Box Score
CORTLAND, NY – The Rowan University football team rushed for 247 yards in a 35-7 win over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponent Buffalo State University on Sunday. The game was played at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex because of a snow storm in Buffalo, NY.
With the win, Rowan improves to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference. Buffalo State has a 1-5 record and a 0-4 NJAC mark.
Leading the way for the Profs’ offense was super back Rob Richardson (jr. Hackensack, NJ/Garfield) with 86 yards rushing and one touchdown on 11 carries. Super backs John Impagliazzo (so. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) and Davon Edwards (so. Del Haven, NJ/Middle Twp.) ran for 68 and 52 yards, respectively. Quarterback Mike Orihel (sr. Trenton, NJ/Central Bucks W. (PA)) completed 11 of 22 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown. Orihel became Rowan University’s all-time passing leader with 7,038 yards. He eclipsed the old record held by Ed Hesson with 7,035 from 1990-1993. Wide receivers Emory Lester (fr. Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton) and Jim Migliore (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) each caught three passes for 44 yards.
Rowan’s defense held Buffalo State to 113 yards of total offense (28 yards rushing and 85 yards passing). Linebackers Chris Pinto (so. Barnegat, NJ/Southern Reg.) and Zach Garren (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) each posted six tackles. Cornerback Jabrill Joseph (sr. N. Plainfield, NJ/N. Plainfield), tackle Ed Kunder (sr. Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Reg.) and end Justin Hinds (so. Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) had five stops apiece. Linebacker Andrew Yezzi (fr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) recorded two sacks and Hinds had one. Defensive backs Dawaine Whetstone (sr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) and David Cafasso (so. Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) each had one interception.
For Buffalo State, quarterback Dan Aquilio (jr. Depew, NY/Depew) threw for 85 yards, completing 13 of 31 passes. Wide receiver Greg Meyer (so. Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) caught five passes for 44 yards. Tailback Dan Lopez (jr. Lancaster, NJ/St. Mary’s) ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
Defensive back Scott Forster (jr. E. Otto, NY/Catt.-Little Val.) had a game-high 10 tackles. He also intercepted a pass. Linebackers Jermaine Rose (fr. Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) and Maurice Rice (so. Rochester, NY/Wilson Magnet) made nine and eight stops, respectively. Linebacker Darryl Davis (jr. Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) added seven tackles and an interception.
Edwards scored the Profs’ first touchdown at 8:06 in the first quarter on an eight yard run. The PAT attempt failed to make the score 6-0. In the drive, Richardson carried the ball four times for 36 yards, while Edwards added 18 yards on three runs. At 7:43 in the second quarter, Richardson carried the ball into the end zone from five yards out, giving Rowan a 12-0 lead after another miss PAT. Orihel completed five of six passes for 53 yards in the drive. Kicker Daniel Roberts (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) made a 22 yard field as time expired to give Rowan a 15-0 halftime advantage. Whetstone intercepted a pass by Aquilio to give Rowan the ball on the Buffalo State 37 yard line. Lester caught a 33 yard pass from Orihel with three seconds remaining to set up the field goal.
Buffalo State scored on its first possession of the second half. Lopez capped off a 16 play, 45 yard drive with a one yard TD run at 8:33. Aquilio threw for 25 yards and Lopez ran for 18 yards. Three and half minutes later, Impagliazzo caught a three yard touchdown pass from Orihel to make the score 22-7. Richardson had a 23 yard run and Impagliazzo carried the ball six yards to set up the touchdown. Rowan added a one yard TD run by Orihel at 11:30 in the fourth quarter and a two yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Rankin (jr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River N.) to tight end Jesse Eisenhart (sr. Sewell, NJ/Clearview Reg.) with 4:12 remaining.
Rowan hosts NJAC opponent Kean University in its homecoming game on Saturday, October 21 at 2 p.m.
