CHESTER, PA – The Rowan University football team scored 16 unanswered points in the second half to come from behind and defeat Widener University, 19-14 in the season opener on Saturday.
This is the second straight season that the Profs have erased a deficit on the road to defeat the Pride. Rowan trailed 14-3 at halftime. The Profs trimmed the deficit to 14-10 with 7:05 on the clock in the third when quarterback Dante Pinckney (jr. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) hit wide receiver Kevin Lenart (sr. Roosevelt, NJ/Hightstown) for a 61-yard touchdown. The drive traveled 80 yards in four plays and was setup by the second interception of the day by defensive back Shaquille Lee (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville).
On the first play of the fourth quarter, wideout Zac Frantz (sr. Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) caught a 21-yard touchdown pass, capping a five-play 62-yard drive. The point after attempt was missed and Rowan had a 16-14 lead. The Profs added three more points with 3:36 remaining when kicker Tyler Knighton (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) converted a 32-yard field goal. Defensive back Travelle Curry (so. Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech.) sealed the game, intercepting a pass and returning it 38 yards with 29-seconds remaining.
Pinckney completed 17 passes in 29 attempts for 265 yards and two scores. Wide receiver Jamel Smith (jr. Wrightstown, NJ/New Egypt) caught eight passes for 90 yards and returned two kicks for 56 yards. Frantz had four receptions for 68 yards, while Lenart recorded 71 yards on three catches. Running Gawain Bragg (jr. Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.) ran the ball 15 times for 58 yards.
Linebacker Ryan Brenner (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland) led the defense with eight tackles. Defensive backs Bobby Barbieri (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) and Jared Sanchez (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) each had six tackles and one interception. Defensive linemen Chris Henchy (jr. Egg Harbor City, NJ/Absegami) and Kevin Stokes (so. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) had one blocked kick apiece.
For Widener, quarterback Alex Krivda (sr. Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) threw for 255 yards (27-54) and one touchdown. Wide receiver Montrell Hicks-Taylor (jr. Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) made six catches for 108 yards and one TD. He also ran the ball four times for 48 yards and one score. Running back Chris Randle (fr. Lindenwood, NJ/Paul VI) had nine carries for 36 yards.
Linebacker Steve Gozur (sr. Hatfield, PA/North Penn) recorded nine tackles, including three tackles for a loss (13 yards) and one sack (8 yards). Linebacker Jake Behornar (sr. New Castle, DE/William Penn), defensive back Kyle Lowery (jr. Audubon, PA/Methacton) and defensive lineman Casey Kerschner (jr. Adamstown, PA/Cocalico) each had six tackles. Kershcher also had two tackles for a loss (25 yards).
Rowan got on the scoreboard first when Knighton made a 34-yard field goal with 7:17 remaining in the opening quarter. The six-play 34-yard drive was set-up by Lee's first interception. With 1:45 to play in the stanza, Krivda found Hicks-Taylor from 19 yards out, giving the Pride a 7-3 lead. The drive took just five plays and traveled 80 yards with Hicks-Taylor accumulating 77.
The Pride extended its advantage to 14-3 in the second when Hicks-Taylor ran the ball in from 35 yards away at the 2:18 mark. The drive went 80 yards in seven plays and included 30 yards in the air from Krivda.
Rowan now has a week off before hosting William Paterson University on Friday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener.