Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Quarterback Frank Wilczynski threw three touchdowns and rushed for two more in Rowan University’s 39-24 win over William Paterson University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
Wilczynski (jr. Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook) completed nine of 14 passes for 113 yards and ran for 45 yards on seven attempts before leaving the game at halftime. Rowan improves to 2-1 overall and is 1-1 in the conference. William Paterson has a 1-2 overall record and a 0-2 mark in the NJAC.
Profs’ superback Jon Downes (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Valley Forge Military (PA)) carried the ball 10 times for 78 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Vinnie Graff (jr. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) contributed with 51 yards on 12 rushes, while superback Brett Scott (so. Bellmawr, NJ/Triton Reg.) ran for 45 yards on eight attempts. Wide receiver Davon Edwards (sr. Whitesboro, NJ/Middle Twp.) had three catches for 51 yards.
Rowan held William Paterson to 17 yards on the ground. The defense was led by linebacker Drew Yezzi (jr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) with 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss (-16 yards), one sack (-9 yards) and one forced fumble. Safety Jimmy DiPaolo (sr. N. Plainfield, NJ/N. Plainfield) had eight stops, while cornerback Cody High (jr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) followed with seven. Safety Mike Barone (jr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) had an interception. Defensive lineman Steve Williams (fr. Westmont, NJ/Haddon Twp.) recorded three sacks (-16 yards). Safety Rocky Aliberti (so. Sewell, NJ/Clearview Reg.) and linebacker Lafayette Crawford (so. Blackwood, NJ/Highland Reg.) each recovered a fumble.
Pioneers’ quarterback Matt Marshall (jr. Burlington, NJ/Burlington City) passed for 353 yards and two touchdowns, completing 29 of 51 attempts. Wide receiver Joel Rivera (jr. Hoboken, NJ/Hoboken) had 16 receptions for 226 yards and one touchdown. Wideout John Malone (jr. Haledon, NJ/Paramus Catholic) made three grabs for 38 yards and one touchdown. Tailback Shaun Puluse (sr. Haledon, NJ/Passaic Tech) rushed for 55 yards on 16 carries.
Linebacker Jared Burke (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) compiled 12 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss (-7 yards) and one sack (-5 yards). Linebacker Mike Lamego (sr. N. Arlington, NJ/Queen of Peace) tallied 10 stops, 0.5 tackles for a loss (-1 yard) and recovered one fumble. Defensive back Dion Benjamin (sr. N. Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) had one interception.
Rowan jumped out to a 20-0 lead after the first quarter. Wilczynski got the Profs on the scoreboard with a five yard touchdown run at 6:57. He completed three passes for 48 yards and Scott had a 20 yard run in the drive. At 2:52, Graff caught a 22 yard touchdown pass from Wilczynski. Scott’s 12 yard run and Wilczynski’s 15 yard carry set up the score. Wilczynski added a six yard touchdown rush as time expired. The PAT attempt failed. The drive started at the Pioneers’ 18 yard line following a blocked punt by defensive end Matt Hoffman (so. Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.). Edwards had a nine yard rush prior to the touchdown.
In the second period, Marshall hit Rivera with a 42 yard touchdown pass at 12:26 to make the score 20-7. In the drive, Marshall completed four passes for 66 yards. On the ensuing possession, Rowan found the end zone with a five yard catch by wide receiver Mark Lisa (so. Highland Lakes, NJ/Vernon Twp.). The extra point was blocked by Burke. Downes’ 49 yard run paved the way for the touchdown. Just under seven minutes later, Wilczynski threw a 12 yard touchdown pass to wideout Anthony Barone (fr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton). Rowan took over on the William Paterson 29 yard line after wide receiver Travis Warker (fr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) blocked a punt. Wilczynski broke free on a 29 yard run prior to the touchdown. Pioneers’ kicker Patrick Martincavage (fr. Boyton Beach, FL/Boca Raton Community) connected on a 39 yard field goal as time expired, cutting the deficit to 22 points (32-10) at the intermission.
At 9:31 in the third, Marshall found Malone in the end zone with a 26 yard pass. Marshall went five for five for 89 yards in the drive. Lamego returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown at 10:18 in the fourth quarter, making the score, 32-24. Downes tacked on a 13 yard touchdown scamper at 9:55 to seal the victory for the Profs. Defensive back Steve Wall’s (jr. Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) 61 yard kickoff return gave the Profs the ball on the Pioneers’ 13 yard line.
Rowan travels to The College at Brockport for a NJAC game on Saturday, October 4 at 1 p.m. Also on Saturday, William Paterson is at home against Montclair State University at 1 p.m.
