by Joe Hoffmann

CORTLAND, N.Y. - Kean University quarterback Thomas D'Ambrisi (Eatonton, NJ/Monmouth) rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another as the Cougars defeated nationally seventh-ranked Cortland, 24-10. The Cougars' win was their first ever against Cortland in 14 meetings since the teams started playing in 1996. The Cougars are now 2-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and 2-1 overall. The Red Dragons fall to 2-1 both in the NJAC and overall while having a 12-game league winning streak snapped.

D'Ambrisi, who completed 14 of 21 passes for 136 yards, also led the Cougars in rushing with 64 yards on 15 attempts. The Cougars racked up 159 rushing yards on 39 carries, with three players eclipsing 50 yards each. Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) had 59 yards on 12 carries and Chris Aquino (Somerville, NJ) had 55 yards on seven carries.

Red Dragon junior quarterback Hudson Woodward (Beacon), making his first collegiate start, had a mixed debut. He completed 20 of 39 passes, including his first career touchdown pass, for 183 yards, but also threw three interceptions.

Cortland kicked off the scoring early after Matt Mancz (Levittown/Division Avenue) recovered a fumble on a Kean punt return, forced by Joe Lopez (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue). The recovery gave the Red Dragons the ball on the Kean 14-yard line, but Cortland had to settle for a 29-yard Marc Corrado (Newburgh/Newburgh Free Academy) field goal with 10:30 left in the first quarter.

The lead was short-lived though, as Kean drove 39 yards on seven plays on its next drive, leading up to a Billy Daniels (Ridgefield, NJ/Ridgefield Memorial) 40-yard field goal to even the score at 3-3 with 6:20 remaining in the quarter. D'Ambrisi was 3 for 3 on the drive for 23 yards and also had an 18-yard rush down to the Cortland 32 yard-line. He completed his first 10 pass attempts of the game.

After a Cortland punt, Kean marched down the field before Matt Puorro (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) made a leaping catch in the end zone on a 16-yard pass from D'Ambrisi to give the Cougars a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter. Puorro led the team with four catches.

Cortland answered on its next possession, as it drove 72 yards on nine plays in 5:24 to tie the game at 10-10. Brian Haber (Northport) had a 35-yard catch and run down to the Kean 20 yard-line. Six plays later it was Haber again scoring his first career touchdown, a seven-yard reception midway through the second quarter. Haber finished with 58 yards on four catches.

However, Kean quickly took the lead back on its next possession. The Cougars marched 72 yards on seven plays. D'Ambrisi was 3 of 3 passing for 47 yards and capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 3:30 left in the half. The score put Kean up 17-10.

Kean scored the only second-half points on a third quarter D'Ambrisi two-yard rush that gave the Cougars a 24-10 lead. Justin McLendon (South Brunswick, NJ) intercepted a pass on the Kean 35 yard-line and handed off to Chris Lauda (Staten Island/Curtis), who returned the ball 26 yards to the Cortland 39 yard-line to set up the touchdown run.

The Kean defense also stood out, as they held Cortland to its lowest point total since October 2007. The Cougars held Cortland to just 68 rushing yards on 30 carries while forcing three turnovers and recording two sacks. Defensive back Jamahl Williams (Passaic, NJ) had three tackles, a sack and an interception, his third in as many games.

Cortland had chances late in the fourth quarter. On consecutive drives the Red Dragons reached the Kean 25-yard line and nine-yard line, respectively. Both drives, though, ended on downs.

Darryl Jackson (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Regional) led Kean with eight tackles. Mike Mancini (Lacey Township, NJ) made six stops and intercepted a pass.

Cortland receivers Eric Hajnos (Grand Island) and Anthony Giuliano (Thornwood/Westlake) led all receivers with five catches each and Wayne Wheeler (Memphis/Jordan-Elbridge) had a game-high 64 receiving yards.

Senior punter, Kyle Peterson (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson) continues to have a solid season as he averaged 40.8 yards on five punts. Peterson entered the game third nationally in Division III with 43.5 yards per punt.

Chris Hanlon (Patchogue/Patchogue Medford) tied for a game-high eight tackles and Bobby Somerville (East Greenbush/Columbia) added seven more tackles and a sack for the Red Dragons.

Cortland goes on the road for the first time, traveling to conference opponent Buffalo State while Kean University is home to battle fellow NJAC conference member The College of New Jersey.


Box Score/Play-by-Play


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