Box Score
Watch Mike Barone's 100 yard interception return for a touchdown
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University defense scored three touchdowns in a 56-20 win over The College at Brockport in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
The Profs improve to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference. The Golden Eagles have a 2-2 record with a 1-2 NJAC mark.
Rowan recorded five interceptions and returned three for touchdowns. Safety Mike Barone (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) led the way with two picks. He took one interception 100 yards for a touchdown, tying the school record for longest return (Jabrill Joseph, 2005). Linebacker Andrew Yezzi (sr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) added a 45 yard interception return for a touchdown, while cornerback Cody High (sr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) scored on a 64 yard pick.
Safety Jack Buckley (so. Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) had a game-high 10 tackles. Yezzi followed with seven stops and safety Steve Wall (sr. Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) contributed with six tackles. Linebacker Moe Ghotok (so. Hawthorne, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) and cornerback Husain Shakir (fr. Pennsauken, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) each intercepted one pass.
Profs’ quarterback Frank Wilczynski (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook) completed 12 of 17 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for a game best 147 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Superback Ryan Leafey (sr. Westville, NJ/Deptford) registered 50 yards and one touchdown on seven rushes. Tight end Kevin DelleDonne (so. Summit, NJ/Summit) made five catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Kay Robinson (fr. Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic) racked up 103 yards on four receptions.
For Brockport, quarterback Jake Graci (sr. Farnham, NY/Lake Shore) threw for 155 yards with 18 completions in 35 attempts. Running back Riedrick Alceus (jr. Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) carried the ball 15 times for 82 yards and one touchdown. Running back Aaron Zurn (sr. Sidney, NY/Sidney) added 61 yards and one touchdown on 11 touches. Wide receiver Hector Rosas (sr. Angola, NY/Lake Shore) made three grabs for 39 yards.
Linebacker Derek DeCandia (so. Beacon, NY/Beacon) posted seven tackles and one tackle for a loss (-2 yards). Defensive back Cevon Carver (sr. Bronx, NY/Dewitt Clinton) and linebackers Jack Vogel (fr. Clarence Center, NY/Clarence) and Chad Moore (sr. Trumansburg, NY/C.O. Dickerson) made six tackles apiece. Linebacker Adam Erickson (jr. Jamestown, NY/Falconer) forced a fumble and recovered it.
Rowan got on the scoreboard at 12:44 in the first quarter on its first drive. Wilczynski found the end zone on a three yard run. He had a 31 yard carry and completed two passes for 24 yards to set up the touchdown. Just over four minutes later, DelleDonne caught a 16 yard touchdown to put the Profs up 14-0. Wilczynski went three for three for 74 yards in the drive. At 4:30, Leafey ran the ball into the end zone from eight yards out making the score, 21-0. Barone’s first interception gave Rowan the ball. Leafey rushed for 40 yards on five touches.
In the second, Wilczynski broke free for a 67 yard touchdown carry at 11:27. With 7:39 on the clock, Barone picked a pass off in the end zone and returned it for a touchdown to give the Profs a 35-0 advantage. On Brockport’s ensuing possession, Zurn had a five yard touchdown rush at the four minute mark. The PAT attempt failed. Graci was five for six in the drive for 40 yards. With 41 seconds remaining, Wilczynski hit DelleDonne with a four yard touchdown toss. Wilczynski completed five of six passes for 60 yards. The touchdown drive was nine plays and covered 67 yards. Rowan led 42-6 at halftime.
At 13:04 in the third stanza, Yezzi picked off a pass and took it 45 yards for a touchdown. Ghotok had an interception at 9:48. He returned it 28 yards, then pitched it to High who went 64 yards for the touchdown to increase the advantage to 56-6. Thirty nine seconds later, Alceus carried the ball into the end zone from one yard out. In the drive, he had four rushes for 14 yards, while Zurn added 24 yards on four touches. The Golden Eagles’ final scored came at 9:09 in the fourth. Running back Andrew McCormick (so. Peru, NY/Peru) had a five yard touchdown run. McCormick had four carries for 20 yards.
Rowan travels to Western Connecticut State University for a NJAC game on Saturday, October 10 at 6 p.m.
