GLASSBORO, NJ - Newcomer James Fara scored a 71-yard touchdown and ran for 152 yards, but it wasn't enough as Rowan fell to Widener, 27-22, in the return of football before a sellout crowd on "Saturday Night Lights" at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium. It marked Rowan's first football game since November 16, 2019. 
 
Fara, a transfer from Monmouth, had 21 carries in his first game as a Prof. WR John Maldonado also scored one touchdown for Rowan, and picked up 56 yards on six receptions while QB Mike Husni threw for 83 yards and a touchdown to C.J. Barrett.
 
Rowan put together a 48-yard drive in the final minutes and fell just short with the go-ahead touchdown. On fourth-and-7 at the 27, Husni's pass in the end zone to Maldonado was broken up by Bryce Washington allowing Widener to take over and run out the clock.
 
The Profs got on the board right away, scoring on the first drive of the game. Fara ran for 44 yards, and Rowan scored its first touchdown of the year when Husni connected with Maldonado for a four-yard reception.
 
Widener tied the game with 3:59 to go in the opening quarter with a 67-yard drive and consecutive rushes by Dan Dutkiewicz, including the score from seven yards out.
 
Rowan regained the lead with a 13-play, 82-yard drive that stretched into the second quarter, ending in a six-yard touchdown reception by C.J. Barrett, and with a miss on the extra point, Rowan led, 13-7. Widener pulled within 13-10 on a 25-yard field goal and then took a 17-13 lead on a 54-yard pass from Harris to James Gillespie.
 
After a 16-yard return on the kickoff by Terry Carlstrom, Fara needed just two rushes to get his first touchdown as a Prof. He ran eight yards and then broke free for a 71-yard run to score with 2:02 remaining in the half, giving Rowan a 19-17 lead. The Profs got a 38-yard field goal from Jake Hurler to end the half with a 22-17 lead.
 
At the end of the third quarter, the Profs' Isaiah Johnston forced a fumble as Widener was deep in Rowan territory. Rowan went three-and-out after the fumble and Widener used runs of 20 and 25 yards by Cruse to go up, 24-22. Widener tacked on a field goal in the fourth quarter to provide the winning margin.
 
Rowan Athletics has pledged to donate all of the ticket proceeds from the football game and women's soccer tournament, which totaled over $10,000, to the Gloucester County Emergency Relief Fund to assist its neighbors that were greatly affected by last Wednesday's storm.