Gameday Week 09/13/03 - Game #2 Wesley

Gameday Photos [click here] Wesley Worn-out by Rowan 30 - 0 LB #55 Mike McClain sacks Wesley QB Chris Warrick. Photo by Tom Wilson Wesley Game 2 Play WGLS-FM audio highlights By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com My 180 mile trek to Dover, DE began on the NJ turnpike in the rain. How come as soon as a drop of rain hits the pavement, out come the multitude of pace cars doing 50 in a 65? And they are all bunched together in the fast and middle lanes. These are the people that cause the bad weather accidents!!! I'd still be on the road if I stayed behind these people. Doing 70-75 in the slow lane (go figure), I make it to Dover by 11:40 AM. Grab a quick bite of some tailgate food, then down to the sidelines to check out warm-ups. Expecting more rain, the weather remains mostly sunny and humid for the entire game. Which is good because I probably would have had trouble keeping my lens dry. The Profs offense started clicking, racking up 56 offensive plays in the first half, and 95 for the game. The Profs owned the time of possession 36:24 vs. 23:36, having the ball almost one full quarter more than the Wolverines. The Wesley defense was visibly tired by the end of the first half. Rowan led at halftime 15-0. Freshman QB Mike Orihel was 32 of 48 for 244 yards and one TD (an 11 yarder to Endre Racz). He also rushed for three TD's, finishing with 23 yards on 16 carries. Mike Pernel was the leading receiver with 8 catches for 49 yards. Wide receiver Tyree Jackson contributed with six receptions for 39 yards while wide receiver Phil Silva added 45 yards with five catches. The Rowan offense totaled 346 yards, 244 passing and 102 rushing. The Wolverines picked their poison by sitting on the run. Wesley was hoping to fluster the rookie QB by forcing him to pass most of the game. "That's what a team has to decide when the play us," said head coach Jay Accorsi. "Are they going to take away the run or the pass? They [Wesley] did a good job taking away the run, so then we needed to throw the ball. I thought we were very successful in our short passing game, a lot better than we were last year." The Prof defense led by linebackers Mike McClain and Todd Trout, shutdown the Wolverines. McClain had nine tackles and a sack. Trout had six tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery which led to a touchdown. Wesley was held at bay most of the day by the quick and aggressive Prof defense. The Wolverines rarely ventured into Rowan territory much past the 40-yard line. One last drive was thwarted as the defense stopped Wesley at the Prof 7-yard line in the final seconds on 4th down. This preserved Prof defense's second shutout in the first two games of the season. Next up: Western Connecticut comes to Glassboro on the 20th at 1 PM.

