GLASSBORO, NJ -- #24 Rowan won its sixth game in a row as the Profs took down TCNJ, 30-7, Saturday afternoon on Homecoming Weekend at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium.
Running back
Tyshawn Bookman ran for 94 yards and a score and wide receiver
Michael Zarfati added five catches for 55 yards and another touchdown to help keep Rowan (6-1, 4-0 NJAC) unbeaten in New Jersey Athletic Conference play. Rowan broke open a 9-7 halftime lead with 21 points in the third quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker
Jackson Ferrante totaled a career-high 12 tackles to help Rowan limit the Lions to under 100 yards total in the second half.
Bookman's one-yard run 4:26 into the first quarter capped Rowan's first offensive possession for an early lead. It became 9-0 Profs less than four minutes later after the Lions fumbled a punt out of its own end zone for a safety to add to the lead.
TCNJ took advantage of a fumble recovery late in the second starting on its own 29 yard line. Grant Lorentzen scored on a double reverse on a 3rd and 10 from the Rowan 22, ending an 11-play drive to cut into the Prof lead with seven seconds before the half.
The third quarter saw Rowan score early and get a huge fumble recovery on a scoop and score to extend its lead. The offense took the second-half kickoff and marched 75 yards on nine plays which ended on a 20-yard TD grab from Zarfati, his ninth on the year. Five plays into TCNJ's next possession,
Giaini Derameaux forced a fumble on a hit on TCNJ's Sam Dech.
Luis Placido picked up the loose ball and ran it 65 yards to the house and suddenly it was 23-7.
This is Placido's second defensive touchdown this season, as he added a pick six in the win over Vermont State Castleton back on October 3rd.
Later in the quarter, another Lion turnover helped put points on the board for the home team. With the Profs punting on fourth down from its own 34,
Zack Burlingame's kick hit a TCNJ defender in coverage where
Amir Reason-Dallas came up with the ball at the Lion 40-yard line.
Six plays later,
Nunes Bukula IV broke a tackle on his way to the end zone from nine yards out to make it 30-7. The score gave the senior 39 career touchdowns which ties the program record for total career scoring.
TCNJ quarterback Walker Bailey completed 8-of-10 passing for 58 yards and added 46 on the ground to lead the Lions (3-4, 2-2 NJAC). Dech finished with 43 yards on 18 carries while Lorentzen added four catches for 30 yards.
For Rowan, quarterback
Nate Maiers finished with 142 yards on 14-of-18 passing. Bukula IV (25 yards) and
Luke Hoke (45 yards) each had three grabs. Derameaux totaled six tackles with teammates
AJ Ryker and
Carter Williams making eight stops apiece.
The Profs will head to #10 Christopher Newport next Saturday in a matchup of NJAC unbeatens. Kickoff from Newport News, Va. is set for 1 p.m.
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