Box Score CHESTER, PA – Rowan University running back
Withler Marcelin ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Profs to a 24-10 upset victory at #12 Widener University to open the season on Saturday afternoon.
Marcelin (sr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) broke the school record for rushing yards in a career, eclipsing the mark of 3,217 yards, which was set by Robbie Reid from 1973-75. He now has 3,309 yards in his career. It is the 17
th record that Marcelin has broken during his tenure. He ran the ball 27 times and is just five rushes away from breaking Reid's mark of 649.
Quarterback
Dante Pinckney (so. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) went 9-of-12 for 61 yards. Running back
Jahsiem Rover (so. Willingboro, NJ/Burlington Twp.) ran the ball four times for 17 yards and caught two passes for 38 yards. Linebacker
Darren Dungee (sr. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) led the defense with 15 tackles, two for a loss (2 yards), a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Defensive lineman
Josh Popper (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) recorded 11 tackles, two for a loss (2 yards) and linebacker
Jeff Rodriguez (jr. Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbrige) added 10 tackles. Defensive back
Bobby Barbieri (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) had seven tackles and an interception return for a touchdown (22 yards).
For Widener, quarterback Seth Klein (jr. Wernersville, PA/Wilson West Lawn) threw for 264 yards (33-54) and one touchdown. He also ran the ball 15 times for 25 yards. Running back Robert Getz (sr. Kunkletown, PA/Pleasant Valley) had nine carries for 26 yards and wide receiver Eric Sharpe (sr. Odenton, MD/Meade) rushed for 24 yards on five attempts. Wideout Philip Ragona (sr. Oceanside, NY/Oceanside) caught eight passes for 53 yards. Wideout Max Kutler (jr. Cranbury, NJ/Hightstown) had three receptions for 47 yards and one touchdown. Defensive lineman Brandon Jones (sr. Baltimore, MD/Baltimore) accumulated 11 tackles, 1.5 for a loss (3 yards). Linebacker Jacob Behornar (jr. New Castle, DE/William Penn) and Steve Gozur (jr. Hatfield, PA/North Penn) each chipped in with 10 tackles. Defensive lineman Stacey Sunnerville (sr. Freehold, NJ/Freehold) had nine tackles, one sack (7 yards) and 2.5 tackles for a loss (10 yards).
After a scoreless first quarter, Widener jumped on the scoreboard with 11:54 to play in the second when Kutler caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Klein. Rowan kicker
Tyler Knighton (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) cut the deficit to 10-3 after a 41-yard field goal at the 1:32 mark. Widener kicker Ryan O'Hara (sr. Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) made a 30-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the half, making the score 10-3 at the break.
Marcelin tied the game on a 31-yard touchdown run with 12:03 on the clock in the third quarter. The TD capped off a six-play 77-yard drive. He then broke loose for an 82-yard score (00:17), giving the Profs a 17-10 lead heading into the final period. The drive started on Rowan's one-yard line and included 92 yards on the ground from Marcelin. Barbieri intercepted Klein and returned the ball 22-yards at the 11:33 mark of the fourth, giving the Profs a 24-10.
Rowan returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 19 when it travels to William Paterson University for the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
