UTICA, NY -- Rowan defeated Utica, 26-20, to capture the 2025 ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl, on Saturday behind a late defensive stop from the Profs.
Nunes Bukula IV (118 yards) and Tyshawn Bookman (77 yards) combined for 196 of the team's 230 rushing yards with each finding the end zone. Bukula IV, who also grabbed four passes for 17 yards, was named the game's MVP. Quarterback Matt Welsey threw for 129 yards on 7-of-12 passing including a 75-yard touchdown to Shane Martin early in the third quarter to give the Profs a 26-7 lead.
Rowan's defense secured the win, forcing a turnover on downs on the Pioneers' final drive on a 4th and 25 from the Prof 33 yard-line with seconds to play.
AJ Ryker sparked the defense with eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for losses, both team highs, as well as an interception. CJ Carter and Jackson Ferrante each totaled six stops and a total of three pass breakups.
Rowan took the opening kickoff and had a 10-play drive that ended in a 40-yard field goal by Greg Casimir for a 3-0 lead. Utica scored on its first drive of the game, going 71 yards and ending in a 16-yard pass from Tyler Szalkowski to Logan Frederick, to go up, 7-3.
Casimir accounted for the Profs' points again at the start of the second quarter when his attempt from 44 yards was good.
Bookman added a nice 32-yard run to get it deep in Utica territory where later Bukula IV scored Rowan's first touchdown just three plays later on a one-yard run giving the Profs a 12-7 lead at 8:38 of the second quarter.
Rowan, who limited the Pioneers to just 30 yards in the second, forced Utica to punt on its next drive and the Profs took advantage, despite starting at their own one. This time it was Bukula IV adding a long run, rumbling for a 64-yard burst to get Rowan to the Pioneers' 30. The Profs chipped away on the ground with Bookman scoring from three yards out with just nine ticks left to give the Profs a 19-7 halftime lead.
The defense opened the second half with another turnover on downs as a stop on a 4th and 8 from its own 25 gave the ball back to the offense. On the very next play Welsey hooked up with Martin who took it to the house on a 75-yard scoring play to give the visitors a 19-point lead.
Tyler Szalkowski found with Logan Frederick on the ensuing drive to cut it to 26-13. Utica was successful on the onside kick to get the ball back. Ryker's pick, his second on the year, three plays into the drive helped swing the momentum back to the Profs.
Midway in the fourth, Szalkowski threw his third TD with 7:59 to play to make it a six-point contest. The Profs then used a five-minute drive to get to the Utica 16, but a 33-yard field goal try from Casimir to make it a two-score game was blocked. The Pioneers drove the ball from its own 20 down to the Rowan 18 before a pivotal face mask penalty marched the home team back 15 yards. Now at the Prof 33, Rowan held Utica on two plays to pick up its first postseason win since 2014.
Szalkowski threw for 357 yards on 36-of-26 passing. Frederick totaled 108 yards on 10 catches and two scores.
Rowan ends the year at 8-2-1, for its most wins since the 2019 season and earns its first ECAC postseason victory.
Rowan Fends Off Utica, 26-20, to Capture ECAC Asa S. Bushnell Bowl; Bukula IV Named MVP
/seasons/2025/boxscores/20251122_0a83.xml
2025
Rowan
26
Utica
20
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan (8-2) | 3 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 26 |
| Utica (8-3) | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 20 |
Nov 22, 2025