Union, N.J. (11/2/13) – The Kean University football team exploded for 47 points as they picked up their first NJAC win of the season by topping Morrisville State College, 47-21, Saturday afternoon.
The win is the second of the season, and breaks a four game skid for the Cougars (2-6, 1-4 NJAC). The loss is the third straight for Morrisville who falls to 3-5 this fall and 2-3 in the NJAC.
The win is head coach Dan Garrett's 50th of his career as he now stands with a 50-32 record in his eight years with the program.
Kean took advantage of their first possession with good starting field position (at midfield). Senior Bill Cullen capped the eight play drive with a 43 yard field goal.
The Kean defense came up with back-to-back sacks in the Mustangs following drive as Corey Miller (eight yards) and Bob Klecha (15 yards) turned a first-and-10 into a third-and-33.
Starting on their own 45 yard line, sophomore quarterback Robert Meade III used passes of 12 and 18 yards to senior Prince Stewart to cap the drive and give Kean a 10-0 lead. The Mustang offense answered with an 11 play, 76 yard drive as sophomore Anthony Gray found the endzone with a 20 yard grab to pull within three, 10-7.
Kean tried for another three points to start the second quarter, again from 43 yards, but the kick sailed right. Morrisville took their only lead of the day with their next possession as the Mustangs used a balanced offense to march 74 yards in nine plays. Quarterback Lemar Johnson found Tyler Dunworth in the endzone for 21 yards for the touchdown (14-10).
Kean chipped away with their second field goal of the first half, this time for 33 yards to pull within one (14-13) with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter. The Cougar defense forced a punt and Kean once again put points on the board, this time with an eight yard scamper up the middle by Meade to go ahead for good, 19-14. Kean attempted the two point conversion, but the pass attempt failed.
The Cougars put the game out of reach with 21 straight third quarter points with a 19 yard reception to Stewart, a 37 pass to rookie Tahj Hammary and a one yard plunge by senior Sean McKee, taking a 40-14 lead.
The Mustangs broke up the 30 unanswered Kean points with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter off a 24 yard reception to Josh Powell. Kean capped the day with a nine yard run from junior Will Ingram with just under six minutes to go.
Meade was 18-of-31 on the afternoon with three touchdowns in the air and an additional on the ground. He added 261 passing yards with no interceptions or sacks. Stewart led the receiving corps with 103 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. McKee led the ground game with 129 yards and one touchdown as the unit produced 207 yards on the afternoon.
For the Mustangs, Johnson registered 296 passing yards on 24-of-43 passes with three touchdowns and two sacks. He too had no interceptions. Powell provided 107 rushing yards with one touchdown.
The Cougar defense was led by Klecha with nine total tackles (eight solo stops) and one sack. Miller stepped up with eight tackles in the win, including a sack. Rookie Wally Stephens had a team-high nine tackles for Morrisville.
Kean returns to action for their final home game of the season on Saturday, November 9th when they host Rowan University on Senior Day at 1 p.m.