GLASSBORO, NJ -- Rowan was edged by Stevenson, 20-17, Thursday night at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium in the football season opener for both teams.

The Profs led 17-14 at halftime but were unable to add more points in the second half as the Mustangs used field goals late in the third quarter and one early in the fourth to get past the home team.

James Fara led the Rowan ground game with 60 yards on 20 carries with quarterback Noah Brunatti adding 109 yards in the air on 9-of-18 passing with a touchdown. Brunatti hooked up with Jake Schicke on a 26-yard score on the final play of the first half to give the Profs that three-point lead heading into the break.

Defensively, Vincent Guarino led all players with a career-high 12 tackles. Joe Racobaldo made nine stops and Eric Bryant returned an interception for score in the first quarter.

Elijah Marquez ran for 112 yards and a score while teammate Pat Gorman hauled in eight catches for for 84 yards, both game highs. Quarterback Nyaire Wilson was 13-for-23 for 141 yards contributing a second-quarter touchdown and chipping in 36 yards on the ground. Clarence Travis led the defense with nine tackles and an interception.

Rowan looked to get off to a great start in the game as Nick Cerulli picked up a fumbled return on the opening kickoff, giving the Profs the ball at the Stevenson seven-yard line. The Mustangs forced a field goal try but Connor Batten's attempt from 25 yards out was wide.

The defense answered just three plays after the change of possession as Bryant stepped in front of a pass on third and long and returned it back 18 yards for six points and to put the Profs on the board.

On the next Rowan possession, the offense marched 46 yards on 10 plays to the Stevenson nine. Batten connected on a 26-yard boot to make it 10-0.

The Mustangs added its first points on the night when Wilson's pass out on the left flat to Tylor Blake from the Rowan three-yard line capped a 13-play, 81-yard drive cut into the lead with 9:02 in the second. Stevenson scored on its next possession, this time it was Marquez diving in from the Rowan one-yard line looking to send the visitors into the locker room with a 14-10 lead. However, Rowan answered with just 1:52 in the half, hurrying down to the Stevenson 26. On a 3rd and 18, Brunatti found Schicke who beat two defenders on a nice grab for his first career touchdown with zeroes on the clock to end the half.

Stevenson connected on a 38-yard field goal with 5:54 in the third to knot things up and later forced a turnover on downs as Rowan could not convert on a fourth and five from the Mustang 38. The Profs turned it over on an interception to put the guests on the Rowan 20. Brody Campbell added his second field goal of the night with 10:58 to play, giving the Mustangs its first lead of the contest.

Rowan had two more possessions in the final quarter but could not venture into Stevenson territory.

The Profs get back at it next Saturday, September 9th when the team heads to McDaniel for a 1 p.m. kickoff.