NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The Rowan University football team dropped a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game at Christopher Newport University, 30-0 on Saturday night.
The Profs are 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Captains improve to 4-1 with a 3-1 NJAC mark.
CNU controlled the game on both sides of the ball, outgaining Rowan, 328-67. Quarterback K.J. Kearney (sr. North Dinwiddie, VA/Dinwiddie) went 27-of-37 for 206 yards. Running back Harrison Dandridge (sr. Alexandria, VA/Thomas Edison) ran the ball 18 times for 57 yards and two touchdowns. He also made four receptions for 33 yards. Wide receiver Cole Blais (fr. Virginia Beach, VA/Kellam) caught 12 passes for 97 yards.
Linebackers Brennan Gary (sr. Hanover, VA/Hanover) and Jamal Spence (jr. Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes) each made eight tackles. Gary had two tackles for a loss and one pass breakup while Spence had one fumble recovery. Defensive lineman Mark Aanstoos (sr. Chantilly, VA/Chantilly) had five stops, two for a loss, one sack and one interception. Defensive back Justus Drakeford (sr. Warrenton, VA/Kettle Run) picked off one pass while defensive back Rhett Morris (jr. Winchester, VA/Sherando) forced a fumble.
For Rowan, quarterback Naldy Tavarez (so. North Bergen, NJ/Union City) was 6-of-9 for 40 yards and quarterback Quinn Collins (so. Elk Twp., NJ/Delsea Reg.) went 3-for-5 for 46 yards. Wide receiver Jamel Smith (sr. Trenton, NJ/New Egypt) had four receptions for 43 yards.
Defensive back Nate Lanier (so. Sicklerville, NJ/Woodbridge) recorded a game-high 10 tackles, eight solo and one for a loss. Linebacker Chris Noesges (sr. Freehold, NJ/Manalapan) registered eight stops. Defensive back Kameron Kennedy (so. Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) posted an interception and defensive end Kevin Stokes (jr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) had one sack.
The Captains struck on their first two offensive drives. The Profs forced fourth down but CNU used a fake punt to pick up 43 yards and advance to the Rowan two-yard line. Dandridge reached the end zone on the next play and quarterback Nick Hunter (so. Yorktown, VA/Tabb) ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead (11:00).
On their next possession, the Captains had good field position at their 43. They went 57 yards on 10 plays and Dandridge finished the drive with an 11-yard TD run. The extra point failed and the score was 14-0 (3:43). On the first play of the second quarter, Rowan was pinned back at its own 11. Tavarez's pass was tipped and picked off by Aanstoos, who ran in for a touchdown to give CNU a 21-0 advantage (14:55).
After an interception, the Profs were threatening with the ball at the Captains' 30. However, Morris forced a fumble and Spence recovered for CNU. The Captains then drove 82 yards on 14 plays and Kearney recorded a four-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-0 with 23 seconds to play before halftime.
Rowan held the Christopher Newport offense off the scoreboard in the second half but the Captains' defense posted a safety in the first play of the final period. Defensive lineman Datavious Bessant (fr. Norfolk, VA/Norview) broke through the backfield and brought down running back Anthony Diorio (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) in the end zone for the last points of the evening.
The Profs have a bye week before hosting The College of New Jersey for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.