Box Score
DANBURY, CT – Running back Matt Dortch ran for 139 yards and two touchdowns to lead Rowan University to a 30-24 victory over Western Connecticut State in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
The Profs improve to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The Colonials have a 0-3 record with a 0-2 NJAC mark. Dortch (jr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) carried the ball 27 times and averaged 5.1 yards per attempt. Quarterback Louie Bianchini (sr. West Long Branch, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) completed 18 of 27 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Keith Corcoran (sr. Atlantic City, NJ/St. Joseph (Hammonton)) compiled 52 yards on 14 rushes. Tight end Chris Garcia (sr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) made three receptions for 27 yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Jake Yates (jr. Pitman, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) chipped in with four grabs for 39 yards. Running back Withler Marcelin (fr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) had three catches for 49 yards. Kicker Mike Burke (fr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) converted three of four PAT attempts and had a 21 yard field goal.
Linebacker Dominic Caruso (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) registered 10 tackles (eight solo, two assisted). Linebacker Darren Dungee (fr. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) followed with nine stops (six solo, three assisted) and one pass breakup. Linebacker Patrick Ruley (sr. Margate, NJ/Atlantic City) contributed with seven tackles (four solo, three assisted). Cornerbacks Frank Rubino (sr. Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) and Steve Fortune (sr. Bridgeton, NJ/Bridgeton) and safety Casey Dillon (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) all had one interception.
For Western Connecticut State, quarterback Will Arndt (so. Newtown, CT/Newtown) threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns with 22 completions in 41 attempts. Running back Octavius McKoy (jr. Stratford, CT/Stratford) had 22 carries for 87 yards and one touchdown. He also caught six passes for 58 yards. Wide receiver Connor Falaguerra (fr. Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) made eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Kicker Tommy Bruder (so. Warwick, NJ/Warwick Valley) recorded three extra points (three tries) and a 27 yard field goal.
Linebacker Corey Lawlor (sr. Danbury, CT/Danbury) posted a game-high 15 tackles (nine solo, six assisted) and one tackle for a loss (-1 yard). Linebacker Mike Lacaria (jr. Watertown, CT/Watertown) compiled 12 stops (eight solo, four assisted). Linebacker Eric DeRario (jr. Wappingers Falls, NY/Ketcham) and safety Tyrell Ballard (jr. Bridgeport, CT/Fairfield) each had eight tackles. Ballard intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards. Defensive end Devin Myers (jr. Waterbury, CT/Kennedy) forced a fumble.
The Profs took a 7-0 lead at 11:40 in the first quarter when Bianchini threw a 15 yard touchdown to Garcia. In the drive, Bianchini had three completions in six attempts for 35 yards. Dortch added 33 yards rushing on four carries. At 2:15, Dortch scored on a five yard run. The extra point attempt failed. Dortch had 26 yards on three touches, while Corcoran recorded 25 yards on five rushes.
The Colonials pulled within six (13-7) on McKoy’s one yard touchdown carry at 12:07 in the second. Arndt went four for seven for 37 yards. McKoy tallied 23 yards on the ground (seven runs) and 17 yards receiving (two catches). Falaguerra hauled in a five yard touchdown pass from Arndt at 6:21 to give Western Connecticut State a 14-13 advantage. The Colonials started on their own 13 yard line. Arndt threw for 37 yards with three completions in four attempts.
Dortch found the end zone with an eight yard touchdown rush at 2:18. The 12 play, 65 yard drive started at the Profs’ 35 yard line. Dortch totaled 29 yards rushing on four carries. On Western Connecticut State’s ensuing possession, Arndt completed a 65 yard touchdown pass to Falaguerra on the first play to put the Colonials on top, 21-20 at halftime.
At 1:16 in the third stanza, Garcia had a four yard touchdown reception to make the score, 27-21. The drive spanned 18 plays and 99 yards. Rowan took over on its own one yard line after Rubino’s interception. Dortch ran for 35 yards on 11 carries. Burke nailed a 21 yard field goal at 11:13 in the fourth. Rowan began on its own 40 yard line. Marcelin made two catches for 38 yards, while Corcoran had three rushes for 11 yards. Western Connecticut State cut the deficit to six (30-24) after a 27 yard field goal by Bruder with 2:31 left on the clock. Arndt completed five of nine tosses for 41 yards. Fortune’s interception with five seconds remaining sealed the victory.
Rowan hosts The College at Brockport in a NJAC game on Saturday, September 29 at 1 p.m.
