Gameday 11/13/04 - Game #10 Montclair

Payback Accomplished, Red Hawks Downed by Profs 42-14 Photos by Tom Wilson. 20 photo slide show 40 seconds By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com Quarterback Mike Orihel threw four touchdown passes and ran for two in Rowan University's 42-14 victory over host Montclair State University on Saturday afternoon at Sprague Field. Orihel completed touchdown passes of 48, 26, 28 and three yards. His TD runs were both one-yard carries. This season he has a total of 32 touchdown passes. Sakeen Wright led the receivers with three catches for 43 yards and one TD. Dustin Katcher contributed with 34 yards on two receptions and one touchdown. "It feels good. They [Montclair] knocked us off last year. It's a good feeling going to the playoffs," said Orihel. Pat Thompson and Joe D'Imperio each had one TD reception. Thompson was the rushing leader with 107 yards on 27 attempts. In 10 games, he has compiled 1,081 yards with 207 carries. Pat Davitt kicked six extra points in six attempts. "The o-line is really blocking good for the running game and its opened up the pass," said Thompson. Orihel and Thompson finish the regular No. 1 rated passer and rusher in the NJAC respectively. "It's a big credit to the whole offense, it feels pretty damn good," said guard Justin George. "Hell of a job by Coach [Offensive line coach Brian] Wright and the whole team. They [Orihel and Thompson] make us look good," added center Mike Coghan. This was the Profs' last game of the regular season. Rowan has an overall record of 8-2. The Profs ended their conference schedule with a 6-0 mark and they clinched their 14th conference title last week with a 61-6 victory over William Paterson. As the NJAC champion, Rowan receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Rowan has received the No. 1 seed in the bracket and will host this Saturday's winner of the first round matchup between Curry/Hobart on Saturday, Nov. 27. "We wanted to come and play well against Montclair because of last year's loss. This time of the year you need to play well in all phases of the game. I think we are doing that right now," said head coach Jay Accorsi. For the Red Hawks, quarterback Mike Passero totaled 277 yards passing with 19 completions (39 attempts) and two touchdowns. Eric Ferriol recorded a game high 135 yards receiving with 11 receptions. Wide receiver Steve Armstrong followed with three catches for 101 yards and one touchdown. Eugene Vick was MSU's leader on the ground with 104 yards on 19 carries. Montclair ends the regular season with a 4-4 overall record and a 3-3 conference mark. It was the 44th meeting between Rowan and MSU. The Red Hawks lead the series, 24-20. Linebackers Mike McClain and Mike Seidenberg led the Profs' defense with seven and five tackles respectively. McClain also recorded a sack and forced a fumble and Seidenberg recovered a fumble. The Red Hawks were led by outside linebacker Sal Fama with 13 tackles followed by inside linebacker Morgan Burklow with 12. Nose tackle Darnell Webster contributed with 10 tackles. Rowan scored on its first drive of the game, it lasted six plays and covered 79 yards. Orihel connected with Tyree Jackson for a 20-yard pass to put the Profs on the MSU one-yard line. Orihel scored the touchdown with a one yard run at 12:49. The Red Hawks tied the score on their first drive with a four yard pass from Passero to fullback Chris Becker (5:46.). The Profs went up 14-7 on their second drive with another one-yard TD run by Orihel with 5:57 left in the quarter. In the drive, Thompson had six carries for 36 yards, including one for 20 yards to give Rowan a first down on the Montclair one-yard line. The Profs scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second quarter to lead at the half, 35-7. Orihel completed touchdown passes to Thompson, 48 yards (14:39); Wright, 26 yards (9:31); and Katcher, 28 yards (1:24). Thompson's touchdown drive was six plays and spanned 88 yards. Seidenberg recovered a fumble which started the drive for Wright's TD. Wright started the drive with a 43-yard reception and he also had one for 10 yards. Katcher's touchdown drive only took three plays, 31 yards. Montclair's second touchdown came in the third quarter and the Red Hawks trailed, 35-14. Armstrong scored on the second play of the drive with a 76-yard pass from Passero. The Profs ended the scoring with a three yard pass from Orihel to D'Imperio in the fourth quarter. D'Imperio had a 23-yard punt return to put the Profs on the MSU 10 yard line. Wright had a seven-yard reception on the second play and D'Imperio scored on the third. "We have already reached two goals [NJAC Championship and playoff bye], if we stay together anything is possible," said Sakeen Wright. "There's a lot of great teams in the playoffs, we need to stay focused and not get too far ahead of ourselves. We can go far if we keep playing up to our capabilities," said Orihel.

