GLASSBORO, NJ -- Jake Hurler connected on a 36-yard field goal as time expired as Rowan defeated The College of New Jersey in a wild 23-21 New Jersey Athletic Conference game Friday evening at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium.
The ending capped a frenzy final seven-plus minutes as the teams traded late leads. Trailing by a touchdown with just under a minute in regulation, Mike Husni scrambled in for a five-yard touchdown run, to try and tie things up at 21-21, but the extra point attempt was blocked. With just one timeout, Rowan then recovered the onside kick and was able to drive into field goal range where Hurler gave the home team a walk-off win.
Husni totaled three touchdowns in the game, one passing, one rushing and one coming off a reception as the Profs took a page from the Philadelphia Eagles, using the 'Philly Special' to get the first points on the night. On a third and goal from the 5 yard-line in the first quarter, Eddie Jamison took the pitch off a pre-snap motion to the right, and found Husni with an easy toss in the end zone.
Rowan forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with four minutes before halftime. The Profs went 62 yards on nine plays to add to the lead. This time, it was Husni finding Terry Carlstrom on an 18-yard TD pass to make it 14-0 with 25 seconds before the break.
The Lions tried to get on the board with a field goal attempt on the final play of the half, but the Prof Defense notched the first of its two blocked field goals. Amir Wallace got a hand on a 34-yard attempt to keep it a 14-0 contest. In that first half, Rowan's defense led by Jason Blanks' two interceptions as well as two fourth down stops kept the Lions in check.
TCNJ opened the second-half with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a Trevor Bopp to T.J. Sheehan eight-yard TD pass to cut into the Rowan lead.
Sheehan caught his second score of the game at the 11:58 mark of the fourth on a 13-yard slant to knot the teams up at 14-14. Husni was intercepted for the second time on the ensuing drive at the TCNJ 30. The Lions converted on the turnover as Bopp tossed his third TD of the game and gave the visitors a 21-14 edge with 7:55 to play.
The defense came through again, blocking its second field goal attempt late in the contest that may have sealed things up. With the ball at the Rowan 3 and just over two minutes to go, AJ Kirvin blocked the attempt where John Perez scooped the ball up and rumbled to the Rowan 38. James Fara ran for 93 of his 134 yards in the fourth quarter which included a big 49-yard run on a third and 6 that got the ball all the way down to the TCNJ 5. Three plays later, Husni scrambled is way in with 56 ticks left for his third score of the game. However, Hurler's extra point attempt was blocked by the Lions' Nick Celli to help keep TCNJ in front.
Nick Cerulli came up with the ball off a scramble on the ensuing onside kick to give Rowan some life. Husni drove the offense down inside TCNJ territory, using a big 25-yard run and later a huge 20-yard strike to Carlstrom on a fourth and 10 to get it to the Lions' 19 with just one second remaining, setting the stage for Hurler.
Offensively, Husni was 16-of-33 for 183 yards passing and added 50 total yards on 18 carries. Carlstrom caught his first career touchdown, finishing with six grabs for 70 yards, which were also career highs. John Maldonado added four receptions for 42 yards as the offense put up 391 yards and possessed the ball for over 38 minutes.
Blanks two picks highlighted the defense where it also got eight tackles, a personal best, from Vincent Guarino. Ahmad Gantt and Amin Bailey each contributed six stops.
For TCNJ, Bopp threw for 349 yards on 30-of-43 passing with three scores and two interceptions. Sheehan had six catches for 63 yards while teammate Malin Jaskinski led all receivers with seven grabs for 72 yards. Sal Tardogno collected nine tackles with two for losses, Jack Young had six stops and an interception, and Mark Pierro totaled five tackles and a sack.
Rowan travels to William Paterson next Saturday in another NJAC matchup. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
Walk-off FG propels Rowan to wild win
/seasons/2022/boxscores/20221007_hun7.xml
2022
TCNJ
21
Rowan
23
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCNJ (1-3) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Rowan (3-2) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 23 |
Oct 07, 2022