RADNOR, Pa. - In their season opener, Eastern University Football rallied from a slow start and had the ball on the TCNJ 10-yard line with a chance to cut the lead to a single possession. An Eastern fumble and a lengthy drive from the visitors put the game out of reach and the Eagles fell 34-12 in the first game in their new facility.

Despite moving the ball well in the first half, the Eagles found themselves down 21-0 in the early stages of the second quarter. They showcased their resilience as the quarter wore on, scoring their first points of the afternoon on a 32-yard John Nolek field goal after an 10-play, 60-yard drive. Junior quarterback Brett Nabb rushed for 17 yards and threw a 31-yard completion to sophomore receiver Nassik Smith.

Eastern added another field goal at the end of the half as Nolek capped off a nine-play, 64-yard drive to make it 21-6 as time expired. Sophomore quarterback Sabor Stevens and junior wide receiver Eddie Swinton connected three times for 64 yards while managing the clock.

The Eagles opened the second half with their best drive of the afternoon, as Nabb and sophomore running back Jeremiah Avrilien combined for 60 rushing yards to make it a nine-point game. Nabb scored from 10 yards out to become the first Eagle to score a touchdown at Eastern's new facility.

Eastern's defense responded with their best series shortly after, forcing a TCNJ three-and-out deep in Lions' territory. The Eagles' special teams unit took advantage of a muffed snap. Louis Rhodes tackled punter Dominic Passero at the eight-yard line.

With the rain coming down, a missed exchange led to the Eagles' fourth turnover of the day, and the Lions regained possession at their own 11-yard line. TCNJ put the game away on an eight-play, 89-yard drive as fifth-year quarterback Trevor Bopp hit wide receiver Malin Jasinski for a 57-yard touchdown down the left sideline.

Bopp, a returning NJAC All-Conference quarterback had a tremendous afternoon,. He completed 25 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Jasinski caught an TCNJ program recordn13 passes for 152 yards and pair of scores. Thomas Burke also had a big day in TCNJ's pass happy offense with five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown.

The Eagles never recovered, and the Lions added one more touchdown midway through the fourth quarter for the final margin.

The Eastern defense got the capacity crowd going early as junior linebacker Dru Beckford recorded his second career interception on TCNJ's third play of the game. The Lions forced a fumble at midfield, and then scored on each of their next three possessions to take a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

"I am very proud of the way we continued to battle after getting down early," Eastern Head Coach Billy Crocker said. "We had a chance to make it a two-point game at the end of the third quarter,but once again, turnovers killed us. Against an experienced team like that, we can't afford to give up the number of explosive plays we did defensively and turn the ball over 4 times. We aren't experienced enough to overcome those things. But again I was proud that our players didn't quit and kept battling - giving us a chance to get back in the game."

Nabb and Stevens combined to complete 18 passes for 243 yards. Reigning All-MAC First Team safety Gashawn Moody led the Eastern defense with eight tackles, while Devon Edwards finished with seven and Tahjere Jackson-Alston added six.

Eastern will have five more home football games this season, beginning with MAC foe Widener next Saturday. The contest is scheduled for 12:00 pm.