CASTLETON, Vt- The Vermont State University Castleton football team hosted Kean University in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Dave Wolk Stadium. The Spartans led 13-0 in the first quarter but the visiting Cougars responded with 45 unanswered points as Kean won the game by the score of 45-19.
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The Basics
- Final Score: Kean 45, VTSU Castleton 19
- Location: Dave Wolk Stadium – Castleton, Vt.
- Records: Kean 3-4, (2-3 NJAC) | Castleton 2-6 (0-5 NJAC)
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How It Happened
Kean won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Max Cutler (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern Regional HS) received the kick and brought it all the way to midfield. On the first play from scrimmage,
Ryan Freund (Glen Head, N.Y./North Shore) was stopped for no gain. On the next play, he rumbled 50 yards into the endzone for the touchdown and
Zach Dragon's (Sudbury, Vt./Otter Valley Union) extra point made it 7-0.
The Spartans defense came up big as they forced Kean to punt. On Castleton's next drive, Freund had a 10-yard gain and
Tyler Gentry (Gainesville, Fla./Santa Fe HS) caught a 12-yard pass to move Castleton to their own 42-yard line. On second and 10, Freund ran for 12 yards to get the ball inside of Kean territory. On third down from the Kean 44, Monger's pass to
Ty Dowell (Ruskin, Fla./Lennard HS) was incomplete but a pass interference penalty moved the Spartans up to the 29. Freund had a couple of short runs and on first down at the 18, Monger connected with
James Colzie IV (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Citadel (Canada) in the corner of the endzone. Dragon's kick missed and the Spartan lead was 13-0 with 4:38 left in the first quarter.
The Cougars responded with a touchdown to make it 13-7 at 1:24. The next Castleton drive stalled at their own 43 and resulted in a punt. Kean marched down the field and Ty Kline ran it in from one yard out. The extra point put the visitors ahead 14-13 with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter.
Castleton looked to get some of its earlier offensive momentum back. The Spartans drove down the Kean 32 but Monger's third down pass to Dowell was broken up and Castleton had to punt. The Cougars scored a late touchdown with 10 seconds left in the quarter to go into halftime ahead 21-13.
On Kean's first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Ty Kline completed a 36-yard pass to Jordan Bartlett to push the Cougars to the Castleton nine-yard line. Kline then called his own number and ran it in for the score. The extra point made it 28-13 Kean.
Castleton's first drive of the second half went for naught. The Spartan defense was able to hold the Cougars to a field goal as the score was 31-13 with 6:12 left in the third quarter. The Spartan drive ended after two plays when Monger was intercepted by Cole Dessicino. The Cougars scored on a Rocco Pellegrini 48-yard pass to Jason Maraciulo to make it 38-13.
The Spartan ensuing drive saw Monger fumble with Kean recovering. Castleton was able to force a Cougar punt. Their next drive stalled and they had to punt the ball away.
Kean scored at the beginning of the fourth quarter to go ahead 45-13. The Spartans moved to near midfield but on third and two, Monger was intercepted by Eddie Schaefer. The following Cougar drive ended with a punt and the Spartans got the ball back. Castleton was able to move into Kean territory and to the 12-yard line. The Spartans broke their scoring drought as Monger found Dowell in the endzone for the touchdown. The two-point conversion failed. Castleton attempted an on-side kick that the Cougars recovered. Kean would take a kneel down to run out the clock.
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By The Numbers
• Monger was 16-for-29 for 128 yards. He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 20 yards
• Freund had 95 yards rushing and a touchdown
• Colzie IV caught five balls for 82 yards and a touchdown
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Deacon Schneider had a team-high 10 tackles.
Up Next
The Spartans travel to Montclair State University next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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