NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Quarterback Mike Husni rushed for three touchdowns as Rowan (3-6; 3-3 NJAC) scored 20 straight points to rally and defeat Christopher Newport, 27-23, in NJAC football action at TowneBank Stadium.
 
Rowan's defense saved the game late as CNU had first-and-goal at two-yard line, but the Profs forced RB Ben James into a 15-yard loss and Anthony LaRosa recovered the fumble to seal the win with 23 seconds to go.

Husni finished the game with 42 yards rushing and 158 yards passing to play a key role in the Profs' rally, while two of his scoring plays came in a span of 24 seconds, including the game- winner at 1:20 of the third quarter.

Christopher Newport (2-7; 2-4 NJAC) scored on the game's opening drive and had a 14-0 lead in just eight minutes played. With a pair of field goals, the Captains held a 20-0 lead with just over five minutes to go in the half.
 
The Profs scored just before halftime, on a one-yard run by Husni, to cut the deficit to 20-7.
 
Rowan turned things around completely in the second half, scoring all 20 points in the third quarter, with a 37-yard touchdown reception by Nick Grosso and then two rushing TDs by Husni in a span of 24 seconds.
 
Messiah Divine had 74 yards on 24 carries while John Maldonado had five catches for 44 yards. Defensively, LaRosa had 13 tackles, with 10 solos, and Mike Mascioli and Sunny Tapp each forced fumbles. Tapp also registered one sack for nine yards. Kicker Jake Hurler was 3-for-3 in extra-point attempts.

"I am proud of how the players responded being down by 20 to start the game. They never gave up and really responded with great energy and emotion in the second half. We did not stray from our game plan and it paid off in the end with a great comeback win on the road," said head coach Jay Accorsi.

How it Happened
1st Quarter
- CNU scored on the game's first drive, going 62 yards in five plays, ending with a 35-yard touchown pass form Jack Anderson to Garrison Mayo at 13:02 (CNU 7-0)
- After a three-and-out by Rowan, CNU scored again at 6:39, with Mayo catching a seven-yard pass (CNU 14-0)
 
2nd Quarter
- CNU's Dylan Curran connected on a 30-yard field goal at the start of the quarter (CNU 17-0)
- With five minutes left in the half, Curran converted a 42-yard field goal (CNU 20-0)
- Rowan got on the board when Mike Husni engineered a 65-yard drive, which included a 17-yard completion to Nick Grosso, to give the Profs first and goal. Husni finished it off with the one-yard TD run (CNU 20-7)
- Curran hit his third field goal, from 33 yards, to give CNU a 23-7 halftime lead (CNU 23-7)
 
3rd Quarter
- Husni led a 75-yard drive that culminated in the 37-yard pass to Grosso for the score although the two-point conversion try failed (CNU 23-13)
- Messiah Divine had 14 yards rushing in the drive while John Maldonado also caught a 13-yard pass
- Maldonado caught a 44-yard pass on the next drive as the Profs again went 75 yards. Elijah Rehm and Ifreke Andy also had receptions and Husni ran it in from seven yards out at 1:44 to pull Rowan within three points (CNU 23-20)
- Rowan's defense set up the next score as Sunny Tapp sacked CNU QB Jack Anderson and forced a fumble that was picked up by Albert Piccoli at the home team's 11
- Husni wasted no time and ran it in from 11 yards for the winning score at 1:20 (ROW 27-23)
 
4th Quarter
- Rowan had a possession of more than five minutes early in the quarter
- The Profs also took up another 2:44 on a drive that gave the ball back to CNU with only 1:11 left
- CNU had first-and-goal at the two with under 30 seconds to play, but the Rowan defense forced a 15-yard loss and Anthony LaRosa recovered a fumble by Ben James to seal the win
 
The Profs will close out the season on Saturday, November 16, when they host TCNJ on "Senior Day" and "Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium is 1 p.m.