(September 1, 2006) ?C The Fordham University junior varsity football Rams kicked off the season a day before their varsity counterparts, falling to Nassau Community College, 16-6, today on Jack Coffey Field. It was the season-opener for both teams. The Lions got on the board first, moving 75 yards on their second possession, scoring on a fourth-and-six play from the Fordham 15 in which the completed a short pass which the Nassau Community College running back turned into a 15-yard scoring play. The Fordham offense was held in check by the NCC defense on the first two possessions, but on the Rams?? third possession, they took over on the Nassau 45 following a short punt. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Josh Arcadia found Anthony Myres over the middle to put the ball on the Lions?? three. But three plays later, Arcadia was intercepted in the endzone to end the threat. The Rams almost had good field position on the ensuing Nassau possession as Matt Donahue intercepted a Lions pass on the Fordham 28 and returned it to the Nassau 40, but he fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Lions. Nassau then drove to the Fordham 38 where the Fordham defense stopped the Lions on a fourth-and-one play. The 7-0 lead held until Nassau??s first possession of the second half when the Lions took over on the Fordham 37 following a short wind-blown punt. The Lions covered the 39 yards on seven plays, scoring on a 12-yard run. The drive was aided by a face mask penalty on the Rams on third down from the 23. Later in the third quarter, the Lions took a 16-0 lead as Adam Danko was lined up to punt from the Fordham 15 but the ball was snapped over his head and out of the endzone. After holding the Lions on the ensuing possession, the Rams took over on their own 44 following a punt in the fourth quarter and Henry Kirlew and Mark Meehan led a ground game to get the ball down to the Nassau 30. On fourth down, Arcadia lofted a ball to the endzone where the Nassau defender was able to tip it but Fordham receiver Seth Anderson maintained his concentration and was able to snare the ball out of the air for the score. The two-point conversion failed. The Fordham varsity will open its season on Saturday night, September 2nd at 6:00 p.m. as the Rams host the Monmouth University Hawks at 6:00 p.m. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - F Nassau 7 - 0 - 9 - 0 - 16 Fordham 0 - 0 - 0 - 6 - 6 Team Stats NCC / Fordham First Downs 17/6 Rushing (Att.-Yards) 42-158 / 22-23 Passing (Att.-Cmp.-Yds) 21-13-119 / 12-5-91 Total Yards 277 / 114 Fumbles-Lost 2-0 / 2-1 Punts-Avg. 4-22-3 / 3-25.0 Punt Ret.-Yards 1-12 /1-20 Int.-Yards 2-0 /1-32 Individual Stats Note: A NCC roster was not available. Players are identified by uniform number. Rushing (Carries-Yards): NCC: #4 10-56; #8 9-54; #20 4-25; #5 16-26; #14 1-1; #2 1-(-1); #9 1-(-3). Fordham: Henry Kirlew 15-27; Mark Meehan 3-16; John Skelton 1-(-5); Team 1-(-1); Josh Arcadia 2-(-14) Passing (Att.-Comp.-Yds-Int.): NCC: #5 21-13-119-1. Fordham: Josh Arcadia 8-4-84-1; John Skelton 4-1-7-1. Receiving: NCC: #3 5-48; #4 3-19; #8 3-14; #19 1-20; #17 1-18. Fordham: Anthony Myres 3-54; Seth Anderson 1-30; Henry Kirlew 1-7.