Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
EWING, NJ – The Rowan University football team closed out 2016 with a 17-0 win at The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Friday night.
The Profs finish the year with a 6-4 record and 5-4 NJAC mark. The Lions end the season at 2-8 overall and 2-7 in the conference.
Quarterback Dante Pinckney (jr. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) went 8-of-16 for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers Jamel Smith (jr. Wrightstown, NJ/New Egypt) and Kevin Lenart (sr. Roosevelt, NJ/Hightstown) each caught a score. Smith made three receptions for 85 yards. Running back Anthony Diorio (so. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) ran the ball 12 times for 71 yards and running back Gawain Bragg (jr. Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.) added 57 yards on 17 carries.
Linebacker John Barillo (sr. Ventnor, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) posted eight tackles. Defensive back Travelle Curry (so. Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) made seven stops and had one interception. Defensive back Shaquille Lee (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) and linebacker Ryan Brenner (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) totaled five tackles apiece. Brenner also registered an interception. Defensive lineman David Gajderowicz (fr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) had two sacks and defensive lineman Anthony Rizzolo (sr. Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills Reg.) recovered a fumble.
For TCNJ, quarterback Trevor Osler (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) was 16-for-24 for 109 yards. Running back Chad Scott (jr. Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) gained 88 yards on 19 carries. Wide receivers Thomas Koenig (jr. Bayville, NJ/Central Reg.) and Jeff Mattonelli (sr. Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) each caught three passes.
Linebacker Robert Burns (sr. Sparta, NJ/Sparta) produced a game-high nine tackles. Linebacker Troy Domenick (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) tallied seven stops. Linebacker Jesse Streb (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) and defensive lineman Shane Kelley (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) collected six tackles apiece.
Late in the first quarter, the Lions moved into Rowan territory. On third-and-four from the 37, Curry picked off Osler at the 34 and had a four-yard return. That set up a six-play, 62-yard drive that culminated in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Pinckney to Lenart. The extra point gave the Profs a 7-0 lead with 13:06 to go in the second.
TCNJ started on its own 34 with 4:51 to play before halftime. Three plays later, defensive lineman Nick Fromhold (fr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) forced and recovered a fumble to set Rowan up at the Lions' 42. The Profs gained 37 yards on eight plays and kicker Tyler Knighton (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) booted a 22-yard field goal for a 10-0 advantage (0:46).
The Lions reached the red zone in the third quarter, advancing to the Rowan 17-yard line. On third-and-seven, Brenner recorded an interception at the eight-yard-line to end the threat. Later in the period, the Profs began at the TCNJ 34 after a punt. On the third play, Pinckney hit Smith for a 30-yard score and the final points with 23 seconds left.