GLASSBORO, N.J. (10/9/10) – Rowan
University scored the game-winning touchdown with two seconds
remaining as the Profs rallied past Kean University, 21-17, in New
Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
Rowan (4-1, 3-1 NJAC) rallied twice past the Cougars in a
back-and-forth fourth quarter.
For Kean (2-3, 2-3 NJAC), senior running back Jay
Gwaltney (pictured right) rushed for a season-high 207
yards for the 12-highest single game total in school
history.
Rowan took a 13-10 lead with 7:18 left in the game on a 14-yard
touchdown pass from Tim Hagerty to Marcus Lee,
before the Cougars regained the lead in the final minute of the
game when junior quarterback Thomas
D'Ambrisi completed the nine-yard touchdown pass to
senior Sean Atkins with just 38 seconds
remaining.
After the touchback on the ensuing kickoff gave the Profs the
ball at their own 20-yard line, Hagerty completed 4-of-5 passes for
the final 80 yards, including a 55 yard completion to Lee to move
the ball inside the red zone, before hitting Keith
Corcoran with the 15-yard touchdown pass on the next play for
the go-ahead touchdown with just two ticks remaining on the
clock. Corcoran carried the ball in on the two-point
conversion to give the Profs the four-point edge.
The Cougars had one last chance, as D'Ambrisi had a
10-yard completion to junior Chris Suozzo, who
shuffled the ball off to Louis Haynes for an
additional 20 yards before he went down at the Rowan 30-yard line
with no time left on the clock.
Three plays after the Cougars' blocked a 24-yard field goal
attempt on the opening drive of the game, Kean took a 7-0 lead in
the first quarter when D'Ambrisi hit Haynes along the
sideline with the 73-yard touchdown reception.
In the second quarter, the Cougars looked to extend the lead to
10-0 when junior safety Jamahl Williams (pictured
left) made his sixth interception of the year at the Kean 32-yard
line. On the ensuing drive, Gwaltney carried the ball five
times for 67 yards, including a season-long 51 yard run from
scrimmage to give the Cougars first and goal at the Rowan 10-yard
line. However, the Cougars were unable to get in the endzone
and the 17-yard field goal attempt was wide left, as the score
remained 7-0 at the half.
The Cougars were able to extend the lead to 10-0 in the second
half when junior kicker Billy Daniels capped a
7-play, 36-yard drive with the 21-yard field goal with 4:05
remaining in the third quarter.
On Rowan's next drive, senior wide receiver Justin
Long had a 17-yard rush to get the Profs to midfield and after
two more Rowan rushing attempts, Hagerty connected with junior
tight end Kevin DelDonne on the 43-yard touchdown
reception. The Cougars were however able to prevent Rowan
from pulling to within a field goal when junior linebacker
Bekim Bujari blocked the extra point attempt to
keep the score at 10-6 with 2:11 left in the quarter.
A pair of Kean turnover in Profs territory on their first two
drives in the fourth quarters prevented the Cougars from being able
to extend the lead and the Profs would take their first lead of the
game when Lee capped the seven-play, 76-yard drive with the 14-yard
touchdown reception from Hagerty midway through the final
quarter.
In the victory, Hagerty completed 14-of-23 passes for 264 yards
and three scores. DelleDonne made four receptions for 104
yards, while Lee added three catches for 75 yards. On the
ground, Corcoran added 115 yards rushing.
For the Cougars, D'Ambrisi completed 16-of-27 attempts for
285 yards and two touchdowns, as Haynes had three receptions for a
career-best 126 yards and senior tight end Matt
Puorro made five catches for 88 yards.
Defensively, senior defensive back Rocky Aliberti made
a game-high 11 tackles and added one interception. Senior
linebacker Jerome Gordon added nine tackles, while junior
defensive back Brandon Jones had two tackles, including
one for a six-yard loss, one fumble recovery and two pass
break-ups.
Williams made a team-high five solo stops and was one of four
players to make seven tackles apiece for Kean. In addition to
the blocked extra point, Bujari (pictured left) added seven
tackles, including one sack for an 11-yard loss.
The Cougars return home for the next three games and face
Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, October 16.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.