Box Score

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Backup quarterback Tim Hagerty threw one touchdown and ran for another over the final 16 minutes of play to lead Rowan University to a 14-13 victory over Wilkes University on Saturday.

Down 13-0, Hagerty (fr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) completed a 26 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Val Terebizh (so. Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Wide receiver Davon Edwards’ (jr. Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) set up the scoring drive with a 33 yard punt return to the Colonels’ 22 yard line. With 10:17 left in the game, Hagerty had a one yard touchdown run that tied the game (13-13). Kicker Dan Roberts (sr. Eastampton, NJ/Hamilton West) converted the PAT to put the Profs up 14-13. Rowan started on the Wilkes 37 yard line following an interception by safety Kelvin Bellamy (sr. Trenton, NJ/Nottingham). Hagerty completed a 19 yard pass to wideout Vinnie Graff (so. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn). A pair of three yard rushes by superback John Impagliazzo (jr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) and Hagerty paved the way for the touchdown.

Hagerty completed five of nine passes for 118 yards and one touchdown after entering the game in the third quarter. Starting quarterback Joe Rankin (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River N.) threw for 59 yards, completing eight of 27 pass attempts. Terebizh led all Profs receivers with three grabs for 49 yards and one touchdown. Edwards added two grabs for 59 yards. Superback Jonathan Downes (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Valley Forge Military (PA)) carried the ball nine times for 51 yards.

Rowan’s defense limited Wilkes to just eight yards on the ground. Bellamy recorded nine tackles, one sack (-1 yard), two pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. Linebackers Chris Niszczak (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) and Matthew Bailey (so. Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) added eight and seven stops respectively. Bailey also had 1.5 sacks (-5 yards).

For the Colonels, quarterback Al Karaffa completed 25 of 47 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Gennaro Zangardi had six catches for 86 yards and wideout Jason Prushinski had six receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown.

Linebacker Kyle Follweiler had a game-high 20 tackles, including six for a loss (-16 yards). He also intercepted a pass. Defensive back Corey Tucker (jr. Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) followed with eight stops and linebacker Tim Yeagley (jr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) had six.

The game was scoreless at halftime. At 10:35 in the third quarter, Karaffa threw a three yard touchdown pass to tight end Rocky D’Aconti (sr. Randolph, NJ/Randolph) to give the Colonels a 6-0 after the Profs blocked the PAT attempt. Karaffa completed four passes in the drive for 64 yards. Zangardi had back-to-back catches of 13 and 40 yards to set up the touchdown. On its next possession, Wilkes scored again on a 13 yard pass from Karaffa to Prushinski with 3:26 left in the period. Karaffa was nine for 12 for 86 yards in the 16 play, 86 yard drive.

Next week, Rowan hosts Widener University in its home opener on Friday, September 21 at 7 p.m.