Gameday 10/30/2004 - Game #8 Brockport

Cardiac Kids Win Another Nail Biter, Profs Beat Brockport 39-33 in OT By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com Well I was half right. Rowan has a breakout game for almost the whole first half. A blocked punt late in the second quarter was recovered in the end-zone by Brockport. The Golden Eagles went in at halftime only down 20-6, instead of being blanked 20-0. Of the Profs six wins: Rowan began with a lead five times Rowan was losing once at halftime Rowan was tied once late in the 4th quarter Rowan was losing twice in the 4th quarter Rowan has won once in overtime Whew! But unlike the other top 25 teams, the Profs haven't stumbled. In observing their late game actions, Rowan seems to thrive on the late game adrenaline with an eerie calm. Every team plays better against the Profs, so it realistic for Rowan to have their hands full at times. Rowan seems to absolute confidence that they will make the plays win whether it's on offense or defense. Hey whatever works. If the Profs win out they'll have the number one seed playoff seed in the region. I'd still like to a few a more laughers this year. Sakeen Wright caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Mike Orihel in the first overtime to lift Rowan to a 39-33 victory over SUNY Brockport at Special Olympics Stadium Saturday. The Profs improved to 6-2 while the Golden Eagles fell to 4-4 after the non-league contest. Senior Pat Thompson had 36 carries for 186 yards and a touchdown for Rowan, while Orihel was 27 for 41 for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Brockport was led by freshman running back Dan Lopez, who had 146 yards on 23 carries. Starting quarterback Bob Darnley was 4 for 9 for 49 yards but came out in the second quarter due to an injury with just over eight minutes remaining in the second quarter. Backup QB A.J. Covella was 7 for 13 for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Rowan won the toss and elected to make Brockport open the first overtime on offense. The Profs stopped the Golden Eagles on four plays, as an Adam Lanctot 41 yard field goal attempt failed. Brockport's Mike Mahoney caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Covella with 4:29 left in regulation and Lanctot tied the game at 33-33 with the PAT. It capped a three-play, 53-yard drive. Rowan had an identical scoring play as Phil Silva caught a 53-yard touchdown from Orihel with 5:33 left in the fourth quarter and Patrick Davitt made the PAT for a 33-26 lead. Thompson opened the scoring for the Profs with a four-yard run with 1:24 left in the first quarter, wrapping up a seven-play, 55-yard drive that took 2:30 for a 6-0 lead, as the kick failed. Dustin Katcher caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Orihel just 1:26 into the second quarter, but once again the kick failed and it was 12-0. That drive lasted four plays and took 64 yards in 1:26. Orihel ran in from two yards out with 1:19 left in the half and then rushed on a two-pointer for a 20-0 lead. On the final play of the first half at the Rowan 36-yard line, the Golden Eagles blocked an Andrew Smith punt and it was recovered in the endzone by Matt Sowes. The kick failed and Rowan took a 20-6 lead into the half. SUNY Brockport came back with 14 points in the third quarter. At 8:08, Mike Calderon caught a 13-yard touchdown from Covella to complete a six-play, 84-yard drive in 2:55. The kick was good, and then after Jon Brown ran in from one yard to cap a four-play, 16-yard drive in 1:21, kicker Collin Hoffman made the PAT to tie the game at 20-20. Wright had a 12-yard pass from Orihel 46 seconds into the third quarter but the kick failed and it was 26-20 Rowan. That completed a nine-play, 43-yard drive in 2:41. But Wise tied it with 8:44 left in the fourth period. A bad snap on a punt attempt from the Rowan 40 was recovered by Brockport's Chris Notre at the Rowan 6 to set up the drive that was capped two plays later by the Wise score. The PAT failed, fifth failed point after kick attempt of the day for the two teams, and it was 26-26 in the fourth. Defensively, Rowan was led by Randy Tosh, who had 12 tackles, and Mike McClain, who had 11 stops and two for losses. Brockport was led by Chris Beh, who made 12 tackles, and Joe Toombs, who had 11 tackles, including seven solos, two tackles for losses and two pass deflections. Profs take on William Paterson in Glassboro on Nov. 6th at 1 p.m. A win by Rowan will give them the NJAC title and an automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs.

