Box Score
DANBURY, CT – The Rowan University football team defeated Western Connecticut State University, 40-18 in its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener on Saturday.
The Profs improve to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference. Western Connecticut has a 2-2 overall record and a 0-1 NJAC mark.
Superback Rob Richardson (sr. Hackensack, NJ/Garfield) rushed for 175 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. Superback Jonathan Downes (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Valley Forge Military (PA)) added 81 yards and one TD on 18 touches. Quarterback Tim Hagerty (fr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) completed four of seven passes for 71 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Billy Magill (fr. Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) had four receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown.
The Profs’ defense held the Colonials to 59 yards rushing. Linebackers Andrew Yezzi (so. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) and Chris Niszczak (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) and defensive backs Eric Bailey (sr. Pittsgrove, NJ/Schalick) and Elijah Bynum (so. Pemberton, NJ/Pemberton Twp.) each made six tackles. Yezzi added 3.5 tackles for a loss (-22 yards) and 2.5 sacks (-20 yards). Defensive back Ahmad Stokes (fr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) intercepted two passes. He returned one 38 yards for a TD. Defensive back Clarence Days (so. Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) had one pick.
For Western Connecticut, quarterback James Williams passed for 211 yards and two touchdowns on 20 completions in 36 attempts. Running back Wayne Neal contributed with 84 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. Wide receiver Derrick Way made six grabs for 53 yards, while tight end Mike DiMeglio caught three balls for 49 yards.
Defensive end Kevin Marchant recorded a game-high 14 tackles. He added 3.5 tackles for a loss (-12 yards), 2.5 sacks (-10 yards) and one forced fumble. Linebackers Chad Milling and Ryan Delage contributed with nine and seven stops respectively. Defensive back Mike Negast had one interception.
Rowan went up 6-0 on a 16 yard touchdown pass from Hagerty to Magill at 7:27 in the first quarter. Downes had two carries for 14 yards and Hagerty completed a 10 yard pass to Magill to set up the touchdown. At 3:03, Western Connecticut tied the game with a two yard touchdown run by Neal. In the drive, Neal carried the ball four times for 19 yards and Williams had two completions for 28 yards.
In the second stanza, Rowan kicker Dan Roberts (sr. Eastampton, NJ/Hamilton West) made a 22 (7:33) and a 27 yard field goal (0:06) to give the Profs a 12-6 halftime lead. Stokes’ first interception gave Rowan the ball on the Western Connecticut 10 yard line to make way for the first field goal. Backup quarterback Joe Rankin (sr. Toms River, NJ/Toms River N.) completed three passes for 38 yards and Richardson rushed for 15 yards prior to the second one.
In the third period, Downes rushed one yard for a touchdown to put Rowan ahead, 19-6 at 12:41. Rowan started on the Western Connecticut 38 yard line after a 35 yard kickoff return by wide receiver Adam Preciado (jr. Hillsdale, NJ/Pascack Valley) to start the half. Richardson had a 29 yard run before the touchdown. Just over two minutes later, Preciado broke free for a 34 yard touchdown run. The touchdown came after defensive back Ryan Leafey (so. Westville, NJ/Deptford) blocked Jeremy Vides’ punt. At 7:52, Williams completed a 25 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Kelly to cut the deficit to 26-12 following the missed PAT. In the drive, Williams was five of six for 70 yards.
Neal had his second touchdown of the game on an eight yard reception at 13:32 in the fourth quarter to make the score 26-18 after a failed two-point conversion attempt. The Colonials marched down the field from the Profs’ 15 yard line to pave the way for the touchdown. Richardson ran 36 yards for a touchdown (5:53) and Stokes had a 38 yard interception return for a touchdown (5:38) to seal the victory.
Rowan hosts The College of New Jersey in a NJAC game on Friday, October 5 at 7 p.m.