Revenge and No. 1 Playoff Seed the Prize By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com This is the 44th meeting between Rowan University and Montclair State University. Last year on the road, the Red Hawks edged the Profs, 21-20 to win the conference championship. In 2002, Rowan won at Montclair State, 48-12. The Red Hawks lead the series, 24-19. At home, MSU had a 10-3 loss to The College of New Jersey (Oct. 30). The Red Hawks got on the scoreboard first in the first quarter with a 33-yard field goal by Bill Christopher. For the Red Hawks, quarterback Mike Passero totaled 89 yards with seven completions (22 attempts). Eric Ferriol led the receivers with five catches for 59 yards. Eugene Vick rushed for 71 yards on 16 attempts. Vick is averaging 90.7 yards per game and is third in the conference. Ferriol is averaging 4.71 receptions per game and is fourth in the NJAC while Steve Armstrong is third with 88.3 yards receiving per game. Passaro has completed 77 passes in 160 attempts for 1,094 yards and 12 touchdowns. MSU is the conference leader in scoring defense (14.6), pass defense (162.0), total defense (262.4) and turnover margin (1.0). In the NCAA stats, the Red Hawks are 13th in pass efficiency defense (84.2), 25th in scoring defense, 29th in total defense, tied for 29th in turnover margin and 31st in rushing defense (100.4). Nose tackle Darnell Webster is the team's sack leader with six (-53). He is has three forced fumbles and is tied for 15th in the nation (0.43). Linebacker Morgan Burklow is third in the conference in tackles (8.1). This is Vin Doffont's second season as the kicker. He has 34 points with seven field goals (11 attempts) and 13 extra points (14 attempts). His 6.8 points per game is first in the NJAC in kick scoring. He is also first in the conference with 1.40 field goals per game, a 63.6 field goal percentage and a PAT kicking percentage of 92.9. His longest field goal of the year is 47 yards. This week, Orihel is ranked seventh in the nation in total offense (300.1) and 12th in pass efficiency (156.1). In the team stats, Rowan is 10th in passing offense (294.3), 24th in total offense (434.0) and tied for 33rd in scoring offense (33.7). Orihel continues as the conference leader in passing average (301.5), total offense (300.1) and pass efficiency (156.1). Thompson is averaging 108.2 yards rushing per game and is second in the NJAC. He is also third in all-purpose yardage (124.9). In scoring, Wright is third with 7.3 points per game. Bond has a total of 6.5 sacks and is second. Linebacker Mike McClain is tied for first with three fumble recoveries. Rowan is first in the conference in scoring offense (33.7), total offense (434.0), pass efficiency (152.4) and tied for first in first downs (197). The Profs are also second in pass offense (294.3) and rushing offense (139.7). The defense is second in sacks with 31 (-224). Historically, when the Profs are ready for a playoff run they pound Montclair (1999 42-13 NCAA semi-final, 2001 53-21, and 2002 48-12). To a man last year's 21-20 loss to the Red Hawks is a game that Profs feel got away. They are anxious to settle the score in 2004. Picked as the pre-season NJAC favorite and playoff favorites by other pundits, Montclair lost the NJAC offensive player of the year in quarterback John DiGirolamo to academic eligibility. Other key members were lost to injury or kicked off the team. However, the Red Hawks still have a good core of players from last year, so three NJAC losses are a bit of surprise. A win over the Profs would certainly soothe some wounds. Last week, the fun and gun was in sync as the Rowan scored early and often. If the Profs can move the ball on offense and get the field position advantage, it should be good day for the Brown & Gold. No. 1 seed in East , a bye, and home field throughout the bracket on the line. See you in Montclair.

Rowan 8 - 2	42
at
Montclair 4 - 4	14
Nov 13, 2004 Sprague Field Montclair, NJ 1:00 PM
Listen to the Game on Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM Pregame Show 12:00 PM

NJAC Week #11

NJAC Week #10

2004 NJAC Standings