During every football season along comes a game where it’s easier to just file it away and get ready for the next one. The College of New Jersey finds itself in that position this week as it looks to forget a disappointing loss at Rowan and concentrate on a Homecoming affair this week with Kean on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Lions (3-2, 1-1 NJAC) want the homecoming crowd to be entertained when they face the Cougars (2-3, 2-0 NJAC) “We have to play sound football and playing to the point that we make then earn it,’’ said TCNJ coach Eric Jendryaszek. “If we can get on then as quick as we can it’s important. We can’t continue to give them momentum and they are a team that is capable of being anybody.’’ After opening the season with three straight losses, the Cougars have won the last two, including a 16-13 win over Montclair State last week. TCNJ is looking to turn the 36-22 loss to Rowan last week into a learning experience. “Our players have to learn from this and see where we go from here,’’ said Jendryaszek. “We have to use this as a teaching moment and we have to settle in and get back to what we were doing in the beginning of the season and there’s no time like the present with homecoming around the corner.’’ What the Lions were in the beginning was consistent. Trevor Bopp was lights out at quarterback and he engineered an offense that was averaging nearly 30 points game and a defense that always rose to the occasion. Bopp, who had four interceptions against Rowan, has thrown for 1,655 yards so far this season with15 touchdowns. Jayson Schmidt is second in the NJAC in rushing averaging 97.4 yards a game and Mali Jasinski leads the league in receiving yards with 124.8 a game. Thomas Burke is fifth in the NJAC with 81.4 receiving yards a game. Jasinski is 7th in the nation in receiving yards. “He has a ton of respect within the team,’’ Jendryaszek said of Jasinski. “He’s a tremendous athlete and early on in his career he played wherever he was needed. He’s a very special young man.’’ Kean is averaging 14.4 points a game, but they are atop the league in defense yielding a measly 18.0. TCNJ Dave Giulian, who is coming off a 21-tackle game, leads the conference in tackles 53 and two of the next three are from Kean. Chris Amos has 48 and Meir Pittman has 42. “The thing the players are doing a good job with is ownership,’’ said Jendryaszek. “We have to remember how this thing was built. We are still 3-2 and 1-1 in the conference and as the season progresses we are going to have tougher and tougher competition and we have to play consistent football and limit our mistakes.’’ Homecoming is a great place to start. TCNJ Gameday WHO: The College of New Jersey (3-2, 1-1 NJAC) vs Kean (2-3, 2-0 NJAC) WHEN: Saturday at 3 p.m. in Lions Stadium COACHES: TCNJ’s Eric Jendryaszek (3-2, 1st season ) and Kean’s Dan Garrett (84-95, 19th season) SERIES: TCNJ leads series 34-15-2, including a 27-0 win in 2023. LAST WEEK: The Lions lost to Rowan 36-22, Kean defeated Montclair State, 16-13 SIGNIFICANCE: Homecoming TCNJ SCOUTING REPORT: The Lions have to regroup and get back to being the team they know they can be, precision passing attack, sound defense and very capable special teams. TCNJ has to shake the loss to Rowan and focus on the task at hand. Malin Jasinski and Thomas Burke are two of the most capable receivers around and quarterback Trevor Bopp has to come back strong. They need to limit turnover’s and the defense has to create turnovers. The homecoming crowd should spike the energy in the team and it should get back on track. Don’t let the Cougars defense dictate the game. KEAN SCOUTING REPORT: The name of the game has been defense for Kean, it doesn’t put a lot of points on the board and it doesn’t give up much, either. Rocco Pellegrini gets most of the snaps at quarterback and has thrown for 788 yards with five touchdowns and he’s been picked off four times. Julien Jones is the top rusher and Christian Bujno is the top receiver, bug everything begins with the defense for the Cougars. They have eight interceptions and have forced 10 fumbles. If they can force the Lions into mistakes it could be a long afternoon for TCNJ. KEY MATCHUP: TCNJ offensive line vs Kean defensive front EXTRA POINTS: TCNJ’s Dave Giulian earned a spot of the D3football.com Team of the Week after his 21 total tackles in the Rowan game. It was the most stops in TCNJ history since Nick Bricker’s 22 against Cortland State in 2011. …NJAC leading Salisbury is ranked No. 9 in the AFCA poll and in the D3football.com poll. …Former NJAC member Cortland and the alma mater of current Lions coach, Eric Jendryaszek, is the defending national champion and ranked No. 2 in both polls. …Local players on Kean, Meir Pittman (Burlington City), Darius Flood (Burlington City), Jamiel Horne(Florence), Michael Dunphy (Florence), Shawn Updegraff (Robbinsville), George Chrissafis (Notre Dame), Jackson Haynes (Northern Burlington), Jaylen Gundy (Robbinsville), Matt Vingara (Robbinsville). …Other NJAC games this week, Rowan (3-2, 1-0 NJAC) at Christopher Newport (2-3, 0-1 NJAC), Ursinus (5-0, 2-0 Centennial) at William Paterson (1-4, 0-2 NJAC), Montclair State (2-3, 0-2 NJAC) at Salisbury (5-0, 2-0 NJAC). …Salisbury, Rowan and TCNJ are the only teams in the conference with a winning record. PREDICTION: TCNJ 31, Kean 13