GLASSBORO, NJ -- Rowan gave #4 Salisbury all it could handle but it was the Sea Gulls leaving Coach Wackar Stadium with a narrow 31-28 decision over the Profs on Saturday in a NJAC matchup on Fan Appreciation Day.

Quarterback Nate Maiers threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Jamir Rowe caught two of those TD's as did Nunes Bukula IV. Luke Hoke pulled in six catches for 81 yards, both season highs while Bukula IV (43 yards) and Tyshawn Bookman (76 yards) combined for 119 rushing yards.

Salisbury held a slight edge in total yardage (385-382) while the Profs were guilty of two second-half turnovers that led to Sea Gull points.

Both teams scored on its first possessions in the opening quarter. Salisbury opened the scoring on an eight-yard run from Dario Belizaire. Rowan countered with a 13 play, 75-yard drive as Rowe snagged a two-yard toss in the corner of the end zone. Derek Kneeppel pulled in the two-point conversion to put the home team up, 8-7.

On the first play of the second quarter, Salisbury quarterback SyRus McGowan connected with Micah Brubaker for 50 yards for a score The Profs tried to counter with another long drive, getting down into the red zone, but on a 4th and 2 from the Sea Gull 19, Maiers pass to the end zone fell incomplete.

Xavier McBride forced and recovered a fumble from McGowan to get the offense the ball near midfield. Rowe would haul in his second TD to cap the drive, but the two-point attempt was no good, making it a 14-14 game with just over a minute in the half. Salisbury struck on its first play on the ensuing drive, this time an 80-yard score from McGowan to Belizaire to help put the visitors ahead 21-14 at the half.

Late in the third, Jaden Everett picked off McCowan for a defensive score from 11 yards out to make it a tie contest. Belizaire's 96-yard scoring run on the ensuing kickoff was nullified by a holding penalty, keeping the teams at 21-21.

A fumble and recovery on a punt return early in the fourth quarter gave the ball back to Salisbury at the Rowan 32-yard line. Three plays later, Darrell Walter scored from 14 yards out.

Tucker Smack connected on a 25-yard field goal on the next SU possession with 8:35 remaining for a 31-21 Sea Gull lead. A drive that covered 75 yards and 10 plays turned into paydirt as Bukula IV bounced in on a screen pass from 14 yards to cut it to a three-point game with 3:22 to play.

Salisbury converted on a key third and five getting a 53-yard run from Mason Fisher down to the Rowan two where the Sea Gulls were able to run out the clock.

McGowan finished with 221 yards on 11-of-16 passing while Walter totaled 52 yards on the ground and Brubaker pulled in four grabs for 81 yards. Morgan Oliver had four tackles, two for losses, and a sack and half.

Defensively for the Profs, Anthony Henriquez collected a game-high 10 tackles. McBride made eight stops while Giaini Derameaux (forced fumble) and AJ Ryker each posted five tackles apiece.

Rowan heads to The College of New Jersey next week to battle the Lions in conference action. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. from Ewing.