Gameday Week 10/21/2006 - Game #6 Kean

Profs Shutdown Cougars 16-12 42 Photo Slideshow - 2 minutes and 8 seconds. Photos by Tom Wilson. By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com The Rowan offense managed 243 yards of total offense against Kean yesterday. The Profs had only 88 yards of passing and 155 yards on the ground. However, the team averaged four yards per play. At the same time the Rowan special teams limited the Cougars to 78 yards of returns allowing only one return over 20 yards. "We made a conscious effort to throw the ball down the field vertically a couple time each game to stretch the defense. I think because we moved Emory Lester and Will Barnes outside and moved Dustin Katcher and Migliori inside. They are in the right spots," said Jay Accorsi. "You can't say [Lester and Barnes] are Phil and Sakeen, but they have the physical tools and they have the ability to be those types of players down the road. We just gotta get them to grow up as quick as they can," Accorsi explained. Davon Edwards led the offense with 74 yards on 16 carries. Dustin Katcher led the receivers with 6 catches, many with defenders draped all over him, for 42 yards. Mike Orihel was 13 of 22 for 88 yards and two interceptions. Orihel also rushed for 37 yards on six carries including a 31-yard carry after being flushed from the pocket down to the Kean five-yard line. It led to a touchdown and a 10-6 lead late in the third quarter. "It was actually a bootleg to the left, and I saw the whole [Kean] team roll to the left. I felt pressure so I just kind of pulled up and out of the corner of my eye I saw no one on the right side line so I took off," said Orihel. "We've been working hard all year me and Sunshine [Orihel] trying to get our timing down. Last week we really clicked and this week just a reinforced all the work. I felt in the zone today. If the ball was in the air, it was mine, regardless of where the defenders were, " said Katcher. "The homecoming crowd is always a great motivator. We adjusted well in the second half," said offensive guard Dan Lee. The Cougars came into the game as the number one ranked offense in the NJAC. The Prof defense limited Kean to 192 yards in the air and zero net yards rushing, while holding the Cougars to their lowest total points of the season. Linebacker Chris Pinto had a game-high 10 tackles and one sack (-9 yards). Defensive back Kelvin Bellamy and Zach Garren had six stops each. Defensive ends Keith Heimerl and Randy Tosh had one sack apiece. "That's our M.O. We need to make sure that teams cannot run the football, and that was the deciding factor today. I though we did a good job [on pass defense too], except for couple of slips and a couple of coverage things here and there. When you bring pressure, that going to happen," said Accorsi. "We went out and dominated on defense. Coach [defensive coordinator Mark Hendricks] told us to limit the big plays and we'd win the game. Except for the one play where our cornerback fell down, that is what we did," explained cornerback Dawaine Whetstone. Rowan opened the scoring as time expired in the first quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Daniel Roberts. Kean tied the score with a 27-yards field goal by Jon Robinson, tying the score at 3-3 going into halftime. Robinson added a 25-yard field goal with 6:34 remaining in the third quarter. The Profs came back with a touchdown at 3:42 on a six play 54 yard drive on a four yard run by John Impagliazzo. The drive was set up by a 21-yard kickoff return by Josh Winter. Zach Garren recovered a fumble by Kean running back/wide receiver Durrell Dukes at the Cougar 19-yard line. Two plays later, Davon Edwards ran it in from the 10-yard line. Roberts missed the extra point leaving the score 16-6. Kean quarterback AJ Roque threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to James Felton after cornerback Tim Harrison slipped and fell on a wet patch of turf, making the score 16-12 Rowan. The homecoming crowd helped with crowd noise towards the end of the game, helping the defense close out the game. The support around here [Rowan fans and students] has been great. Its gotten better every year. It definitely affects my play, said Jabrill Joseph. The Profs travel to Monclair next Saturday to take on the Red Hawks at 1 PM.

Big Play Kean On Tap For Homecoming By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com Kean comes into the Boro as a big play offense. The Cougars are more dangerous that most people thought they would be in 2006. Nine of their 23 touchdowns are from scoring plays of 30 yards or more. Five of their receivers are averaging over 10 yards per grab, three of the five are averaging over 15 yards per reception. Kean is second in the NJAC in scoring offense with 26.6 points per game. The Cougars are also first in the league in passing offense, total offense, and rushing with 229.7, 387.7, and 158.0 yards per game respectively. They are also first in 4th down conversions (9 of 12) 75%. Kean is also second in the NJAC in rushing defense allowing 94.3 yards per game. With only one loss in the NJAC, Kean is still in play for the NJAC AQ and the pool C playoff bids. Coming off a big win against Montclair, the Cougars are coming into Glassboro with something to play for. However, the Profs have a few things they can exploit. The Cougars are last in the league in pass defense giving up 223.5 yards per game and 14 yards per catch. They are sixth in total defense allowing 317.8 yards per game. Kean is last in the NJAC in turnover margin (-7), last in punt returns (1.0 yards per return), penalties (73.8 yards per game). So Kean makes big plays and then gives up big plays. Quarterback AJ Roque is first in the NJAC in total offense with 243.7 yards per game. He’s also thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions (11), including four interceptions against Montclair last week. The Profs need to be patient and force the Cougars into situations where Kean will make mistakes, and then capitalize on those mistakes. Wide receiver Durell Dukes is the big playmaker with five touchdowns on 28 receptions averaging 14.8 yards per catch. Brian Williams has three touchdowns and 26 receptions averaging 10.9 yards per catch. Rowan needs to continue improving upon the passing game. The Cougars are a perfect opportunity to move the ball through the air. The defense should continue forcing Kean into long situations. As long as the Profs don’t allow the big play and quick scores, Rowan should put win number five in the bank. Kean has very good team speed, so Prof special teams must play better. See you on Saturday.