Gameday 9/11/2004 - Game #2 So. Conn

Rowan Humbled by So. Conn 51-27 So. Conn (DII) 2004 Game 2 Play WGLS-FM audio highlight By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com It must be a strange sensation down in Glassboro this week. The Profs have to prepare for a tough Western Connecticut team on the road, and Rowan must recover from their worst loss since 1999. In 1999 the Profs lost 42-13 to Pacific Lutheran in the Stagg Bowl. It was the first time since 1996 that the Profs have given up more than 50 points. Rowan lost to Mount Union, 56-24 in the Stagg Bowl. Quarterback Mike Abate passed for 352 yards and five touchdowns to lead Southern Connecticut over Rowan University, 51-27 at Marvin Slomsky Field (Glassboro High School). Rowan's home field upgrade to Tackle Turf was not ready for the Sept 11th, consequently it was played across the street at the high school. "They came out mixing the secondary a lot, shifting a lot, rolling the safeties, and did a good job trying to disguise it, but we went to a quick check game and they had to come out of it and show quicker," said Abate in the Gloucester County Times. "The big run play set the tone for the second half, and as the game went on I think they got tired. They're a good team for Division III. I give them credit. This was a lot closer than the final score." Rowan started off well with a 54-yard strike from quarterback Mike Oriel to wide receiver Phil Silva. So. Connecticut answered right back with a 47-yard pass from quarterback Mike Abate to wide receiver Brandon Toles. Prof safety Eric Bailey a freshman, had position on Toles, but Bailey bobbled the ball, which wound up in the receiver's hands as the Rowan defender slipped to the ground. "Eric tried to keep it alive there, but maybe the play was just to knock it down," said Accorsi of the third-down pass in the Gloucester County Times. "If they don't score there, who knows? Maybe it's a different game. But that's a young player's mistake." The Profs came back as Orihel hit Dustin Katcher from nine yards out. After the first quarter, Rowan led 14-7. Rowan added a touchdown in the second to lead 21-7. Wide receiver Joe D'Imperio had a 36-yard touchdown reception. Abate completed a 19 yard TD pass to split end Jim Lukowiak. The drive took three plays, all three were receptions by Lukowiak for a total of 64 yards. Kevin Bernasconi kicked a 35-yard field goal. Bernasconi also had six PATs in seven attempts. The Profs led 21-17 at halftime. With an offensive line averaging 325 lbs., So. Connecticut began wearing down the smaller Prof defense. The Owls' continued their 31 unanswered points with three straight touchdowns in the third quarter. Abate threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to flanker Jamel Lewis on the first drive and scored with a one yard run on the second. Wide receiver Artie Gallant scored with a 32-yard reception to lead 38-21. The drive started after linebacker Dexter Alexander had an interception return of six yards. "The defense really struggled, it just couldn't get anything going and gave up big plays," said Prof coach Jay Accorsi in the Gloucester County Times. "Obviously it's a concern. We tried to blitz a little to stop the run and we exposed the safeties. We were betwixt and between on what to do. The more you look at it, we just have to be scrappy enough to take stops whenever we can. Prof running back Pat Thompson closed the gap to 38-27 with a 26-yard touchdown run. In the final period, SCSU added two more touchdowns. Cornerback Rachiem Monroe returned an interception 14 yards to start the drive and Abate tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Lukowiak. The Owls recovered a fumble that led to the final TD. Fullback Dan Wyckoff finished the scoring with a one-yard plunge. The Owls also rushed for 249 yards for 601 yards of total offense. For the Profs, Mike Orihel threw for 270 yards with 24 completions in 42 attempts and three touchdowns. Pat Thompson rushed for 123 yards on 22 attempts and one touchdown. Wide receiver Dustin Katcher logged 52 yards with six catches and one touchdown. Wide receiver Phil Silva contributed with 77 yards on five receptions and one touchdown. Linebacker Mike McClain was the Profs' leader on defense with 14 tackles and one fumble recovery. Defensive end Brian Bond followed with 10 tackles and a sack. Strong safety David Smith contributed with five tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception. Cornerback Yasin York also had an interception. "We're not happy, but we just have to keep it together and we'll be all right. They're Division II, and we still can do what we want with (making) the playoffs. "We've got some young guys playing right now. They're getting their feet wet, and they'll get better," said McClain in the Gloucester County Times.

Rowan Tackles DII So. Conn in the Boro So. Conn (DII) 2003 Highlights Play WGLS-FM audio highlight By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com Just a day or two to enjoy the down to the wire victory over Christopher Newport, and the Profs must get ready for DII Southern Connecticut. With an offensive line averaging 325 lbs across, the Rowan gives up about 70 lbs per man on the defensive line. Rowan handled some pretty big boys on the CNU offensive line, so the same rotation should keep the defensive line fresh. This is the 16th meeting between Rowan University and Southern Connecticut State University. The Owls lead the series, 11-4 which started in 1965. SCSU has won four straight games against Rowan. Last year, Southern Connecticut defeated Rowan, 23-10 in New Haven. Rowan’s last win was in 1993, 41-20 in Glassboro. Owl quarterback Mike Abate passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns (seven and eight yards) to Jim Lukowiak. Lukowiak had 61 yards with four catches. Kofi Wilson rushed for 82 yards on 19 carries and scored one TD. Kevin Bernasconi kicked a 27 yard field goal. For Rowan, Pat Thompson had 20 attempts for 84 yards. Brandon Medine scored with a 12 yard run and Damian Shaddow kicked a 20 yard field goal. Mike Seidenberg and Jabrill Joseph shared the quarterback duties for the injuried Mike Orihel. So. Conn lost its season opener at No. 20 ranked Bentley College, 36-24. Quarterback Mike Abate passed for260 yards with 12 completions in 37 attempts. Brandon Toles was the leading receiver with 158 yards on four catches. The rushing leader was Kofi Wilson with 11 carries for 84 yards. Kevin Bernasconi kicked a 21 yard field goal and the Owls had a safety. Jim Lukowiak scored with a 73 yard punt return. Abate completed an 80 yard touchdown pass to Toles and Wilson had a 29 yard TD run. Last year, Abate totaled 2,236 yards and 24 touchdowns with 148 completions in 300 attempts. Lukowiak is the leading receiver returning. He compiled 574 yards with 32 catches. His 13 TD receptions tied the single season record. The ground game is shared by Shawn Harris and Wilson. Last season, Harris carried the ball 113 times for 721 yards and seven touchdowns. Wilson rushed for 623 yards (104 attempts) and six TDs. The Owls have back their leading tackler Dexter Alexander at inside linebacker. Alexander totaled 83 tackles last season. He also had three sacks and two fumble recoveries. The secondary is led by free safety Sir Snowden. A two time Northeast-10 first team member, Snowden was second in tackles with 73 followed by cornerback Calvin Anderson with 67. They each recorded three interceptions. This is opportunity to put a big early season notch in the Prof's belts. Rowan needs to keep So. Conn from starting offensive drives in Prof territory. Last week, CNU's five scoring drives average starting point was the Rowan 44-yard line. Punt and kickoff coverage must improve from last week. And if the Profs can get the running game going in tandem with the passing attack, things should be looking up in the Boro.

 

 

DII So. Conn 1 - 1	51
at
Rowan 1 - 1	27
Sept 11, 2004 Glassboro HS Glassboro, NJ 1:00 PM
Listen to the Game on Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM Pregame Show 12PM

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