GLASSBORO, NJ – Visiting Kean University won 24-10 over the Rowan University football team in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
The Profs and Cougars are both 5-4 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
Running back Brian Matthews (jr. Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) led Kean with 174 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries (7.6 avg). Wide receiver Ben Guarino (so. Caldwell, NJ/James Caldwell) caught two passes for 80 yards and a score while wideout LeRon Dillard (sr. Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) made three receptions for 48 yards. Quarterbacks Tyler Rodriguez (jr. Carteret, NJ/Carteret) and Charles App (jr. Staten Island, NY/New Dorp) threw for 83 and 56 yards respectively. Rodriguez had a touchdown pass.
Linebacker Robert Meade III (sr. Colonia, NJ/Bishop Ahr) had a game-high 12 tackles, one for a loss, and forced a fumble. Linebacker Darin Hungerford (jr. Dumfries, VA/Forest Park) posted 10 stops, two for a loss, and recovered a fumble. Linebacker Stephan Lewis (sr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) and defensive back David Coleman Jr. (sr. Jersey City, NJ/St. Anthony) totaled eight and seven tackles respectively. Lewis forced two fumbles while defensive back Austin Davis (sr. Cliffwood, NJ/Matawan) and Coleman Jr. each had one interception.
For Rowan, running back Gawain Bragg (jr. Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.) ran for 47 yards and a touchdown on 19 attempts. Wide receiver Zac Frantz (sr. Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) had six catches for 78 yards. Wideouts Jamel Smith (jr. Wrightstown, NJ/New Egypt) and Dashown Waller (jr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) and Bragg made five receptions apiece. Quarterback Dante Pinckney (jr. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) was 25-of-47 for 264 yards.
Defensive back Bobby Barbieri (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) and defensive lineman David Gajderowicz (fr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) registered six tackles apiece. Linebacker Ryan Brenner (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) added five stops and defensive lineman Chris Henchy (jr. Egg Harbor City, NJ/Absegami) recorded a sack.
Early in the second quarter, the Profs advanced into Kean territory to the Cougars' 36-yard line. On fourth-and-two, Waller gained one yard and the Kean defense forced a turnover on downs. On the first play of the ensuing possession, Rodriguez hit Guarino for a 65-yard scoring strike and the Cougars took a 7-0 lead with 12:05 on the clock.
After a Kean punt, Rowan took over at its own 29. On the first play, Davis undercut a screen pass and picked off Pinckney. Davis took it 26 yards into the end zone for a 14-0 advantage (10:19).
Later in the period, the Cougars had the ball at their 38. Matthews began with a three-yard run then sprinted for a 59-yard touchdown. The extra point gave Kean a 21-0 lead with 5:37 left.
On the next drive, the Profs went 57 yards on 10 plays to get on the scoreboard. Rowan had three plays of at least 10 yards during the possession and kicker Tyler Knighton (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) booted a 23-yard field goal to make the score 21-3 (0:34) going into halftime.
Kean received the second half kickoff and marched 58 yards on 11 plays. The big play came when App found Dillard for a 23-yard gain on third-and-five and kicker Aryeh Moslavi (jr. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) converted a 34-yard field goal (9:25) for a 24-3 lead.
Rowan took over at its own 21 with 4:49 remaining in the third. The Profs took 16 plays to go 79 yards and had four plays over 10 yards. Bragg capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter and Rowan cut the deficit to 24-10.
The Profs moved the ball inside Kean territory on their next possession but Coleman intercepted Pinckney to end the threat. The Cougars had an opportunity to add three more points but Moslavi hit the crossbar on a 43-yard field goal attempt. After a Rowan punt, Kean was able to run out the clock.
The Profs close the season at The College of New Jersey on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.