisi.

Defensively for the Cougars, sophomore Terrance Hardy (South Toms River, N.J.) had a team-high six tackles, including four solo stops and one pass break-up. Classmate Chris Lauda (Staten Island, N.Y.) intercepted a pass for the second straight week and had a team-high five solo stops.

For Buffalo State, Russell caught seven passes for a career-high 124 yards and a score, while Meyer added seven catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Healy (E. Meadow, N.Y.) led the Bengals defense with 10 tackles.