Profs Seek to Tame Wolverines in Delaware By Tom Wilson JT@rowanfootball.com This is the first road trip for the football team in 2003, about 70 miles from Glassboro in Dover, Delaware. After the heartbreaking loss last year 22-20 in Glassboro, Wesley finished 5-5 and 1-2 in their conference. Plus they have to share the local headlines with the University of Delaware, and former Rowan head coach KC Keeler. Wonder how many Rowan references they read during the season? I would bet that the Wolverines are itching to beat the Profs for the first time in 6 tries. History points to odd year double digit wins for Rowan after closer contests in the even years like 2002. Does history repeat itself in 2003? Wesley has not had a losing season since 1989. The Wolverines have posted a 93-39-1 record since 1990 and look to return to postseason form after going 5-5 in 2002. Wesley returns 14 starters and a defense that was ranked 24th in Division III in total defense. Wesley lost at Ferrum, 24-6 (Sept. 6) in the season opener, Ferrum scored in the first quarter with a 35 yard run. The Wolverines followed with a 24 yard TD pass from Chris Warrick to James Lowe which tied the score at six. Ferrum came back with 18 straight points. Warrick ended the game with 117 yards passing with 12 completions on 39 attempts. Lowe led the receivers with eight catches for 72 yards. The rushing leader was Ken Busch with 81 yards on 15 carries. Free safety Rocky Myers recorded 17 tackles while linebacker Fred Couch and Chris Horsey had 14 apiece. Mike Drass is in his 11th season as head football coach at Wesley College. Drass has led the Wolverines to a 71-31-1 (.696 winning pct) record and postseason appearances in six of his 10 seasons. He was named Wesley 's third Division III coach in 1993 after spending four seasons asthe school's defensive coordinator. The Wesley defense returns All-American candidate James Kostack. The senior defensive back is the leader of the Wesley defense. Kostack was first team All-ACFC the past two seasons and was first team All-ECAC pick last year. Kostack had five interceptions and 13 pass breakups setting an Atlantic Central Football Conference record, which placed him 20th in the country in passes defended. After just three seasons Kostack is the all-time leader in the ACFC in passes defended with 41. Kostack, is also a four-year starter and was the PAC player of the year in lacrosse last season. This is the first season for Chris Warrick, a freshman from Downingtown, PA, at quarterback.The line returns Atlantic Central All-Conference first team member Matt Burgess at tackle and second team selection Brent Spurry at center. Josh Kline is the returning starter at tight end. Last year he totaled 29 catches for 462 yards and was chosen to the All-Conference second team. Wesley returns sophomore Warren Sharper (5-9, 245) who will see time at both fullback and tailback. Sharper was the Wolverines’ Rookie of the Year in 2001, before he was lost for the season in 2002 after the second game of the year. Nafis Muhammad (5-10, 215) started in Sharper’s place as a freshman and in turn won the same “Rookie of the Year” honor for 2002. Juniors Kenny Busch (6-3, 190) and Tykee Perry (5-6, 155) will spilt time at tailback. James Lowe Sr. (6-3, 193) and 85 C.J. Bacote Fr.(6 -2 181) are slated to start this weekend.compete for open receiver spots. Jones caught four passes last season and Gore started four games on defense in the talent-rich Wesley secondary. Jesse Makowski Fr. (6-2, 220) and C.J. Bacote Fr. (6-2 181) should also see action. On defense Wesley looks solid in the secondary with Kostack leading the way. Junior free safety Rocky Myers (6-1, 191) and senior cornerback Travis Woodland (5-8, 178) give the Wolverines great experience. Myers, a 4.0 Biology major, has nine career interceptions in two seasons and has earned 2nd Team All-ACFC in each of his first two seasons. Sophomore Brian Bush (5-10, 180) gives great depth to the corner spot and should see plenty of action in 2003. Sophomores Justin Viglone (5-9, 190) and Jared O’Shea (6-0, 190) and junior Aaron Anderson (5-11, 175) all will compete for playing time. The defensive line is anchored by sophomore Tony Powell (6-2, 304) and junior Joe Macaluso (6-3, 230) who combined for 11 sacks last year. Jack Roach (5-9, 245), Anthony Johnson (6-5, 250) and Aris Bryd (5-11, 245) will compete and provide depth upfront. Senior Andrew Verlander (5-11, 265), a starter on the defensive line in 2001, returns after a season ending injury at Rowan last year. Junior Chris Horsey (5-1, 242) has speed and athleticism make him a force in the middle at linebacker. Horsey, finished up ranked 28th in the country in tackles per game with a 10.8 average. His 97 tackles led the conference in total tackles, despite only playing in nine games, as he earned first team All-ACFC honors. He will team with the Wolverines most explosive player senior Freddie Couch (5-11, 218). As a junior Couch had 83 tackles eight tackles for a loss and eight sacks and was named 2nd Team All-ACFC. Sophomores Bryan Sorenson (5-11, 210) and Anthony Beard (5-11, 230) and senior Jason Potter (5-10, 200) will join the line backing crew. Sorenson was named ACFC Rookie of the Week twice in 2002 as he posted 50 tackles. Sophomore transfer Chris Carlton (5-8, 160) will assume the placekicking duties. Last season at Clarion, Carlton was 7-for-10 on field goals and 33-for-35 on PATs. Redshirt freshman Adam Chandlee (5-10, 180) and Jake Rueter (5-8, 160) will battle for the punting duties. Thankfully, Wolverine RB Fred Edwards graduated. He ran wild on Rowan last year 245 yards on 37 carries with 2 TD's. QB Chuck Long has also graduated. I don't think Wesley can measure up to Rowan this year, however if the Profs give Wesley a chance to hang around, it might be tougher game. The Wolverines have a fairly solid defense with an experienced secondary. It will be a good test to see if the Prof offense starts kicking into gear. The Rowan defense should be able to keep the rookie QB in check. Its double digits for me, Profs over Wolverines 31-13.

Mike Orihel in the red-zone looking over the defense Photo by Tom Wilson.

In the trenches at Wesley Photo by Tom Wilson.

Endre Racz flipping the ball to the ref after hauling in an 11 yard TD pass Photo by Tom Wilson

Even when the offense is on the field... don't try to sneak one past LB Domenic Tomeo Photo by Tom Wilson.

RB Patrick Thompson contemplating a day's work... I ran by that guy... I ran over that one... and I carried those two... Photo by Tom Wilson.

The Fun and Gun begins with the offensive line and pass blocking Photo by Tom Wilson.

 

Rowan 2 - 0	30
at
Wesley 0 - 2	0
Sept 13, 2003 Wolverine Stadium Dover, DE 1:00 PM
Listen to the Game on Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM Pregame Show 12PM

NJAC Week #2

NJAC Week #1

2003 NJAC Standings