Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
GLASSBORO, NJ -- Nunes Bukula IV totaled three touchdowns as Rowan took care of visiting William Paterson, 45-16, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference clash before a Homecoming Crowd at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bukula IV ran for 43 yards on nine carries and pulled in a pair of 50-yard plus receptions to finish with 113 yards on just two grabs.
Mordecai Ford added a 94-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which is the longest scoring play in team history. The freshman totaled 104 yards on three carries.
The Prof offense totaled 217 yards on the ground and 307 yards in the air marking the first game this season the team went over 500 total yards.
Quarterbacks Nate Maiers (8-of-14 for 157 yards) and Matt Welsey (7-of-9 for 150 yards) each had completions over 50 yards.
Four players had six or more tackles defensively led by Jackson Ferrante who collected seven while adding a tackle for loss. Ferrante and Anthony Henriquez (six tackles) combined on a sack.
Ferrante's stop on a third and nine from the Rowan 11 on the game's opening drive made the Pioneers settle for a 25-yard field goal for the game's first points. After Rowan's first drive stalled out near midfield, punter Greg Casimir pinned William Paterson down to its own two-yard line. After a three-and-out, the ensuing punt went through the hands of punter Markos Hantsoulis and out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
Maiers' one-yard TD plunge early in the second added to the lead. The two-point attempt failed, making 8-3 Rowan. A nice 23-yard punt return from Shane Martin to start the next drive put the ball at the WPU 37. Four plays later, Maiers hit Tyshawn Bookman on a 27-yard strike at the 8:32 mark to make it 15-3.
William Paterson would drive down to the Rowan 15 on its next possession, but after an unsportsmanlike penalty on the Pioneers, a fourth and 26 pass attempt was no good, turning the ball back over on downs with 3:18 before the half. Maiers hit Bukula on a short pass out of the backfield where he rumbled 57 yards to paydirt with 50 seconds remaining to up the advantage.
On the first drive of the second half, Welsey hooked up with Bukula IV on a similar play to get it to the WPU one. Bukula IV finished the drive with his one-yard score.
Ford had the highlight of the day, sprinting untouched for 94 yards to cap the scoring on the day.
Pioneer QB Nigel Jennings totaled 189 yards on 11-of-20 passing and 72 yards rushing, scoring a pair of touchdowns.
The Profs will take on #5 Salisbury here in Glassboro next week in a big NJAC showdown. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Day.