Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Quarterback Mike Orihel completed a 21 yard pass to wide receiver Jim Migliore in overtime to give the Rowan University football team a 14-7 win over SUNY Cortland in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
Cortland won the toss in overtime and elected to play defense first. Two plays later Orihel (sr. Trenton, NJ/Central Bucks W. (PA)) connected with Migliore (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.). The Profs’ defense held the Red Dragons on four plays on their possession.
Orihel completed nine of 16 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown pass broke the school record for most TD passes in a career. His 68 touchdowns surpasses the previous mark of 67 held by Ed Hesson (1990-93). Migliore had two catches for 50 yards and one TD. Wide receiver Dustin Katcher (jr. Milltown, NJ/Spotswood) made three grabs for 34 yards. Super back Davon Edwards (so. Del Haven, NJ/Middle Twp.) rushed for 30 yards on 13 carries.
The Profs’ defense limited the Red Dragons to 172 yards of total offense, 111 rushing and 61 passing. Linebacker Andrew Yezzi (fr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) led the way with 12 tackles. Safety Kelvin Bellamy (jr. Trenton, NJ/Nottingham) made 11 stops and had one interception. Linebacker Chris Pinto (so. Barnegat, NJ/Southern Reg.) added 10 tackles. Defensive end Keith Heimerl (sr. Sewell, NJ/Clearview Reg.) had two sacks (-13 yards) and defensive tackle Farid Syed (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) had one (-six yards).
For Cortland, running back Matt Rickert (sr. Holbrook, NY/Sachem) totaled 65 yards on 21 carries. Rickert also made four catches for 29 yards. Quarterback Ray Miles (so. Port Byron, NY/Dana L. West) completed nine of 19 passes for 57 yards before leaving the game with an injury.
Defensive lineman Adam Haas (sr. East Aurora, NY/St. Francis) posted 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss (-16 yards) and two sacks (-11 yards). Linebacker Bill Hauser (sr. Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) made seven tackles, while linebacker Dave D’Aurelio (jr. Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute) and safety Stef Sair (sr. Huntington, NY/Huntington) each had six stops.
Cortland took a 7-0 lead at 8:43 in the first quarter. Sair came in on offense and had a 17 yard run for the score. The Red Dragons started the drive on the Profs’ 45 yard line. Rickert carried the ball six times for 23 yards to set up the TD.
Rowan tied the game up with 3:49 remaining in the second quarter, when Orihel completed a 14 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Emory Lester (fr. Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton). The Profs started on the Red Dragons 30 yard line after an interception by Bellamy. Edwards had two carries for eight yards and running back Jonathan Downes (fr. Gibbstown, NJ/Valley Forge Military (PA)) carried the ball five yards to set up the score.
Rowan improves to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the NJAC. Rowan will wrap up its third straight conference championship with a win against William Paterson University next week. Cortland has an 8-1 overall record and a 6-1 conference mark.
Rowan will host William Paterson on Friday, November 10 at 7 p.m. in its final game of the regular season. Cortland hosts Ithaca College for the Cortaca Jug on Saturday, November 5 at noon.
