Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University football team defeated William Paterson University, 38-7 to capture its third consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship on Friday night.
Rowan (7-2 overall, 6-1 NJAC) receives the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. It marks the Profs’ 16th NJAC title and 13th appearance in the national tournament. Last year, Rowan advanced to the national semifinal game for the second straight season. The pairings for the NCAA Tournament will be announced on Sunday, November 12 at 2 p.m. on ESPNews. The first round games will be played on Saturday, November 18.
The Profs were led by super back Jonathan Downes (fr. Gibbstown, NJ/Valley Forge Military (PA)) with three touchdown runs (two, four and eight yards). He carried the ball five times for 38 yards. Super backs Davon Edwards (so. Del Haven, NJ/Middle Twp.) and Rob Richardson (jr. Hackensack, NJ/Garfield) added 43 and 41 yards respectively. Quarterback Mike Orihel (sr. Trenton, NJ/Central Bucks W. (PA)) completed 19 of 32 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Dustin Katcher (jr. Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) caught seven passes for 73 yards. Wideout Emory Lester (fr. Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton) made five grabs for 65 yards and one touchdown.
Linebackers Andrew Yezzi (fr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) and Chris Pinto (so. Barnegat, NJ/Southern Reg.) and defensive tackle Ed Kunder (sr. Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Reg.) each made eight tackles. Defensive end Keith Heimerl (sr. Sewell, NJ/Clearview Reg.) recorded two sacks. Linebacker Aaron McCord (sr. Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Reg.) had an interception for a touchdown and defensive backs Tim Harrison (sr. Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) and Dawaine Whetstone (sr. Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) each had one pick.
For William Paterson (1-9 overall , 1-6 NJAC), running back Mike Vicci (so. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) ran for 74 yards on 27 carries. Quarterback John Woodson (fr. Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) completed five of eight passes for 79 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Kareen Moon (jr. Staten Island, NY/Susan B. Wagner) had two receptions for 65 yards and one touchdown.
Safety Harold Green (so. Boonton, NJ/Boonton) made a game-high 12 tackles. Linebacker Shadee Davis (sr. New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick) followed with nine stops and defensive lineman Chris DiNapoli (sr. Lake Hiawatha, NJ/Parsippany) had eight. Safety Todd Gorski (sr. Howell, NJ/Freehold Twp.) posted one interception.
Rowan went ahead 3-0 at 6:56 in the first quarter after a 36 yard field goal by kicker Daniel Roberts (jr. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West). Orihel completed four of five passes for 55 yards in the drive. William Paterson took a 7-3 lead when Woodson connected with Moon on a 54 yard touchdown pass at 6:24. With one minute remaining in the first half, Orihel hit Lester with a 10 yard touchdown pass to give Rowan a 10-7 halftime lead. Orihel threw for 44 yards and Richardson had a 25 yard run en route to the touchdown.
In the second half, Downes had touchdown runs of two (5:41) and four yards (00:47) in the third quarter. Downes’ first touchdown was set up by runs of 15 and 27 yards by Orihel. Katcher made three catches for 44 yards prior to the second touchdown. In the fourth, McCord intercepted a pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown at the seven minute mark. Downes added an eight yard touchdown run with 2:16 left to play. Super back John Impagliazzo (so. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) carried the ball four times for 25 yards and Downes had two rushes for 30 yards in the drive.
