BUFFALO, NY—Steve Hevalow (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) and Tim Hagerty (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) each surpassed the century mark on the ground as visiting Rowan (3-1/2-1) pounded out a 24-7 victory over Buffalo State (0-4/0-3) in an NJAC contest today at Coyer Field.
Hevalow carried the load for the Profs with 30 rushes for 143 yards and two scores. Quarterback Hagerty ran 16 times for 127 yards, and was also 12 of 19 passing for 175 yards. Dean Hammel (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) led the defense with nine tackles, including a sack. Matt Hoffman (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.) added seven tackles, including 3.5 for loss and two sacks.
Rowan piled up 477 total yards on 73 offensive plays, including 302 yards rushing, compared to 161 total yards on 50 plays by Buffalo State.
Buffalo State freshman quarterback Nate Geary (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) made his first career start, going 8 of 19 for 73 yards with an interception. Three Bengals had double-digit tackles, led by Kevin Healy (E. Meadow, NY/E. Meadow) with 12. Brandon Hodgins (Rochester, NY/Churchville-Chili) and Kam Johnson (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) added 11 and 10 respectively.
Rowan opened the scoring when Hevalow broke free on a 32-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. The Profs extended their lead on their next possession early in the second quarter, moving 74 yards on nine plays, capped by Hevalow's second scoring run from 5 yards out.
Buffalo State got on the board with its first second-quarter points of the season, converting on fourth down with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Geary to Steve Stillman (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore East).
The Profs reclaimed the 14-point advantage with 6:35 remaining in the half after a 10-yard touchdown run by Justin Long (Sicklerville, NJ/Pennsauken). Rowan was in position to extend its lead further with a first down at the Bengals' 2-yard line in the closing minute of the half, but miscommunication on a handoff led to a fumble. Buffalo State's Gorden Schubert (W. Seneca, NY/W. Seneca East) recovered the loose ball, keeping the deficit just 21-7 heading into the intermission.
Antonio Regalbuto (Clayton, NJ/St. Joseph) booted a 21-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter for the only other score of the game. Rowan threatened again on its next possession, but fumbled the ball out of the end zone.
Buffalo State will travel to Western Connecticut State next Saturday.