@Flynn4Matt[/author_info] [/author]
EWING – After a 23-6 loss to Kean University on Saturday afternoon, the last things on the mind of the TCNJ Lions program were any positives to take away from the game, as they fell to 0-3 on the season before the upcoming bye week.
“We just really need to get the taste of winning,” head coach Wayne Dickens said earlier this week.
Despite the loss, it seems that his team is as hungry as ever to pick up the pace as the season is now a third of the way through, despite the Lions’ troubles.
There is a sense of pride that goes with this Lions team, one that is shared by several of the players that have commented this season on their projections for the group.
“We have to put it all together to start winning. I have no doubt we will real soon,” said Freshman Linebacker Kevin Hennelly, who was recently named NJAC Defensive Rookie of the week.
Despite the Lions’ point differential in the loss, there are lot of fundamental things that the College of New Jersey was able to do well in order to increase future productivity in the upcoming weeks. The score on Saturday did not reflect some of the well-played aspects of the game for TCNJ, and although they lost by 17, the offense found its rhythm in the second half.
The most notable standout performance of the week belonged to reserve quarterback Trevor Osler, a late substitution for struggling starter Michael Marchesano after the latter through two interceptions. Osler’s 17-of-25 performance through the air marched the Lions up the field a few times in the fourth quarter, and his passer rating topped 129 on the day.
“I can’t say that I don’t pay attention to the stats a little bit,” said Osler.
Although he had a strong performance, Dickens has always used a committee approach at quarterback, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Osler and Marchesano continued their baseball-like platoon in other games.
Stemming off of solid quarterback play, two Lions receivers had good games hauling in deep passes by the Lions attack: starters Conor Mulholland and Nick Craig.
Mulholland caught two different balls for more than 40 yards, and all five of Craig’s receptions came in a
fourth quarter run that made his consistent short-yardage targeting look a bit like an NFL slot receiver. Craig also almost caught a touchdown grab to add to the one Mulholland had from a 63 yard Osler pass.
Defensively, linebackers Zach Vasilenko and Eric Wehner both had double digit tackles, trying to stop the fast-paced Kean Cougars rush-heavy offense.
They would’ve been aided by another linebacker, the aforementioned Hennelly, if not for his being inactive due to a head injury. This injury was one of the main negatives about the game and Hennelly couldn’t say for certain that he would be able to suit up in their next contest.
“Right now it doesn’t look good for that game,” Hennelly said. “I’m trying just to rest and do everything the trainer says to get healthy.”
TCNJ takes on Salisbury on October 3rd.
Leave a Reply