Eastern University falls in their debut to TCNJ 41-21
Tagged under: News, Pennsylvania Colleges
Anthony Franklin | September 2, 2023
On a sunny September afternoon, the Eastern University Eagles took the field together for the first time in program history for an official college football game. Head Coach Billy Crocker has coached big time games as an position coach and coordinator at FBS program UConn, FCS programs Villanova, Elon and University of Albany however this marked the first time he lead a team onto the field as head coach.
The Eagles would take the ball first and that drive would result in Freshman QB Sabor Stevens tossing an interception giving The College of NJ ball at the Eastern 23 yard line. The TCNJ Lions offense would return the favor when Sr QB Trevor Bopp would throw an interception of his own giving the Eagles the ball back. The Eagles offense would fail to capitalize and give the ball back to the Lions where on their 2nd possession with a short field they converted on a 21 yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
Quarter 2 would begin with Eastern on a promising drive stalling after a 46 yard missed field goal. The Lions would take over on downs but their drive came to an end when Fr. LB Gashawn Moody jumped in front of a pass to claim the interception giving the Eagles life at TCNJ 19 yard line. 2 plays later Stevens found Fr. Wr Izaiah Guy-Bruton for a score. That would be the first touchdown pass and catch in program history with the extra point being successful the Eagles had their first lead in a game 7-3.
Eastern would get a chance to build on their lead when the Lions who were driving and threatening to score coughed up a fumble in the red zone that Chris Forte would recover at the 7 yard line. The score would remain 7-3 until roughly 8 mins remained in the 2nd quarter when Bopp would rush for a 1 yard score to give the Lions back the lead at 10-7. The Lions would force an Eastern fumble that they’d recover then proceed to tack on another score on the ensuing possession to get cushion and a 17-7 lead.
Eastern would insert So QB Kamar Crosby into the game where he would provide a spark running the ball including dashing 9 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 17-14 with just 1:58 left before halftime. The Lions would go to their 2 minute drive and march downfield to here they’d get a circus catch in the back corner of the end zone for a 15 yard score and a 24-14 lead at the half.
The Lions would receive the 2nd half kickoff and moved the ball to the Eagles 43 yard line before sputtering and having to punt the ball back the Eagles. Eastern would go a quick 3 and out and the Lions would get the ball back with a short field and produce a FG to extend the lead to 27-14 with 9:17 left in the 3rd quarter. Sabor would lead the Eagles on a great drive capped off with a 67 yard scoring pass to So WR Eddie Swinton to cut the lead to 27-21 with 8:21 on the clock.
TCNJ Lions would break the game open in the 4th quarter when they’d score 2 more touchdowns courtesy of QB Bopp’s arm and legs to provide the final score of 41-21. Bopp would finish with a school record 405 passing yards and 4 TD passes to accompany a rushing score as well. Eastern’s two QBs both had their moments in their first college action. Stevens threw for 2 TDs and 143 yards along with 2 interceptions. Kamar rushed for 43 yards and a score. Josh Barlow led the Eagles rushing for 64 tough yards. Defensively for Eastern, Gashawn Moody had 7 tackles, 1/2 sack and a interception. Chris Forte also racked up 7 tackles and an forced fumble.
The Eagles will return to action next Saturday in their first ever home game at their temporary home Franklin Field on the campus of University of Pennsylvania where they’ll host Albright at 7pm.
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