Game Notes

GLASSBORO, NJ - The 2013 Rowan University football team enters the season with high expectations after reaching the playoffs for the first time in six years in 2012. Couple that with being chosen as the favorite to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and you have a team that is looking to have its season run into December.
 
"Our expectations haven't changed, said Jay Accorsi, who is heading into his 12th season as the head coach of the Profs. "Every year, we want to win the conference to be able to ensure that we get into the NCAA playoffs. Then we want to get into the playoffs and make a run for a National Championship."
 
Getting picked to finish first is nice, but as Coach Accorsi will attest that doesn't give you anything. "I had a feeling we would get picked fairly high with a lot of returning players," said Accorsi. "Its obviously nice to get votes from your fellow colleagues in the conference, but then again they are just votes in the preseason rankings."
 
The Profs have one of the best chances in recent memory to accomplish their goals this season. Rowan has 52 returning letterwinners and 14 returning starters, including six on offense and six on defense. Senior Kyle Jones (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) on the offensive line and senior Mike Ruopoli (Jamesburg, NJ/Monroe Twp.) in the defensive backfield are the team captains.
 
"We return a lot in terms of starters and a lot of upper classmen," commented Accorsi.  "You are only as good as your senior leadership and your captains. We told the seniors this team is going to go as far as you want it to go and be as good as you want it to be."
 
Offensively, sophomore Paul Hamersma (Tenafly, NJ/Tenafly) has won the starting quarterback job and will be under center in the first game on September 7th. Hamersma replaced Louie Bianchini last season for the playoffs after Bianchini was injured in the regular season finale. Hamersma played a solid game and continued to improve in the spring and during training camp. He was 26-52 in five games played for 182 yards and a touchdown.
 
Junior wide out Eddie Eisenhart had a great sophomore season.  He caught 31 passes for 510 yards and 31 touchdowns and was named to the All-NJAC first team. The offensive line will play a big part in the Profs success, led by Jones who was an All-NJAC honorable mention.
 
In the backfield, senior Matt Dortch (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) along with junior Mike Weber (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) and sophomore Withler Marcelin (Ocean Twp, NJ/Ocean Twp.) will see the majority of the touches. Dortch was the team's leading rusher in 2012 with 581 yards and four touchdowns. Marcelin had 260 yards and a pair of scores.
 
"It doesn't matter at what level you play, if you have a really good quarterback your team can do some good things," said Accorsi.  "Paul looked really good in the spring and has done what we asked him to do to make himself a better quarterback. We have a number of our offensive lineman returning, which will allow us to continue to develop Paul in the pass game and we will also rely on a lot of good running backs."
 
On the defensive side of the ball graduate student safety Kurt Kingett (Sewell, NJ) will be key. Along with Ruopoli and sophomore linebacker Darren Dungee (Morristown, NJ) the defense is a veteran group. Kingett and Dungee were both second team All-NJAC selections last season. Kingett made 39 tackles, had an interception and recovered a fumble in 2012. Ruopoli had 22 tackles with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery, while Dungee, also named NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year, recorded a team-high 98 tackles, 3.5 for loss.
 
"Defensively it starts with Kurt Kingett," commented Accorsi. "A walk-on, he started as a corner and then had a breakout season in 2012 as a safety. His experience along with Ruopoli in the defensive backfield will be an important part of our success."
 
The schedule put together by Accorsi and his staff is one of the toughest in the nation. It all begins on September 7th at Delaware Valley College in the NJAC-MAC challenge. Other non-conference games include the home opener against Framingham State on September 14th and a home game against Wesley College on October 19th, which is also homecoming.
 
"We play Delaware Valley in the NJAC-MAC challenge and they are going to be a formidable opponent," said Accorsi. "We also added Framingham State who only lost to Cortland by one point in the playoffs last year. On Homecoming we added Wesley College who is a perennial playoff. In all my years here this is probably my toughest schedule. "
 
The schedule also includes a pair of home Friday night games. The Profs brought back Friday night football last year after a long hiatus. Rowan will host Montclair State in the NJAC opener on September 27th and then The College of New Jersey to end the regular season on November 15th.
 
"We talked to the players in the spring about getting back to the playoffs and these are the reasons why we got there," remarked Accorsi. "We need to continue to do the things that got us to this point and the players have done a great job doing everything we asked them to do. When they saw the schedule that we have put together, that gave them even a better understanding of what we are trying to do."