Hospitality did not wear stripes
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If you think that is a cruel statement, let me describe how it works. If I have the green light, I must drive just fast enough to keep the pedestrians on the sidewalk. Otherwise a gaggle of them will walk against the light. The best ones are the lemmings that follow the leaders across the street while talking on the cell phone totally oblivious to the light change. Inches from my front grill, they have the audacity to be shocked. I’m constantly amazed by the general lack of regard for the modern automobile, especially with the way New Yorkers drive. Even if you are right as the pedestrian, a two-ton auto can immediately make one feel very wrong. About once a week a bike messenger will take that journey to the big messenger center in the sky. Riding against traffic, he’ll make a deft move avoiding the Hummer only to get flattened by the oncoming bus.
The pleasantries began with the press passes sent overnight to my North Jersey home by CNU’s Athletic Communications staff. Some schools do it right, and Christopher Newport is top notch. The student staff was nice and helpful. I was able to meet up with CNU85, a poster over on the USAC board. We shared some brats over pregame discussion.
After the game and on Sunday, my fianceé and I relaxed and did some sightseeing while eating some good seafood. We even got to see a free outdoor R&B/Motown concert right outside our hotel. No one honked at us for missing the first moment a traffic light turns green. I felt so good Tuesday back in NYC that I even let a few people cross against the light, while the cabbie behind me cursed me out for letting them go.
Christopher Newport missed a total of three extra points, including one to tie the score late in the game losing 33-32 to Rowan. The Captains also had a 28-yard field goal blocked with 9:31 remaining in the first quarter.
Nathan Davis caught a 14-yard touchdown pass with 3:10 left in the game to cut the score to 33-32. Jason Broskie then came in to attempt the point after and missed it wide left for his second PAT miss of the game.
"We've got to look at our football team again and see if there's anybody else who can make a contribution kicking-wise," Christopher Newport’s head coach Matt Kelchner said in The Daily Press. "We had a couple walk-ons come out last week; we've got to take a look at those guys and see if they might be able to help us. But it's a problem that needs to be addressed."
Rowan jumped out to an early 13-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Mike Orihel connected with Jon Berry for a 5-yard score and then connected again with Berry with 11:34 left in the first quarter, this time on a 15-yard pass attempt. Patrick Davitt missed the second PAT.
The Captains came right back in the second quarter to tie the score at 13-13. George Jones scored his first touchdown of the season on a 9-yard scamper with 14:02 left in the first half. Jonathon Hill missed the PAT. Then, with 2:45 left in the second quarter, Jones struck again, this time on a 17-yard touchdown run. Broskie was successful on the PAT.
On the very next possession, Rowan marched 68 yards on six plays to regain the lead 20-13 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Orihel to Sakeen Wright with 1:12 remaining before halftime.
The Profs struck first in the second half when Berry caught his third touchdown pass, this time from 38 yards. Davitt missed the PAT and Rowan led 26-13.
CNU cut the lead to 26-20 with 2:45 left in the third period when Jones scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Phillip Jones.
The Captains then tied the game with 10:15 left in the game when backup quarterback Hudson Bryant scampered 8 yards for the score. Broskie missed the PAT. Bryant replaced Phillip Jones who developed a cramp early in the fourth quarter.
Rowan then took the lead for good with 8:16 remaining in the game. Wright caught his second touchdown pass of the game, this time from 5 yards out. Damian Shaddow's PAT was good for a 33-26 lead.
CNU then regained possession with 6:30 left in the game off a Prof fumble. Davis scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Bryant, but Broskie once again missed the PAT to cut the lead to 33-32.
The Captains had another chance after a Rowan punt, the Captains went 55 yards in seven plays. With 32 seconds left, CNU was on the Rowan 38 yard line. Bryant had an incomplete pass and the Profs were called for pass interference after the CNU receiver tripped over his own feet. This put the Captains on the Profs’ 25-yard line. Free safety Eric Bailey intercepted Bryant’s next pass on the Rowan 12 yard line.
It was the worst officiated game I have seen in recent memory. Watching the holding, interference, and roughing the kicker that wasn’t called, to the phantom penalties that were, was almost unbearable. Both teams suffered from this inept crew. I think it definitely affected the score of the game. Hopefully whomever assigns these officials takes a look at the game tape.
“I told the told our team last night [Friday] in our team meeting that when you play an away game against and NCAA caliber playoff team, you are going to get a lot of calls against you.” We did [get a lot of penalties]. We would be tested with adversity. But the team all hung in together and they scraped and clawed. Deep down inside they really wanted to win the football game, and that why we prevailed,” said Rowan head coach, Jay Accorsi.
The Profs finished with 458 yards of total offense to CNU's 414.
Mike Orihel finished 29-of-40 with 372 yards passing and five touchdowns for Rowan. Berry caught eight passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Phil Silva also caught eight passes that totaled 103 yards.
For CNU, Phillip Jones was 17-of-36 for 110 yards and one touchdown. Bryant finished 6-of-10 for 66 yards and one interception.
George Jones finished with 175 yards rushing on 20 carries. He also caught five passes for 39 yards. Nathan Davis caught seven balls for 63 yards.
Games of the Week
No. 18 Brockport State at Salisbury, 1 p.m., Salisbury, Md.: Here is Salisbury’s chance to prove it deserves to be in the Pool B playoff mix. Brockport State has proven veteran playoff experience. The Golden Eagles beat a rebuilding Cortland State 42-26 last week while the Sea Gulls took care of Catholic 31-14. Are the Gulls contenders or pretenders?
Union at No. 4 Springfield, 7 p.m., Springfield, Mass.: Once considered an Upstate New York powerhouse, Union has had successive .500 back-to-back seasons. Last year, at home against Springfield the Dutchmen fumbled deep in Pride territory while going for the winning score. Union lost 21-18. Can Union’s backfield tandem of fullback Tom Arcidiacono and running back Sean Washington duplicate last year’s performance of 250 yards rushing between them?
D-II Southern Connecticut at No. 20 Rowan, 1 p.m., Glassboro, N.J.: The Southern Connecticut Owls have won the last four meetings against the Profs. Last year, an injured Prof team hung with the Owls for three quarters before falling 23-10. So. Connecticut fell to fellow Northeast-10 conference foe Bentley 36-24, and Bentley is currently ranked No.20 in the D2football.com poll. Rowan can win this if they avoid the field position problems that almost cost them the Christopher Newport game. CNU’s average starting position for its scoring drives was the Rowan 44-yard line.