GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University football team won 31-0 over Morrisville State College on Homecoming Saturday afternoon.
The victory marked head coach Jay Accorsi's 100th career win. He is the first coach in the program's 55-year history to reach the milestone. The Profs improve to 4-2 overall with a 3-0 New Jersey Athletic Conference mark. The Mustangs have a 5-2 record and they are 3-1 in the conference. Running back Withler Marcelin (jr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp.) led Rowan with 228 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries. Running back Jahsiem Rover (fr. Burlington Twp., NJ/Burlington Twp.) added 82 yards and a score on 18 attempts. Quarterback Bill McCarty (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) was 9-of-14 for 72 yards. Wide receiver Russ Forchion (jr. Clementon, NJ/Hammonton) made four catches for 22 yards.
Linebacker Darren Dungee (jr. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) had 11 tackles, while linebacker Tyler Jenkins (sr. Woodbury, NJ/Woodbury) contributed with six. Jenkins also registered two pass breakups and an interception. Cornerback Jared Sanchez (so. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) recorded one sack and one pass defense and returned a fumble 15 yards for a TD. Cornerbacks Eddie Davis (jr. Camden, NJ/Camden) and Kori Haggie (so. Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) each intercepted one pass.
For Morrisville State, quarterback Lemar Johnson (sr. Ossining, NY/Ossining) had 10 completions in 31 attempts for 119 yards. He also ran for 58 yards on 13 attempts. Running back Cristian Pena (jr. Ridgewood, NY/Enterprise) accumulated 34 yards on 13 rushes. Wide receiver Anthony Gray (jr. Smallwood, NY/Monticello) made four receptions for 54 yards. Safety Shane Carroll (jr. Morrisville, NY/Morrisville-Eaton) tallied 10 tackles, while linebacker Colton Evans (jr. West Winfield, NY/Mt. Markham) and defensive tackle Julian Serrano (jr. Bronx, NY/Global Studies) had nine apiece.
Morrisville State received the opening kickoff and began its first drive at its 20-yard line. The Mustangs reached the Rowan 13-yard line before failing to convert on fourth down. Sanchez sacked Johnson for a 13-yard loss. The Profs took over at their 26-yard line. Rowan drove to its 44 before punting. Morrisville State began the drive at its five-yard line after a personal foul penalty. The Profs' defense forced a three-and-out and the offense started at the Mustangs' 25-yard line. Rowan failed to move the chains and Morrisville State took over at its three-yard line.
On a 2nd-and-11 from the Mustangs' 17, Johnson threw a backwards pass that was dropped by Gray. Sanchez recovered the ball and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Tyler Knighton (fr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) nailed the extra point and the Profs led 7-0 (2:32). Morrisville State started the ensuing drive at its 19-yard line and held the ball into the second quarter.
Rowan forced a punt after the Mustangs reached the Profs' 34-yard line. The Rowan offense began at its two-yard line. Marcelin finished off the 10-play, 98-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. He rushed for 63 yards on seven carries on the drive. Knighton's point after made the score 14-0 with 9:41 left in the first half. The Morrisville State offense started the next drive at its own 30. Davis picked off Johnson on second down and the Profs had the ball at the Mustangs' 28. However, on the first play, Derosena recovered a fumble by Tobler and Morrisville State got the ball back at its own 21.
After a three-and-out, punter Tyler Dunworth (sr. Poestenkill, NY/Averill Park) booted a78-yard punt to pin the Rowan offense at its one-yard line. The Profs went 93 yards before settling for a 23-yard field goal by Knighton and a 17-0 advantage (1:20). The Mustangs commenced the next drive from their 39-yard line. Morrisville State got the ball to the Rowan 27-yard line before Jenkins intercepted Johnson to end the quarter.
The Profs received to start the third quarter and began the drive at their 36-yard line. The offense stalled at the Mustangs' 32 and Rowan was forced to punt. The ball was downed at the two-yard line. The Profs' defense forced a punt from the Morrisville State 19 and the Rowan offense had the ball at its 21-yard line. The Profs ended the drive with a punt from the Mustangs' 35 and downed the ball at the four-yard line.
Morrisville State kicked the ball away from its 24-yard line and Rowan started at its 39. The five-play, 61-yard drive ended with a 13-yard score by Marcelin. He ran three times on the drive for 48 yards. Knighton's PAT gave the Profs a 24-0 lead with 3:09 remaining in the third. The Mustangs' next drive began at their 12-yard line and they went three-and-out. Rowan took over at its 44 and carried the drive into the final quarter.
The Profs went ahead 31-0 after Rover's 12-yard touchdown run and Knighton's extra point (13:55). The drive lasted eight plays and went 56 yards. Rover registered 40 yards rushing on the drive on seven carries. Morrisville State took over at its 28-yard line. The Rowan defense stopped the Mustangs on fourth down and the Profs got the ball at the Morrisville State 37. After eight plays, Rowan punted and the Mustangs started the drive at their 20-yard line. The Profs' defense forced a three-and-out and Rowan had the ball at the Morrisville State 41. The Mustangs took over on downs at their 23-yard line. The drive ended with Haggie's interception.
Rowan travels to Montclair State University on Saturday, October 25 for a 1 p.m. game.