Box Score
EWING, NJ – The Rowan University football team beat The College of New Jersey, 14-6 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Friday.
With the win, Rowan improves to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The College of New Jersey has a 2-3 record and a 0-2 NJAC mark.
The Profs’ defense limited the Lions to 32 yards rushing and 70 yards passing. Linebacker Zach Garren (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) led the way with nine tackles and one pass breakup. Defensive end Randy Tosh (jr. Columbia, NJ/North Warren Reg.) posted eight stops and recovered a fumble. Linebacker Chris Pinto (so. Barnegat, NJ/Southern Reg.) recorded eight tackles and linebacker Chris Niszczak (jr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) added seven stops one forced fumble and 3.5 sacks. Defensive back Kelvin Bellamy (jr. Trenton, NJ/Nottingham) also had seven tackles to go along with one forced fumble, four pass deflections and one sack. Cornerbacks Dawaine Whetstone (sr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) and Tim Harrison (sr. Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) and defensive end Keith Heimerl (sr. Sewell, NJ/Clearview Reg.) each had an interception.
Super back Davon Edwards (so. Del Haven, NJ/Middle Twp.) rushed for 69 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Quarterback Mike Orihel (sr. Trenton, NJ/Central Bucks W. (PA)) completed seven of 17 passes for 60 yards. Wide receiver Jim Migliore (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) caught three balls for 45 yards.
TCNJ’s defense held Rowan to 141 yards of total offense. Linebacker Allen Mantz (fr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River N.) had a game-high 13 tackles. Defensive lineman Lawrence Kelliher (sr. Trenton, NJ/Notre Dame) added 10 stops, while defensive lineman Marc Fabiano (fr. Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) made nine tackles. Defensive back Andrew Larkin (jr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Notre Dame) recorded one interception.
Running back Cory Schoonover (sr. Toms River, NJ/Manchester) carried the ball 17 times for 47 yards. Quarterback Chris Bell (sr. Galloway Township, NJ/Holy Spirit) passed for 65, connecting on five of 12 passes in the second half. Tight end Chris Opdyke (jr. Lambertville, NJ/Hunterdon Central) caught three passes for 55 yards.
Rowan went ahead 7-0 at 12:57 in the first quarter. Heimerl intercepted a shovel pass by TCNJ quarterback Jeff Struble (jr. Toms River, NJ/Manchester Twp.) and returned it two yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Struble had a one yard touchdown run at 11:28. The extra point attempt failed to make the score 7-6 at the half.
The Lions started on their own 44 yards line after Larkin intercepted a pass by Orihel. Struble carried the ball twice in the drive for 13 yards. Schoonover also had two carries for nine yards.
In the third, Edwards broke several tackles for a 27 yard TD run at 9:58. The Profs started with the ball on the Lions’ 39 yard line after Harrison intercepted a pass by Struble. After two short runs and a five yard pass from Orihel to Migliore, Edwards fought his way into the end zone for the eventual game winning touchdown.
Rowan travels to NJAC opponent Buffalo State College on Saturday, October 14 at 1 p.m.
