GLASSBORO, NJ -- Rowan shut down Montclair State in the second half to go on and win 27-7 over the Red Hawks Saturday afternoon in a NJAC matchup at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium.

The Profs yielded a touchdown on Montclair State's opening drive but that was all the scoring allowed by the defense, which also got an 80-yard interception return for a score from Eric Bryant in the second quarter. In all, the defense came away with two picks, four sacks, six tackles for losses, and a fumble recovery on the day as the team improves to 6-3 and 4-2 in conference play.

James Fara rumbled for 124 yards and a score while quarterback Mike Husni connected with John Maldonado for a long 57-yard touchdown pass. Jake Hurler added a 22-yard field goal right before the half to give the Profs a 24-7 lead at the break.

Rowan took the opening kickoff and turned in the first score of the day thanks to big plays from Fara. On a fourth and 1 from the Rowan 44, Fara busted through the middle for a 50-yard scamper down to the Montclair six. On the very next play, Fara crossed the goal line for his fifth rushing touchdown on the year and a 7-0 lead.

The Red Hawks looked to answer on its first possession, marching 75 yards on 15 plays, capped off with a 12-yard TD pass from Mason Murdock to Reilly Nelson with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter.

The Profs responded on the second play of the next drive as Husni hooked up with Maldonado to reclaim the lead. The TD was Husni's 15th of the season and ninth for Maldonado.

Bryant and the defense ended the back and forth on the series with his pick-six. On the fourth play of the second quarter on a 3rd and 5 at the Rowan 23, Bryant ran it back to the house and more importantly, increased the lead to 21-7.

Later in the quarter, a fourth-down stop deep in Rowan territory gave the ball back to the Profs. Husni steered the offense through 12 plays and 77 yards, resulting in a 22-yard field goal from Jake Hurler with 17 seconds in the stanza.

Nick Cerulli's fourth-quarter interception gave the offense prime field position which led to more points as Hurler connected on his second field goal of the game, this time from 20 yards out. Montclair's final drive ended on a fourth-down play at their own 48-yard line as Akil Moody forced a fumble where Joel Deanley recovered.

Husni finished with 111 yards passing on 8-of-14 attempts with a touchdown and interception. Murdock was 14-of-29 for 93 yards, two picks and a score while being sacked four times for the Red Hawks.

Defensively, Mike Mascioli collected a team-high eight tackles. Cerulli registered four stops, an interception, a sack, and a tackle for loss. Eric Hill collected a sack and a half along with five tackles.

Rowan will end the regular season on Friday, November 11th as the Profs welcome the University of New England on Military Appreciation Night and Senior Night. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.