GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University football team claimed a win on its final game of the season beating Kean University, 35-20 on Friday. 
 
The Profs wrap up their season with a record of 6-4 and 5-4 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), while the Cougars end the year with a 1-9 mark (1-8 NJAC). 
 
The Brown and Gold scored on its first possession of the game when running back John Mannion (sr. Verona, NJ/James Caldwell) ran the ball 49-yards for a touchdown. The extra point was good by kicker Ethan McCarren (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) for a 7-0 lead (13:27). Rowan doubled up on its next drive, as it took the ball 44-yards on five plays to the end zone to take a 14-0 advantage (9:07). The possession was capped off with a 28-yard pass from quarterback Nick Couzzi (fr. Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) to wide receiver Nick Grosso (jr. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) for the score. Kean answered with a touchdown near the end of the quarter to trail, 14-7 (5:52). Quarterback Rylan Pangborn (sr. Sparta, NJ/Lenape Valley) hit wide receiver Amir Archer (sr. Asbury Park, NJ/Asbury Park) on an 18-yard pass in the end zone. 
 
It was a defensive battle in the second stanza as neither side could successfully move the ball down the field. Rowan stepped up defensively when defensive back Joe Dibari (jr. Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) intercepted a pass and returned it to the Cougars' 27-yard line. Two plays later, Mannion scored on a 12-yard carry for the Profs to pull away, 21-7 (4:24). Kean answered on its final possession of the half as it drove the ball 64-yards on 13 plays to have kicker Marcin Zadlo (sr. Elmwood Park, NJ/Memorial) covert a 38-yard field goal, to set the score at 21-10 heading into the break. 
 
Rowan put the pressure on early in the third quarter, as defensive end Kevin Stokes (sr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) blocked a Cougars' punt to start possession at the Profs' 43-yard line. The Brown and Gold were unsuccessful on the following drive and punter Christian Ireland (so. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp.) had to kick it away. Kean cut the deficit to 21-17 on its next possession as it drove the ball 85-yards on four plays to score (10:47). Pangborn completed a 75-yard pass to wide receiver David Patterson Jr. (jr. Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood) to end the drive. Rowan had no luck moving the chains on offense in the third frame, but wide receiver Elijah Rehm (jr. Clayton, NJ/Clayton) stepped up on special teams when he returned an 81-yard punt for a 28-17 advantage (5:55). 
 
Kean retaliated in the final quarter notching a 25-yard field goal to trail, 28-20 (11:41). Rowan sealed the game midway through the stanza when defensive back Nate Lanier (jr. Sicklerville, NJ/Woodbridge) picked off a pass and returned it to the Kean six-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Riley Giles (so. Deptford, NJ/Deptford Twp.) found tight end Cody Madden (jr. Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) for a three-yard score to post a 35-20 advantage (5:09). The Brown and Gold defense locked down for the final minutes of the contest for the win. 
 
Couzzi completed six of 12 passes for 70-yards and a score while Giles was four of eight for 43-yards and a touchdown. Mannion carried the ball 16 times for 91-yards and found the end zone twice. Rehm reeled in four catches for 54-yards, while Grosso caught two passes for 28-yards and one score. 
 
Linebacker Jayson Gonzalez (sr. Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) led the defense with 10 tackles, five solo and five assisted. Defensive lineman David Gajderowicz (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) racked up eight tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss of 12 yards and two sacks, while linebacker Chris Henchy (sr. Galloway, NJ/Absegami) stopped eight, four solo and four assisted. 
 
Before the game, the football team honored its 14 senior players - linebacker Kyle Pierce (sr. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights), wide receiver Marc Woodard (sr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), running back Anthony Diorio (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee), defensive back Travelle Curry (sr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee), linebacker Godwin Asamoah (sr. Edison, NJ/Edison), long snapper Ray Philipp (jr. Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood), offensive lineman Marcedius Jameson (sr. Westampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.), offensive lineman Brandon Williams (sr. Carteret, NJ/Carteret), wide receiver Aaron Furnbach (jr. West Milford, NJ/West Milford), defensive lineman Nick Fromhold (sr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe, Twp.), Mannion, Stokes, Henchy and Gonzalez.