Gameday Week 10/19/02 - Game #7 Cortland St.

Profs Dismiss Red Dragons 42-21 Piper and linebacker #56 David Boyd leads the Profs on to the field... CB #9 Rick Walker comes up to stuff RB #20 Steve Davis for a loss. Cortland St. Game 7 Play WGLS-FM audio highlights By Tom Wilson If you were wondering when the Profs would begin clicking in all facets of the game, it started at 2 pm last Saturday against the Cortland Red Dragons. Both teams came in to the game ranked 1 and 2 in many NJAC statistical categories. Cortland had the number one defense in the conference leading up to the contest, but they weren't at 5 pm when the game ended. Click… RB #8 Creg Bethea (6 carries / 82 yards) begins the Profs second series with a 43 yard TD run to put Rowan up 7- 0. Click… WR #39 Luis Cortes (4 rec / 97 yards) hauls in a 41 yard TD pass from Tony Racioppi (17-26 / 393 yds / 1 int), on a one play drive, at 13:35 in 2nd quarter (Rowan 14 - Cortland 7). Click… Cortes catches another TD pass on a 23 yarder from Racioppi with 8:14 left in the 2nd quarter (Rowan 21 - 7). Click… RB #20 Pat Thompson (8 carries / 83 yards) scored on a 6 yard TD run, with left 6:10 in the 2nd quarter. (Rowan 28-7). Click… with 2:02 left in the half, RB #5 Tremaine Hill (7 carries / 18 yards) carried one in from eight yards out (Rowan 35-7). Click… in the 3rd quarter WR #11 Michael Osborne (5 rec / 102 yards) had a 12 yard TD catch to put Rowan up 42-7. Rowan called off the dogs and Cortland was able to score twice more in the 4th quarter to make the final 42-21 Profs. The Prof defense provided more of their same season long excellence, as the Red Dragons were held to 160 yards and the ground and 268 yards in the air as Cortland tried to dink and dunk their way down the field. Cortland was only 5 of 20 on 3rd down conversions. The Rowan defense was led by safety #2 Gabe Spitale with nine tackles. DE # 58 Gerrit Tosh had seven tackles, three for a loss and one sack. CB #25 Kelvin Bellamy had one interception, four pass breakups and seven tackles. Rowan racked up a total of 613 yards of total offense and the defense held steady while welcoming back DT #99 (6-2, 315lb) Jermaine "Pickle" Ruffin ( 3 tackles / 2 for a loss / 1 sack). In his first game this year, he effectively plugged up the middle forcing Cortland to run outside. The Profs have a bye this week but are away at Kean, Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 pm.

Battle for the NJAC - The Sequel By Tom Wilson Cortland comes to town for Homecoming in the Boro. At 5-1 (3-1 in the NJAC, the Red Dragons will be looking to grab a 1/3 share of the NJAC lead with a win over the Profs. Last week Cortland dispatched NJCU 27-6. QB #7 J.J Tutwiler (9-15 / 80 yards) passed for a TD and ran for another. He is also the punter. In a rainy and muddy contest, the Red Dragons finished with 233 yards of total offense while capitalizing on two NJCU turnovers. They put the game away in the opening possession of the 3rd quarter, going 63 yards on 14 plays to take a 21-0 lead. RB #20 Steve Davis ran for 63 yards on 16 carries and RB #21 Ryan Tranchida gained 52 yards on 9 carries. Defensively, DT #67 Angelo Letizia led the Red Dragons with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Cortland is ranked 1st in the NJAC in total defense (272.2 ypg) and turnover margin (1.33 per game). Rowan ranks 3rd in total defense (317.2 ypg) and 3rd in turnover margin (even) . The Profs rank 1st in scoring defense (11.5 ppg) and total offense (388.3 ypg). The Red Dragons rank 2nd in scoring defense (14.8 ppg) and 4th in total offense (360.7 ypg). Cortland's leaders on offense are QB #7 J.J Tutwiler (84-135 / 1122 yds / 9 TD's) with 187.0 ypg, WR #2 Joe Marzullo (23 rec / 206 yds / 1 TD), WR #1 Rocco Carlucci (16 rec / 261 yds / 1 TD), and RB #20 Steve Davis (119 carries / 455 yds / 3 TD's). Defensively, the Red Dragons are lead by LB #3 Micah Kurtz (43 tackles / 19 solo), LB #51 Todd Goodwin (41 tackles / 19 solo / 1sack), DT #75 John Longo (30 tackles / 22 solo / 5 sacks), and FS #38 Justin Hartman (5 break ups / 3 ints). Rowan's offensive leaders are QB #3 Tony Racioppi (101-174 / 1457 yds / 12 TD's) with 242.8 ypg, WR #80 Jon Berry (12 rec / 359 yds / 4 TD's), WR #11 Michael Osborne (26 rec / 307 yds / 3 TD's), and RB #8 Creg Bethea (87 carries / 350 yards / 4 TD's). Defensively, the Profs counter with LB #44 Domenic Tomeo (56 tackles / 17 solo / 1 sack), LB #22 Nick Lopez (52 tackles / 34 solo), LB #35 Curtis Custis (42 tackles / 21 solo / 3 sacks), DE #58 Gerrit Tosh (38 tackles / 20 solo / 8 sacks), CB #33 Yasin York (4 break ups), and CB #12 Kevin Evans (4 break ups / 1 int). The Red Dragons lead the conference in rushing with 167.3 ypg, while Rowan is 3rd in rushing defense 143.3 ypg. Expect Cortland to test the middle of the Prof defense with the run. The Red Dragons have seen the success other teams have had running on the Profs. The Rowan defense has shut teams down in the red-zone this year, and should continue on Saturday, limiting Cortland scoring opportunities. Both teams have very good kicking games, and each is capable of hitting long field goals of more than 40 yards. The Profs lead the conference in pass defense, the longest pass completed against them was 42 yards. Cortland is second in the conference, the longest pass completed against them was 64 yards. If Cortland has been watching the films they'll be doubling Sophomore wide-out Jon Berry frequently, since he is fast becoming another in a long line of Rowan deep threats (Taman Bryant (1995-1999), Scott Lipford (1996-2001)). This will open up the other talented receivers such as Michael Osborne, Joe D'Imperio, and Tyree Jackson to name a few. The Red Dragons have not faced such a talented bunch all year. Also, the Upstaters should not anticipate a game similar to last year's contest in which they scored 13 points in the final 3 minutes. This Rowan team is battle tested and believes they'll win the game whether ahead or behind. Big plays on both offense and defense happen as a matter of course for these Profs. Rowan should pull away in the second half. Profs by 17… 34-17.

DE #58 Gerrit Tosh has another tackle for a loss...

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LB #55 Mike McClain on the tackle....

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RB #20 Pat Thompson runs to daylight...

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NJAC Week #8

NJAC Week #7