Game Leaders
Team Stats
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Turnovers
Time of Poss.
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University football team held the Widener University offense to just 131 yards, including minus-15 rushing, on the way to a 6-0 shutout win in the 2017 season opener on Saturday night.
The Profs notched 10 tackles for a loss (52 yards) and three sacks (28 yards) in the impressive defensive effort. Defensive end Kevin Stokes (jr. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) led Rowan with six tackles, 5.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Linebacker Chris Noesges (sr. Freehold, NJ/Manalapan) totaled six stops, including 1.5 for a loss. Linebacker Godwin Asamoah (jr. Edison, NJ/Edison) added five tackles. Defensive back Joe DiBari (so. Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) picked up two interceptions.
Running back Anthony Diorio (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) paced the offense with 155 yards on 30 carries. Running back John Mannion (jr. Verona, NJ/James Caldwell) contributed with 87 yards on 13 attempts. Wide receiver Nick Grosso (so. Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) caught three passes.
For the Pride, quarterback Sean McGaughey (so. New Market, MD/Oakdale) was 11-of-19 for 146 yards. Wide receivers Montrell Hicks-Taylor (sr. Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) and James Gillespie (so. Huntingdon Valley, PA/Archbishop Wood) each made four receptions for 69 and 52 yards respectively.
Defensive lineman Casey Kerschner (sr. Adamstown, PA/Cocalico) produced 18 tackles, three for a loss, and two sacks. Defensive back Brian Armstrong (jr. West Chester, PA/Henderson) tallied 12 stops while linebackers Joe Fox (sr. Beverly, NJ/Holy Cross) and Aaron Mastriani (sr. Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) chipped in with 10 and nine respectively. Fox also had 2.5 tackles for a loss.
Kicker Tyler Knighton (sr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) was responsible for all of Rowan's scoring, booting a pair of field goals. His first was a 21-yarder with 1:56 to go in the first quarter. Knighton split the uprights from 32 yards out at the 2:48 mark of the third period. The kick was set up by DiBari's first pick, which put the Profs at the Widener 22.
The Pride took over at their own 32 with 4:04 remaining in the contest. On the first play, McGaughey found Hicks-Taylor for a 45-yard strike to move the ball to the Rowan 23. Widener had first and goal from the Profs' 10-yard line. Defensive lineman David Gajderowicz (so. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and Stokes teamed up to bring down McGaughey for a huge 16-yard sack and push Widener back to the 26. On the next play, DiBari had his second interception of the night and Rowan ran out the clock.
The Profs open conference play on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. versus Southern Virginia University.