Rowan Football Rolls Past William Paterson, 22-6

GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University football team won its third straight contest of the season over William Paterson University, 22-6. The Profs are undefeated with a 3-0 record (2-0 NJAC) and the Pioneers fall to 0-2 (0-1 NJAC). Both teams started slow in the opening quarter, as neither side could execute on its first two drives. Rowan struck with 4:23 in the first, when quarterback Riley Giles (so. Deptford, NJ/Deptford Twp.) connected to running back John Mannion(sr. Verona, NJ/James Caldwell) for a 13-yards score, to take a 7-0 lead. William Paterson responded on its next drive, when quarterback Tracy Fudge (jr. Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) hit wide receiver RaeQuawn Bridgeman (jr. West Orange, NJ/Orange) with a 38-yard strike to the end zone, but the play was called back due to an offensive penalty. The Pioneers lost their momentum and punted the ball away three plays later. The Brown and Gold's defense stepped up in the second quarter, holding William Paterson to sevens total plays. After a three-and-out drive by the Pioneers, Rowan drove down the field and capped it off with a 16-yard field goal from kicker Alex Boyko (so. East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick), for a 10-0 advantage. On the first play of William Paterson's drive, cornerback Malachi Winters (so. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) forced a fumble, that cornerback Travelle Curry (sr. Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech.) recovered, to give the Profs possession at the Pioneers 33. The Brown and Gold drove down to the William Paterson's three-yard line and Boyko kicked his second field goal of 20-yards, to pull away 13-0. The Rowan defense kept rolling in the third quarter. On the first drive for William Paterson, Curry intercepted a pass and returned it 53-yards to the Pioneers' five-yard line. The Profs couldn't punch the ball into the end zone, but kicked another field goal, of 27-yards to take a 16-0 advantage. The Brown and Gold had another scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, but defensive back Hassan Williams (jr. Roselle, NJ/Cartert) blocked a field goal, that defensive back Alex D'Angelo (so. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) recovered at its own five-yard line. Three plays later, linebacker Kyle Pierce (Lawn side, NJ/ Haddon Heights) forced a fumble which gave Rowan possession at the Pioneers eight-yard line. On the next play, running back Messiah Divine (so. Trenton, NJ/Montgomery) took the ball to the end zone to widened the scoring margin, 22-0. William Paterson gave one last push late in the game, when Fudge completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end William Frees (so. Waldwick, NJ/Waldwick) to cut the deficit to 22-6. Rowan killed the remaining three minutes to win the game by the eventual score. Giles led the Rowan offense as he completed 33 of his 40 attempts for 227-yards and one touchdown. Tight end Cody Madden (jr. Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown) and Divine each end the night with eight receptions for 72-yards, while wide receiver Elijah Rehm (jr. Clayton, NJ/Clayton) record eight catches for 41-yards. Linebacker Chris Henchy (sr. Galloway, NJ/Assegai) tallied a team-high eight tackles, followed by linebacker Jayson Gonzalez (Roselle Park, NJ/Roselle Park) and Pierce with seven apiece. For William Paterson, Fudge completed 22 of 40 with 227-yards and a score. Bridgeman finished the game with six receptions for 86-yards. The Rowan football team hits the road as it travels to Frostburg State University next Saturday, Sept. 22, with the game time set to start at 1 p.m.

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