Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Running back Matt Dortch rushed for 158 yards and scored a 71 yard touchdown to lead Rowan University to a 27-13 upset over fifth ranked Delaware Valley College on Saturday afternoon.
The season opener for both teams was part of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC)-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Challenge. The partnership features sixteen games between the two conferences during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, with eight contests each year.
Dortch (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) carried the ball 22 times for 7.2 yards per attempt. Quarterback Louie Bianchini (sr. West Long Branch, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) completed 15 of 24 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Ed Eisenhart (so. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.) made four receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Chris Garcia (sr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) hauled in three balls for 30 yards and one touchdown.
Linebacker Darren Dungee (fr. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) registered a team-high 11 tackles (two solo, nine assisted). Defensive tackle Steve Williams (sr. Westmont, NJ/Haddon Twp.) compiled nine stops (four solo, five assisted), four tackles for a loss (-8 yards) and one sack (-2 yards). Linebacker Dominic Caruso (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) posted nine tackles (two solo, seven assisted). Linebacker Patrick Ruley (sr. Margate, NJ/Atlantic City) tallied six tackles (three solo, three assisted), one tackle for a loss (-3 yards) and one blocked kick. Safety Kurt Kingett (so. Sewell, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) had a 38 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. Safety Casey Dillon (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) broke up three passes and had one interception. Cornerback Tyler Jenkins (so. Woodbury, NJ/Woodbury) forced a fumble and safety Frank Ruopoli (jr. Jamesburg, NJ/Monroe Twp.) added one pick.
For the Aggies, quarterback Aaron Wilmer (so. Philadelphia, PA/George Washington) threw for 255 yards and one touchdown with 29 completions in 49 attempts. He also ran for 24 yards and a touchdown on 17 rushes. Running back Kyle Schuberth (jr. Darby, PA/Monsignor Bonner) picked up 86 yards on the ground (16 carries) and 48 yards receiving (seven catches). Wide receiver Lewis Vincent (jr. Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) had six receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown. Wideout Chris Ruiz (sr. Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) chipped in with seven grabs for 55 yards.
Linebacker John Marcelline (jr. Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) recorded a game-high 16 tackles (seven solo, nine assisted), 1.5 tackles for a loss (-6 yards) and one sack (-6 yards). Safety John Robinson (sr. Mantua, NJ/Clearview Reg.) collected seven tackles (two solo, five assisted) and one interception. Defensive lineman Jared Pattinson (sr. Prospect Park, PA/Interboro) contributed with seven stops (one solo, six assisted). Cornerback Chris Vega (jr. Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) intercepted one pass.
After a scoreless first quarter, Delaware Valley went ahead 6-0 on a 15 yard touchdown pass from Wilmer to Vincent at 14:01 in the second. The extra point attempt was blocked by Ruley. The Aggies started on the Profs’ 41 yard line. On fourth and 13 from the 30 yard line, Rowan committed a personal foul, giving Delaware Valley the ball on the 15. The Aggies scored on the next play.
Rowan went up, 7-6 on its next drive with a 17 yard touchdown toss from Bianchini to Eisenhart at 10:51. Bianchini threw for 33 yards with five completions in eight attempts in the drive. He also had a 13 yard run. Garcia’s five yard touchdown reception at 8:54 extended the lead to 14-6 at the intermission. Rowan took over on the Delaware Valley 10 yard line after Dillon’s 33 yard interception return and an Aggies’ personal foul penalty. Prior to the touchdown, Dortch had two rushes for five yards.
As time expired in the third quarter, Jenkins forced a fumble. Kingett picked up the ball and ran 38 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 15 (21-6). Delaware Valley pulled within eight (21-13) on a one yard touchdown run by Wilmer with 5:04 remaining in the fourth. The Aggies started on their own 21 yard line after the Profs missed a 38 yard field goal. Schuberth broke free for a 26 yard run on the first play. Wilmer completed a nine yard pass and Schuberth had a seven yard carry. A personal foul penalty moved the ball down to the Profs’ 27 yard line. Wilmer threw a pass to Schuberth for a 26 yard gain. Two plays later, Wilmer found the end zone.
At 3:20, Delaware Valley started a drive at its own 36 yard line. Wilmer connected on four of nine passes for 42 yards to bring the Aggies down to the Profs’ 22 yard line. Rowan forced an incomplete pass on fourth and five to take over on downs. Three plays later, Dortch scored on a 71 yard touchdown run with 1:06 left to play. He had three carries for 78 yards in the drive. Delaware Valley drove down to the Rowan 27 yard line but wide receiver/linebacker Brandon Smith (jr. New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick) sacked Wilmer for a four yard loss and the time ran out.
Rowan travels to Division II Merrimack College on Saturday, September 8 at 1 p.m.
