Kean football falls to Springfield College in season opener

By Gregory Patuto | Published Sept. 12, 2017

Kean University’s football team opened up its season with a loss on Saturday against Springfield College. The Cougars traveled to Stagg Field in Massachusetts only to fall 28-8.

Springfield (2-0) gained 339 yards on offense in this game, however, only eight of them came via pass. Running back Jordan Wilcox led the rushing attack for Springfield. He finished with a career high 223 yards and three total touchdowns.

Wilcox got the scoring started in the first quarter when he ran one in from 51-yards out. Springfield scored exactly one touchdown in all four quarters.

Kean’s (0-1) offensive attack was led by a pair of seniors. quarterback Charles App and running back Brian Matthews were on the top of the leaderboard for Kean’s offense. App finished 10-16 for 122 yards and one touchdown. Matthews carried the ball 11 times for 111 yards.

The Cougars scored a late touchdown when App connected with Matthews on a 15-yard pass. After the game, Kean’s head coach Daniel Garrett preached consistency.

“We simply did not execute with 11 guys on every play,” Garrett said. “Our consistency with every player executing his assignment on every play is where we need to get better.”

Kean was outgained 339-241 in the game, including 331-119 on the ground.

Springfield is a team that runs the Triple Option on offense. The Cougars will be facing teams that run the Option offense three of their first four games. Garrett believes this game will help them for the upcoming games in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

“The game we just played against a quality opponent, most likely a nine win team in their conference, gets us ready to play in the NJAC,” Garrett said. “We played a tough, athletic, big and physical team and that is every week in the NJAC.”

Kean will open up conference play at home this Saturday against Salisbury University.

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