Glassboro, N.J. - September 11, 2021 - The Springfield College football team racked up 495 yards on the ground as it ran past Rowan, 46-24, on Saturday afternoon in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
With the win, Springfield evened its record to 1-1 on the 2021 campaign, while the Profs dropped to 0-2.
The Pride's offense averaged 8.5 yards per rush as it ran the ball 58 times in the non-conference win. Springfield's fullbacks were dominant on the afternoon, led by Tim Callahan's (Enfield, Conn.) 151 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Fellow fullback Patrick Ladas (Berlin, Conn.) had 115 yards and a score, while halfbacks Ryan Deguire (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Isaiah Cashwell-Doe (Woburn, Mass.) combined for 157 yards, with Cashwell-Doe finding the end zone in the fourth quarter. Christian Hutra (Holmes, N.Y.) connected on a 27-yard field goal and added five extra points.
Defensively, Kyle Niehr (Bay Shore, N.Y.), Jack Duignan (Monroe, Conn.), and Aiden Lewin (Orlando, Fla.) all made 11 tackles, while Lewin recovered a fumble for the game's only turnover. The Pride limited Rowan to just 6-of-14 on third downs, including 2-for-9 in the first half, although the Profs were able to capitalize in five of their six fourth-down attempts in the first half to maintain their drives.
The Pride's defense was able to get off the field on Rowan's first drive after coming up with a big fourth-down stop on the Springfield 18-yard line. Springfield then marched 82 yards in 12 plays as Callahan plowed his way into the endzone from four yards out to finish off the six-plus minute drive and give Springfield a 7-0 lead with 3:21 left in the first.
The scoring would heat up in the second quarter as the teams combined for 31 points. Rowan converted four fourth-down conversions on their next drive, the last coming on fourth and goal from the two-yard line as a touchdown reception from John Maldonado evened up the game at 7-7 following a nine-minute drive. The Pride needed just seven plays to find the end zone, as Ladas carried it in from five yards out to put Springfield back on top with 5:28 left in the half. Rowan answered right back, going 75 yards in just over two minutes when Ifreke Andy lowered his shoulder on the goal line for a 10 yard score.
However, Callahan broke free from his second touchdown of the game, this time from 12 yards out, as the Pride went 70 yards in less than two minutes to take the lead for good at 21-14. Rowan was able to manufacture three points in the final minute as a 28-yard field goal at the horn made it a 28-17 game at the half.
Ladas rumbled his way down the sidelines for a 51-yard run just two plays into the second half before Callahan completed the touchdown hat trick with a four-yard score with 12:58 remaining in the third. The defense forced Rowan to punt on their next drive and Springfield once again drove inside the five-yard line, but a fumble pushed Springfield into field goal range and Hutra cashed in from 27 yards to make it 31-17 mindway through the quarter.
Springfield took advantage of Rowan putting the ball on the turf on their next drive, as Lewin fell on the loose ball for the turnover and gave Springfield the ball on their own 32-yard line. Seven plays later, Nicholas Raneri (North Attleboro, Mass.) became the third Springfield fullback to get into the end zone as he scored his first career touchdown from five yards out with under a minute left in the third. A botched snap on the extra point resulted in Jared Durocher (Agawam, Mass.) scampering for a successful two-point conversion as Springfield's lead ballooned to 39-17.
Both teams added seven points to the scoreboard in the fourth, as Cashwell-Doe broke free for a tremendous 51-yard score down the sideline as he powered through a defender on the goaline at 9:40, before Rowan closed out the scoring a 44-yard strike through the air with less than six minutes to play.
Springfield will head to New York next weekend to take on nationally ranked Union at 4:30 pm.
For the latest on Springfield College Athletics, follow the Pride on social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Springfield "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.