Box Score WAYNE, NJ – The #18 Rowan University football team won its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener, 26-3 at William Paterson University on Saturday.
 
The Profs are 2-0 overall and the Pioneers are 1-1. Running back Withler Marcelin (sr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp) ran the ball 28 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He eclipsed the career rushes record and now has 673. The previous record was 649 set by Robbie Reid (1973-75).
 
Quarterback Dante Pinckney (so. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) completed 11 passes in 16 attempts for 139 yards and one TD. Wide receiver Russ Forchion (sr. Clementon, NJ/Hammonton) recorded four receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Jamel Smith (so. Pine Hill, NJ/New Egypt) made three catches for 33 yards and running back Dante Tobler (jr. New Milford, NJ/New Milford) added 43 yards on 12 attempts.
 
Linebacker Jeff Rodriguez (jr. Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) accumulated eight tackles and one interception. Linebacker Darren Dungee (sr. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) tallied seven tackles, forced and recovered a fumble. Defensive lineman Josh Popper (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) had six stops, including two for a loss (6 yards) and one sack (2 yards). Defensive back Jared Sanchez (jr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) collected two interceptions and defensive back Eddie Davis (sr. Camden, NJ/Camden) had one.
 
For William Paterson, running back Matt Deiana (sr. Somers, NY/Somers) had 13 rushes for 41 yards. Running back Darius Kersey (sr. Dover, NJ/Dover) had 10 yards on two carries. Quarterback Mike Keller (jr. Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Reg.) was 8-of-13 for 92 yards. Quarterback James Waldron (so. Edison, NJ/Edison) threw for 18 yards (2-10). Running back Malcolm Robinson (jr. Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) chipped in with 44 yards on two receptions and wide receiver Mike Vannucci (sr. Bethpage, NY/Plainedge) made three catches for 25 yards.
 
Defensive back Pat Moran (jr. Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) contributed with 15 tackles, including one for a loss (2 yards). Linebackers Carlo Caponetta (sr. Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) and Charles Faulkner (so. Carteret, NJ/Carteret) each collected 13 tackles. Faulkner had 1.5 tackles for a loss (9 yards) and one sack (7 yards).
 
Marcelin ended an 11-play 55-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run at the 1:13 mark of the first quarter. He ran the ball six times for 20 yards during the drive and Pinckney completed two passes for a 25 yards. The drive started after an interception by Sanchez at the Rowan 45 yard line.
 
William Paterson recovered a fumble at the Profs' 12-yard line late in the second quarter. The defense held and forced a 28-yard field goal attempt by Nick DeAngelis (fr. Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey). The kick was good and Rowan led 7-3 with 6:00 to play. Marcelin punched in his second score from the seven-yard line with 28 seconds on the clock. The point after attempt was blocked. Rowan's advantage was 13-3. The drive went 81 yards in 11 plays and took 5:24 off the clock.
 
In the third quarter, Sanchez picked off his second pass of the game and Rowan started its drive at the William Paterson 27 yard line. The Profs drove down to the three, but were stopped. Kicker Tyler Knighton (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) converted a 21-yard field goal for a 16-3 lead at the 7:57 mark. On the Pioneers ensuing drive, Dungee forced and recovered a fumble at the Rowan 39 yard line. The Profs took the ball down to the 20 and Knighton converted a 37-yard try. The score was 19-3 with 1:20 left.
 
Forchion extended the lead to 26-3, catching a 46-yard touchdown pass from Pinckney with 11:42 on the clock in the fourth. The Profs got the ball back with 9:25 to play, ran 16 plays and traveled 71 yards to run out the clock.
 
Rowan hosts Montclair State University in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 26. The Saturday Night Lights game is scheduled to kickoff at 7 p.m. and there will be a postgame fireworks show.