Union, N.J. (10/9/21) – The Kean University football team broke a 17-all tie late in the fourth quarter and held on to defeat Rowan University by the final of 24-17 on Saturday afternoon in New Jersey Athletic Conference action.
The win improves the Cougars to 2-0 in conference play and 2-3 overall. The loss drops the Profs to 0-4 this season and 0-1 in the NJAC. The win is the first for Kean over Rowan since the 2016 season.
In the pivotal fourth quarter the Cougars started the drive deep in their own territory (seven yard line) with just under three minutes to go in the contest. On the first play of the drive, Justin Lucia found an outstretched Myles Toppin who then marched 68 yards down the field. Two plays later, Lucia almost found the pylon himself, scampering down the sideline for a 24 yard pickup. A fumble on the next snap backed up the Cougars to the four yard line where the Profs used a timeout to keep as much time on the clock in their favor for a hopeful next possession. Dayveon Dore pushed through the pile and inched Kean back to the original line of scrimmage where Rowan took another timeout, now with 1:19 on the clock. With third and goal from the one yard line, the Profs jumped offsides, giving Kean a fresh set of downs and the ball just outside the goal line. Dazzy Iannuzzio took advantage and found a small hole to the right side for the game-winning score. Logan Matthews added the important extra point, leaving Rowan with just 50 seconds to go.
George Chrissafis kicked the ball off 59 yards to a waiting Terry Calstrom who fair caught the ball at the seven yard line. This allowed Rowan to move the ball to the 25 yard line with no time taken off the clock. Mike Husni kept the ball moving and completed three straight passes for nine, 11 and 10 yards respectively, moving into Kean territory. Out of timeouts, he spiked the ball to save the clock and kept the ball himself on the ensuing play, running out of bounds at the 29 yard line. Husni found CJ Barrett with a seven yard pickup as Barrett stopped the clock going out of bounds. With time ticking away Husni was forced into two incomplete passes, the last a Hail Mary to the endzone that was knocked away by Kyeon Taylor to end the contest.
Most of the game's scoring came in the second quarter as both teams seesawed around the lead. After Kean took an early 3-0 lead off a 28 yard field goal from Matthews, it was Rowan's turn to get on the board early in the second stanza. John Maldonado hauled in an 11 yard pass from Husni, capping a 64 yard drive, giving the Profs their first lead of the day. Midway through the quarter, Dante Capozzoli recovered a fumble, setting up the Cougars near midfield. Lucia fired three straight strikes to Iannuzzio, and Donte Jamison (17, 14, 28 yards) and took the lead back, 10-7.
The see saw battle continued as the Profs engineered a 15 play, 85 yard drive, taking over seven minutes off the clock, ending with a one yard dash from Husni and a 14-10 lead. Kean needed only 43 seconds to flip the score back in their favor as Jamison caught a 42 yard pass, putting the Cougars in the redzone. Two plays later, Toppin used all his height to bring down a 10 yard reception and a 17-14 advantage for Kean. With just a minute and 15 seconds left in the half, Husni brought Rowan into Kean territory, thanks to a 30 yard completion to Barrett. The Kean defense held Rowan out of the endzone, but Jake Hurler was able to put points on the board with a 34 yard field goal to tie things up at 17-all with time expiring in the half.
Lucia finished with a career-high 316 yards on 22-of-32 passing with two touchdowns. He added 30 yards on the ground. Jamison registered 160 receiving yards to go along with 67 return yards. Toppin finished with 78 total yards on two catches, including the 68 yard reception. Defensively, Capozzoli finished with 15 total tackles, a fumble recovery and quarterback hurry while Anthony Bassani added 14 tackles. Aaron Cottrell and Tanner Ash rounded out the defense with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.
For the Profs, Husni was 25-of-32 for 237 yards and two touchdowns (one in the air, one on the ground). He added 78 rushing yards. James Fara led the running game with 87 yards. Maldonado caught 13 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Kean remains home and will host The College of New Jersey next Saturday, October 16th at 1 p.m. during Homecoming.
