GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University football team opened up New Jersey Athletic Conference play with a 31-0 victory over William Paterson University on Friday night.
The Profs have a record of 2-0 and the Pioneers are 1-1. Rowan led 7-0 at the break then reeled off 24 points in the second stanza, including two touchdown passes from quarterback Dante Pinckney (jr. Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) of more then 45 yards. The Profs defense held William Paterson to 68 yards of total offense and two first downs. Rowan's offense accumulated 385 total passing yards, including 258 in the air and 127 on the ground.
Pinckney was 17 of 27 for 258 yards and three scores. He also ran the ball six times for 26 yards. Running back Gawain Bragg (jr. Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.) had 16 rushes for 41 yards and one TD. Running back Anthony Diorio (so. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) ran for 27 yards on eight carries. Wide receiver Jamel Smith (jr. Wrightstown, NJ/New Egypt) caught five passes for 44 yards and one TD. Wideout Dashown Waller (jr. Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Reg.) tallied five receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown. Wideout Zac Frantz (sr. Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) accumulated 82 yards on four catches and had one TD.
Defensive lineman Anthony Rizzolo (sr. Greenbrook, NJ/Watchung Hills Reg.) collected eight tackles. Defensive lineman Chris Henchy (jr. Egg Harbor City, NJ/Absegami) had seven tackles, including one sack (6 yards) and 1.5 tackles for a loss (7 yards). Defensive back Shaquille Lee (jr. Millville, NJ/Millville) and defensive lineman Kevin Stokes (so. Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) each added six tackles. Stokes also had two tackles for a loss (5 yards).
For the Pioneers, quarterback James Waldron (jr. Edison, NJ/Edison) threw for 42 yards (8-17). Running back Cahsim Henry (so. Lindenwold, NJ/Lindenwold) ran for 10 yards on four attempts and caught three passes for 14 yards. Wideout Christian Maldonado (so. Elmwood Park, NJ/Paramus Catholic) had three catches for 14 yards. Punter Pat Moran (sr. Barnegat, NJ/Barnegat) booted the ball 13 times for 427 yards (32.8 avg.). Linebacker Charles Faulkner (jr. Carteret, NJ/Carteret) tallied 14 tackles, while defensive back Haneef Jennings (so. Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton W.) made 11. Linebacker Taheem Jackson (fr. East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) chipped in with 10 stops.
Rowan jumped on the scoreboard with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Pinckney to Smith with 39-seconds left in the first quarter. The drive was nine plays and traveled 49 yards. The Profs led 7-0 at halftime.
The Profs got their second score of the game on the first play of a drive when Pinkney hit Frantz for a 59-yard touchdown at the 8:46 mark of the third. Kicker Tyler Knighton (jr. Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) then added a 25-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead with 14:00 remaining in the fourth . The drive went 49 yards in nine plays and included 27 yards passing from Pinckney. Bragg got into the endzone from three-yards out at the 9:54 mark for a 24-0 advantage. He ran the ball for 29 yards on the seven-play 53-yard drive. Waller capped the scoring when he took a screen pass from Pinckney and scampered 47 yards into the endzone with 3:42 on the clock.
Rowan travels to Montclair State University for a noon kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 24.