Oct 23, 2021
SALISBURY, Md. – In front of a raucous homecoming crowd, the No. 12/15 Salisbury University football team rolled through the Kean Cougars, 38-6, to remain unbeaten in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play and improve to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the NJAC.
BOX SCORE
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
- Salisbury scored on its opening possession of the game following a three-and-out by Kean. A play following a 28-yard completion by Billy Gant to Hunter Cleaver to get into a goal-to-go situation, Gant kept it on an option for an eight-yard touchdown to give SU the 7-0 lead five minutes into the contest.
Second Quarter
- David Fletcher doubled Salisbury's lead to 14-0 in the second quarter after he dove into the end zone from a seven-yard toss play 10 minutes into the frame.
- After forcing another three-and-out from Kean, the passing attack got going again with back-to-back Gant completions to Chad Gleason and Gabriel Mendez. Gant capped off the quick drive with a nine-yard touchdown run to give the Sea Gulls to 21-0 lead with 2:30 left in the half.
- Gant bookended another SU drive right before the halftime break with a one-yard run to allow SU to head to the locker room with a 28-0 lead.
Third Quarter
- The teams traded punts and turnovers in the early goings of the second half. Salisbury sustained a drive near the end of the quarter, which ended with a Bert Schrecongost 25-yard field goal to extend Salisbury's lead to 31-0 at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
- Kean moved the ball down the field and got to a goal-to-go situation to start the fourth quarter. The Salisbury defense held Kean off the board after the Cougars tried the "Philly Special" on fourth down but Jamere Furbush and Josh Adewumi sacked Kyle Devaney for a 16-yard loss.
- Salisbury responded to the goal-line stand and drove the ball down the field. Andre Matthews punched the ball in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown to push SU's advantage to 38-0 midway through the fourth.
- Kean spoiled the shutout on its last possession. Justin Lucia found Myles Toppin in the back of the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown completion. The two-point conversion failed to cut Salisbury's lead to 38-6.
SALISBURY GAME NOTES
- Salisbury overpowered Kean with 474 yards of total offense compared to Kean's 127. Before Kean's final possession, the Cougars gained 61 yards of total offense.
- Salisbury controlled the entire game and stayed on the field for 37:57.
- In his first career start, Billy Gant went 8-for-12 passing with 172 yards through the air. On the ground, Gant scored three times with 29 rushing yards.
- Hunter Cleaver had a career day. Cleaver caught five passes for 111 yards. It's Salisbury's first 100-plus receiving yard performance since Octavion Wilson's 182-yard effort at TCNJ during the 2019 season.
- 11 different Sea Gulls carried the ball to combine for 287 rushing yards.
- Salisbury's front seven controlled the line of scrimmage the entire game, limiting Kean to -17 rushing yards and collecting its third consecutive game allowing seven or fewer points.
- Jamere Furbush batted down three passes at the line of scrimmage.
- A.J. Butler and Brock Keeler each had five tackles.
- Aaron Jahnke, Sam Pagella and Casey Counts each recorded four stops.
- Bert Schrecongost made a 25-yard field goal and went a perfect 5-for-5 in extra-point attempts.
KEAN GAME NOTES
- Justin Lucia went 18-for-38 for 144 yards and a touchdown.
- Aaron Cottrell and Dante Capozzoli had 14 and 11 tackles apiece to lead the Kean defense.
UP NEXT
- Salisbury hits the road on Saturday, Oct. 30 for its final road contest of the regular season with an NJAC matchup with the Christopher Newport Captains.
- The game is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Newport News.