GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University football team had a 41-14 win at William Paterson University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday afternoon.
The Profs improve to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference. The Pioneers drop to 0-3 with a 0-2 NJAC mark.
Running back Anthony Diorio (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) ran for over 100 yards for the third straight game, finishing with 12 carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Naldy Tavarez (so. North Bergen, NJ/Union City) went 10-of-17 for 94 yards and a score. Wide receiver J.J. Kulcsar (so. Haworth, NJ/Bergen Catholic) caught seven passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Kicker Tyler Knighton (sr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) kicked two field goals, upping his school record total to 33 for his career.
Defensive backs Nate Lanier (so. Sicklerville, NJ/Woodbridge) and Joe DiBari (so. Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) posted six tackles apiece. Linebackers Dom Gadaleta (so. Wood-Ridge, NJ/Don Bosco Prep), Chris Noesges (sr. Freehold, NJ/Manalapan) and Godwin Asamoah (jr. Edison, NJ/Edison) and defensive lineman Devion Stokes (fr. Bordentown, NJ/Hamilton North-Nottingham) each recorded five stops. Noesges also had an interception and a fumble recovery.
William Paterson running back Cahsim Henry (jr. Lindenwold, NJ/Lindenwold) produced 60 yards on 10 carries. Running back Kelvin White Jr. (sr. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) added 44 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. Running back Kyle Fanning (jr. Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey) ran the ball nine times for 30 yards and a score. Quarterback Mike Yarosz (so. Montague, NJ/High Point Reg.) completed four passes for 42 yards.
Linebackers Corey Anthony (so. Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) and Charles Faulkner (jr. Carteret, NJ/Carteret) tallied 10 and nine tackles respectively. Linebacker De'Shaun Morris (so. North Plainfield, NJ/Bergen Catholic) registered five stops, including two sacks. Defensive linemen Dan Tomzick (jr. Stockholm, NJ/Wallkill Valley Reg.) and Brandon Yaw (so. Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) picked up one sack apiece.
It took Rowan just two offensive plays to get on the scoreboard. The Profs started at the William Paterson 37. Diorio went 35 yards on the first snap and followed with a two-yard touchdown to give Rowan a 7-0 lead (12:49). The Pioneers lined up to punt later in the quarter and wide receiver DaVon Harper (so. West Orange, NJ/West Orange) blocked the kick to set up the Profs' offense at the WP 16. Knighton ended the drive with a 26-yard field goal for a 10-0 advantage with 2:52 left in the opening stanza. The Pioneers went three-and-out on their next possession. Wide receiver Jamel Smith (sr. Trenton, NJ/New Egypt) fielded the punt and sprinted 47 yards for a score. The extra point put Rowan ahead 17-0 (1:10).
The Profs began their final drive of the first half at the William Paterson 40. After a one-yard run, Tavarez hit Kulcsar for a 39-yard scoring strike and a 24-0 cushion with 1:21 on the clock. Rowan received the second half kickoff and Diorio ran 69 yards to the end zone on the first play from scrimmage. The long touchdown run made the score 31-0 (14:40). Another Pioneers turnover gave the Profs the ball at the William Paterson 25-yard line. Knighton booted a 34-yard field goal and the score was 34-0 (9:58).
The Pioneers broke through on their ensuing drive when White Jr. rushed 26 yards for a touchdown. William Paterson trailed 34-7 with 8:37 to go in the third quarter. Late in the stanza, the Pioneers had the ball at the Rowan 46. Defensive back Kameron Kennedy (so. Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra) scooped up a fumble and rumbled 52 yards for a score (41-7) with 41 ticks remaining. Fanning ended the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run at the 2:47 mark of the final quarter.
Rowan returns home to face Frostburg State University on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m.