GLASSBORO, NJ – A 28-point first quarter helped propel Rowan to a 42-14 New Jersey Athletic Conference victory over Kean Saturday afternoon on Senior Day here at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium.
The Profs scored on its first three offensive possessions and added a 45-yard interception return for a score by Eric Bryant to stake the home team to a sizable margin after the first quarter of play.
Shane Martin caught seven passes for 138 yards and two scores, all career highs as Rowan rolled up 489 yards of offense. The Profs quarterback trio combined to throw for 339 yards on 23-of-39 passing. Nate Maiers was 13-of-21 for 223 yards and a score with Matt Welsey throwing for two touchdowns on 7-of-11 passing for 75 yards and Joseph Riina adding a two-yard QB sneak for a score.
Defensively, Bryant added five tackles, two pass breakups, and a tackle for loss while Aeneas Robinson collected a team-high six stops and added a QB hurry. Nick Wright posted four tackles and a forced fumble as well. The defense limited the Cougars to just 81 yards in the first half.
In the first quarter, Maiers would hook up with Michael Zarfati on a 36-yard completion to move the Profs to the Kean two yard-line. Riina put the first points on the board with his two-yard TD run up the middle.
On the next Rowan possession, Tyshawn Bookman rumbled in from nine yards out to cap a nine-play, 87-yard drive for a 14-0 lead. A fumble recovery from Anthony Henriquez on the ensuing kickoff put the ball back in the Profs' hands. On the very first play of the drive, Maiers hit Martin on a 41-yard catch in the end zone to add to the lead.
Bryant recorded his fourth career interception for a touchdown as he stepped in front of pass at the Kean 45 and found a convey of blockers to take it to the house for a 28-0 score.
John Scibilia got in on the scoring as the senior pulled in his first career touchdown on a one-yard catch late in the second quarter to give Rowan a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Martin snagged his second TD of the day on a 28-yard strike from Welsey in the third quarter.
Kean's Rocco Pelligrini found Sal Marchione for seven yards to get the Cougars its first points and end the Rowan shutout attempt. Chris Amos later added a 96-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown to account for the scoring.
Bookman ran for 76 yards on 15 carries with Nunes Bukula IV adding 58 yards on 12 attempts. Zarfati totaled 50 yards on two receptions with Mwanza Fitzpatrick adding 39 yards on four catches.
Pellegrino finished with 165 yard passing on 15-of-30 passing and was sacked once (AJ Ryker). His top target was Christian Bujno, who totaled 75 yards on six catches.
Prior to the game, the team and coaching staff took time to honor its seniors: Martin, Bryant, Robinson, Scibilia, Fitzpatrick, Ryker, Wright, CJ Beatie, Jason Blanks, Mac Carlin, Terry Carlstrom, Nick Cerulli, Kenneth Chukwuocha, Dhani Clifford, Ahmad Gantt, Paul Ginty, Alfredo Gonzalez, Vincent Guarino, Shamar Love, Michael Maciolek, Kevin Moylan, Josh Ortiz, Joe Racobaldo, Ronell Redd, Chris Rodgers, Steven Simonetti, Andrew Spinello, and Cody Young.
The Profs will close out the 2024 season next Saturday with a matchup at William Paterson in a 1 p.m. start.
Fast Start Helps Rowan Football Pick up Senior Day Win Over Kean, 42-14
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20241109_dj18.xml
2024
Kean
14
Rowan
42
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kean (2-7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Rowan (5-4) | 28 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
Nov 09, 2024