Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Senior placekicker Matthew Dalessio (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) kicked a 27-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) a 17-14 come-from-behind win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 17-14, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Football Tournament at ’86 Field. With the win TCNJ (9-2) advances to face number one overall seed Mount Union next weekend in the next round of the tournament.

The Lions received the ball with 1:39 remaining in the fourth quarter and drove down to the RPI 10-yard line. From there Dalessio, who missed two previous field goal attempts and had another one blocked, put the ball through the uprights for the 17-14 lead.

The Engineers (8-2) received the ball for one last drive, but quarterback Jimmy Robertson (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep) was intercepted on the final play of the game.

The Lions had pulled even in the fourth quarter with a 12-play, 90-yard drive that culminated with a three-yard touchdown run by sophomore Chase Misiura (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) with just 3:19 remaining in the contest.

The Engineers opened the scoring in the first quarter on a two-yard touchdown run by freshman Nick Costa (Yonkers, NY/Iona Prep). The drive opened with a 40-yard pass from Robertson to senior Brendan McGowan (Mesa, AZ/Mountain View). Driving down the field, the Engineers faced a fourth and five, but a quick throw to Chris Graef to the five-yard line gave RPI the first down. TCNJ’s defense again pushed Rensselaer to its second fourth down of the drive, but Costa found an opening through the middle to crash into the end zone for the touchdown.

The Engineers took the ball down to the TCNJ 19-yard line on its next drive, where sophomore kicker Peter Nilson (Appleton, WI/Kimberly) attempted a 36-yard field goal. The attempt was wide left.

TCNJ used the opportunity to drive 80 yards on the next six plays to get onto the scoreboard off a 35-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Chris James (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) to sophomore Cam Richardson (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township). On the play James scrambled in the pocket, throwing the ball where it was tipped by RPI’s John Tesiero (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam), but bounced right into the grasp of Richardson.

In the second quarter, the Engineers jumped out to a 14-7 lead behind another touchdown run from Costa. The Engineers drove 78 yards with 12 plays, capped off by a three-yard run by Costa. The ensuing drive by TCNJ was ended as Dalessio missed a 43-yard field goal wide right with 1:04 remaining in the half.

TCNJ had another chance at a field goal on its first drive of the second half. Dalessio attempted a 31-yard field goal, but the ball was blocked by sophomore Joe Albano (Dalton, MA/Wahconah Regional).

The Engineers, who turned the ball over five times, threatened towards the end of the third but Robertson was intercepted in the end zone by Andrew Larkin (Hamilton Square, NJ/Notre Dame).

After Misiura’s touchdown to pull TCNJ even, the Lions had another chance to take the lead, but Dalessio missed a 43-yard field goal.

James led the Lions in passing with going 24 for 46 for 238 yards and one touchdown. Robertson completed 20 of 34 passes for 324 yards on the day.

The Lions held the Engineers to -3 yards rushing while the Lions had 128 yards of total rushing yards. The Engineers had two 100-yard receivers in McGowan (6-155) and Savasli (4-101) while nine different Lions caught passes.