WEST CALDWELL, N.J.- Caldwell University sprint football freshman quarterback Tajae' Irby (South Plainfield, N.J.) tossed for two touchdowns in the Cougars 35-21 loss to Saint Thomas Aquinas in Collegiate Sprint Football League play.
 
The Cougars fall to 0-2 overall, while the Spartans improve to 2-0.
 
St. Thomas Aquinas built a 21-0 first half lead. Spartan quarterback Luke Sullivan tossed for three touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of the game.
 
Caldwell battled back in the second half as freshman Kevon Bryant (Jersey City, N.J.) forced a fumble deep in Spartan territory to set up the Cougar offense. Irby capped the scoring drive with a one-yard run into the end zone to cut the score to 21-6.
 
The Cougars added a second score later in the quarter as Irby connected with sophomore Jared Dockett (Bloomfield, N.J.) for 18-yard scoring play. Irby tossed a successful two-point conversion to freshman Cyrus Harbin (Hillside, N.J.) for a 21-14 score.
 
St. Thomas Aquinas answered in their ensuing possession as Sullivan tossed his fourth touchdown of the game. Sullivan capped the Spartan scoring with a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to push their lead to 35-14.
 
Caldwell added a late score as Irby connected with sophomore Carl Watson (Newark, N.J.) on a 78-yard touchdown strike with 4:50 left in the game.
 
Irby finished 16-of-28 passing for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Watson led the Cougars in receiving with six catches for 107 yards and one touchdown. Dockett totaled three catches for 30 yards and one score, while freshman Dajuan Carr (Newark, N.J.) posted four receptions for 57 yards.
 
Sophomore Royce Francisco (Passaic, N.J.) led the Caldwell defense with 11 tackles, while freshman Haleem Woods (Plainfield, N.J.) recorded six tackles. Bryant added six tackles and forced a fumble.
 
The Cougars travel to Post University on Saturday, September 29 for a CSFL contest at noon.