To Stay on Top, Rowan must beat Brockport By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com This is the fourth meeting between Rowan University and SUNY Brockport. The Profs have a 2-1 mark against the Golden Eagles. In the last meeting, Brockport defeated Rowan, 15-12 in the second round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament in Glassboro. In 2001, Rowan had a 40-17 home victory over Brockport in the opening round of the national tournament. At home, the Profs defeated the Golden Eagles, 36-13 in 1991 during the regular season. In Glassboro, Brockport recorded a 15-12 win over Rowan in the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Running back Adam Webster scored the winning touchdown with a one yard run with 53 seconds left in the game. Chet Holcumb completed the two point conversion pass to Jamie Rother. It was Holcumb’s first game, he replaced quarterback Anthony Mayes who left the game in the first quarter because of an injury. Webster finished the game with 132 yards on 47 carries and two touchdowns. It was the eighth time and seventh straight game that he had rushed for 100-plus yards in a game. Rowan had 24 and 20 yard field goals by Nick Frade and Jon Berry scored with a 34 yard reception. At home, Wesley snapped Brockport’s four game win streak with a 24-17 victory. It is the first time since 1999 that Brockport has lost three games in the regular season. The Golden Eagles went up 7-3 in the second quarter when Bob Darnley completed a four yard TD pass to Mike Mahoney. After the third, Wesley led 16-7. In the fourth, Collin Hoffman kicked a 28 yard field goal for Brockport to trail 16-10. Wesley added another TD before Darnley threw a 14 yard toucdown pass to Mike Maciewjewski. Darnley ended the game with 225 yards passing with 25 completions in 46 attempts. Mahoney led the receivers with 10 catches for 97 yards. Linebacker Joe Toombs compiled 18 tackles, including nine solo. Darnley is in his final season at quarterback. He continues to rewrite the school’s record book. Against Ithaca, Darnley broke the mark for career completions. Mahoney is his top receiver with 68.4 yards per game and 13.3 per catch. He is joined in the lineup by Mike Calderon and Mike Bond. Jon Brown is Brockport’s leader in the backfield for the second straight season (62.9 ypg). Toombs has contributed with two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. The sack leader is Nate Raggi with seven (-45). Wes Alberts has also recorded two interceptions. In the latest NCAA stats, Orihel is ranked 11th in the nation in total offense (297.0). He is the conference leader in passing average (298.0), tied for first in pass efficiencey (144.1) and second in total offense (297.). Phil Silva is averaging 4.43 receptions and 50.0 receiving yards per game. Wright is the team’s scoring leader with seven TDs for 42 points. His 6.0 points per game is tied for fourth in the conference. Pat Thompson is still third in the conference rushing with 82.9 yards per game. In the NJAC team stats, Rowan is first in scoring offense (29.0), second in pass offense (281.1) and total offense (392.6) and third in rushing offense (111.4). The Profs are also 15th in the national statistics in passing offense (281.1). End Brian Bond leads the team with eight sacks (-41) and he also has 11 tackles for a loss (-46). In addition, Bond has forced one fumble and recovered one. His sack average (0.93) is second in the conference and tied for 33rd in the NCAA. Kunder and linebacker Randy Tosh follow with six (-25) and four (-32) sacks respectively. Linebacker Mike McClain has recorded three fumble recoveries. Statisically the two teams are virtual mirror images of each other. Rowan averages 29.8 points per game while Brockport averages 29.9. The Golden Eagles give up 24.1 points per game while the Profs gives up 28.3. Rowan averages 403.8 yards offense per game while Brockport averages 369.3. Defensively the Golden Eagles give up 369 yards per game while the Profs give up 387.5. The Golden Eagle offensive line outweighs the Prof defensive line by 35 lbs. per man. Rowan should be up to the task after face the big lines of CNU, DII So. Connecticut and Virginia St. Rowan is averaging over 4 sacks per game. I expect them to be able to put pressure on Darnley. If Rowan can avoid giving Brockport short field scoring opportunities, I think they'll pull away from the Golden Eagles in the 3rd quarter. The Profs are ranked No. 1 in the last NCAA regional poll. This is a must win in order for Rowan to keep the No. 1 seed at a first week bye in the playoffs. Rowan hasn't had a breakout game since West Conn. Can the Profs breakout against the Golden Eagles?

 

 

Rowan 6 - 2	39
at
Brockport 4 - 4	33
	OT
Oct 30, 2004 Special Olympics Sta Brockport, NY 1:00 PM
Listen to the Game on Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM Pregame Show 12:00 PM

NJAC Week #9

NJAC Week #8