The Profs remain undefeated at 4-0 overall and they are 3-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs are off to their best start since the 2005 season. The Captains are 1-3 overall and they are 1-2 in the conference.
Running back Withler Marcelin (sr. Ocean Twp., NJ/Ocean Twp) ran the ball 22 times for 75 yards. He also caught one pass for 37 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Dante Pinckney (so. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) passed for 38 yards (5-8) and one TD. Running back Jahsiem Rover (so. Willingboro, NJ/Burlington Twp.) had seven carries for 23 yards and one touchdown. Punter Mark Diedrichsen (jr. Wayside, NJ/Ocean Twp.) kicked the ball nine times for 390 yards. He averaged 43.3 yards per punt.
Defensive lineman Anthony Rizzolo (jr. Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills Reg.) tallied 10 tackles, including one for a loss (4 yards), forced a fumble and blocked a kick. Linebacker Darren Dungee (sr. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) recorded nine tackles. Linebacker Jeff Rodriguez (jr. Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) and defensive lineman Josh Popper (sr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Holy Spirit) each collected eight tackles.
For Christopher Newport, quarterback Tyler Quigley (sr. Burke, VA/Lake Braddock) completed 10 passes in 23 attempts for 103 yards. Running back Daquan Davis (jr. Norfolk, VA/Lake Taylor) rushed the ball 17 times for 47 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Arsaiah Robinson (sr. Richmond, VA/Huguenot) accumulated 34 yards on eight carries. Wide receiver Taylor Loudan (jr. Stephens City, VA/Sherando) tallied four receptions for 70 yards.
Defensive lineman Jayvon Temple (jr. King William, VA/King William) collected 12 tackles. Linebacker Mikey Campbell (jr. Fredericksburg, VA/Colonia Forge) made 10 stops. Defensive lineman Justin Palimore (jr. Richmond, VA/L.C. Bird) recorded eight tackles and linebacker Mic Edwards (sr. Salem, VA/Salem) chipped in with seven.
The Captains scored the only points of the first half. Davis reached the end zone on a one-yard run to cap off a seven-play 56-yard drive with 8:34 to play in the second quarter. On the final play of the half, Rizzolo blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by CNU and the score was 7-0 at the break.
With 13:18 to play in the fourth, Marcelin caught a 37-yard touchdown pass, drawing Rowan to within one point (7-6). The snap on the point after attempt was fumbled then picked-up and returned by Christopher Newport's defensive back Cameron Barlow (sr. Richmond, VA/St. Christopher's School) for a defensive two-point conversion. The Captains led 9-6.
On CNU's ensuing drive, Rodriguez blocked a punt and the Profs got the ball at the Captains 34 yard line. Rover ended the 34-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Kicker Tyler Knighton (so. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) kicked the point after attempt into the ground and then into the line. He picked-up the ball and ran it into the end zone for a two-point conversion, giving Rowan a 14-9 advantage with 6:02 on the clock.
Rowan travels to face Salisbury University on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.