GLASSBORO, NJ -- Rowan rushed for 258 yards while limiting McDaniel to just five net yards on the ground as the Profs bested the Green Terror, 30-20, Saturday afternoon in the home opener at Richard Wackar Stadium.
Nunes Bukula IV ran for a career-high 162 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns and Tyshawn Bookman dashed for 64 yards on 13 attempts and a score. The Prof defense made it a long day for the McDaniel offense, totaling six sacks, three interceptions, and eight tackles for losses as the home team outgained the visitors, 413-256, on the day.
Spearheading the defense was Nick Cerulli, Ahmad Gantt, and Aeneas Robinson. Cerulli totaled eight tackles and an interception while Gantt made five stops including 2.5 sacks. Robinson registered five tackles, a pick, and a forced fumble. AJ Ryker recorded the third pick for Rowan and Chris Rodgers made seven tackles with a sack.
The Profs scored on the game's first series as Rowan went 65 yards on nine plays where Bukula IV ran it in from 41 yards on a run along the right sideline for a 7-0 lead. Robinson forced a fumble on McDaniel's third offensive play, giving the ball back to Rowan at midfield, but the Profs turned back over on downs after a fourth and nine at the Green Terror 33 did not convert. The teams traded turnovers on the next two series as Robinson's interception on the very next play put the Profs at the Green Terror 27. Three plays later on a 2nd and eight form the nine-yard line, Matt Welsey's pass was intercepted in the end zone.
After McDaniel opened the second quarter with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Eric Grinwis to Kyle Silver to knot it up at 7-7, both teams traded interceptions on its next possessions. This time it was Cerulli who made a nice grab to turn it back to the Prof offense at the Rowan 41. Nate Maiers came on and marched the offense down the field in five plays capped by Bookman's three-yard TD scamper. The extra point was no good, giving the home team a 13-7 edge.
Bukula IV capped an 11-play, 78 yard drive as he ran in untouched from four yards out with just over a minute in the half. The Profs took a 20-7 lead into the half.
Maiers hooked up with Michael Zarfati on Rowan's first offensive series of the second half on a 28-yard catch down the middle to up the lead to 27-7. Ryker's interception on the ensuing McDaniel offensive series looked to swing the momentum back but the Profs were forced to punt on a three-and-out. The Green Terror capitalized with a Grinwis-to-Wesley Nchinda touchdown pass for 13 yards.
Tommy LaPerriere's 24-yard field goal early in the fourth made it a two-possession contest. McDaniel looked to answer as Grinwis found Nchinda again, this time from five yards out with 12 minutes remaining in the game. Grinwis' throw on the two-point conversion was incomplete, making it a 30-20 score.
The Green Terror drove down deep in Rowan territory later in the fourth but was turned away by the Prof defense on a fourth and six from the Prof 21 yard-line. Rowan totaled four sacks on the final McDaniel drive to help move the Profs to a 2-0 record.
Maiers was 12-of-21 for 134 yards with a TD and two interceptions. Welsey was 6-of-11 for 21 yards and added 29 yards on the ground. Luke Hoke had a team-high five receptions for 47 yards while Mwanza Fitzpatrick (27 yards) and Shane Martin (22 yards) each had three grabs.
Grinwis threw for 251 yards on 21-of-33 passing with three scores and three picks. He was sacked five times. Nchinda finished with five catches for 42 yards and the two scores. Grayson Wendel hauled in seven receptions for 98 yards, both game highs.
Next week, Rowan travels to Ursinus for a Saturday night showdown in Collegeville, Pa. starting at 7 p.m.
Rowan Outmuscles McDaniel, 30-20, in Profs' Home Opener
/seasons/2024/boxscores/20240914_0ecz.xml
2024
McDaniel
20
Rowan
30
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDaniel (1-1) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
| Rowan (2-0) | 7 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
Sep 14, 2024