Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – Quarterback Louie Bianchini threw for 338 yards and four touchdowns to lead Rowan University to a 36-29 victory over Buffalo State University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday afternoon.

The Profs are 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference.  The Bengals have a 3-5 record with a 3-4 NJAC mark.  It was Rowan’s Homecoming game.

Bianchini (so. West Long Branch, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) completed 21 of 32 passes.  Running back Keith Corcoran (jr. Atlantic City, NJ/St. Joseph (Hammonton)) rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries.  Wide receiver Eddie Eisenhart (fr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) made six receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns.  Tight end Chris Garcia (jr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) had three catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

Safety Jack Buckley (sr. Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) registered a game-high 12 tackles (five solo, seven assisted) and one tackle for a loss (-4 yards).  Linebacker Dean Hammel (sr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) compiled 10 stops (two solo, eight assisted), one tackle for a loss (-5 yards), 0.5 sacks (-3 yards) and one interception.  Linebackers Geno Raman (sr. Mullica Hill, NJ/N. Kingstown (RI)) and Patrick Ruley (jr. Margate, NJ/Atlantic City) posted seven tackles apiece.  Defensive ends Chris Alvarez (fr. Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) and John Dokouslis (fr. Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan) both forced a fumble.

For the Bengals, quarterback Casey Kacz (jr. Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) had 23 completions in 36 attempts for 379 yards and two touchdowns.  Running back Rich Pete (fr. Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor) ran for 59 yards and one touchdown on eight touches.  He also had a team-high 115 receiving yards and one touchdown with two catches.  Wide receiver Mike Doherty (so. Tonawonda, NY/Kenmore East) recorded five grabs for 97 yards and a touchdown.  Wideout Caesarae Lewis (so. Newbern, AL/Sunshine) added six receptions for 95 yards.

Linebacker Pasquale Vacchio (jr. Glen Head, NJ/North Shore) tallied 10 tackles (four solo, six assisted).  Safety Matt Wesolowski (jr. Alden, NY/Iroquois) followed with nine stops (three solo, six assisted), one tackle for a loss (-2 yards) and one pass breakup.  Cornerback Josh Mims (so. Syracuse, NY/Nottingham) and safety Kevin Healy (sr. East Meadow, NY/East Meadow) both made seven tackles.  Defensive end Kimani George (sr. Brooklyn, NY/William E. Grady) produced two sacks (-13 yards).  Defensive tackle Jahi Owens (so. Rexford, NY/Burnt Mills) forced a fumble.

Rowan was ahead 28-20 entering the fourth quarter.  With 10:03 left to play, Bengals’ kicker Nick Debbins (sr. Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) nailed a 21 yard field goal to cut the deficit to five (28-23).  Kacz completed two passes (two attempts) for 17 yards and ran for 16 yards on three carries in the drive.  At 6:28, Pete found the end zone on a 24 yard rush.  The two-point conversion attempt failed and the score was 29-28.  Kacz threw for 50 yards with three completions (four attempts) before Pete’s run. 

Thirty-nine seconds later, Eisenhart caught a 61 yard touchdown pass from Bianchini.  Tight end Kevin DelleDonne (sr. Summit, NJ/Summit) caught the two-point conversion in the back of the end zone to put Rowan up, 36-29.  Eisenhart had two receptions for 71 yards.  Buffalo State started on its own 26 yard line with 2:15 left to play.  The Bengals drove the length of the field down to the Profs’ three yard line with eight seconds on the clock.  Kacz went back to pass and he was sacked by Alvarez for an 11 yard loss to end the game.

Buffalo State jumped out to a 7-0 lead at 12:45 in the first quarter following a 97 yard touchdown catch by Pete on the first play from scrimmage.  At 12:56 in the second period, Garcia hauled in a 22 yard touchdown grab.  Bianchini completed three passes (five attempts) for 66 yards.  At the four minute mark, Corcoran scored with a 17 yard touchdown carry.  The drive was nine plays and 92 yards.  DelleDonne totaled three catches for 48 yards.  Eisenhart’s six yard touchdown reception with 46 seconds left extended the advantage to 14 (21-7).  On the previous play, Bianchini hit Eisenhart with a 42 yard pass.  Debbins converted a 33 yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to bring the Bengals within 11 (21-10) at the intermission.  Doherty’s 33 yard kickoff return gave Buffalo State the ball on the Rowan 49 yard line.  Kacz found Lewis for a 28 yard toss to set up the kick.

Doherty’s 37 yard touchdown grab at 8:45 in the third cut the deficit to four (21-17).  Lewis had a 15 yard catch on the previous play.  On the ensuing possession, Garcia had his second touchdown reception from 25 yards out (6:43).  Bianchini threw for 34 yards with three completions in three attempts.  Debbins’ 44 yard field at 5:12 brought the Bengals within eight (28-20).  Mims had a 28 yard kickoff return to start the drive on the Rowan 34 yard line.  Kacz threw a five yard pass and running back Brooke Estarfaa (jr. Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) added a two yard rush.

Rowan travels to NJAC opponent Kean University on Saturday, October 29 at 1 p.m.