Profs Crush Bengals 57-7
Profs routed another opponent on a rainy homecoming Saturday as they dropped the hammer on the Buffalo State Bengals 57-7. It was a fitting tribute to coach Richard Wacker. Wacker resurrected the Rowan football program in 1963. The program began in 1947, but was halted after the 1950 season because the school did not have enough men to field a football team due to the Korean War. At halftime the renovated stadium was named Coach Richard Wackar Stadium in coach Wacker’s honor.
Wacker has been a fixture in the Rowan sports community. He is the only coach in NJAC history to win conference titles in four sports: football, golf, basketball and cross-country. He coached Profs football from 1963-1980 before turning the team over to assistant coached Ted Kershner. Kershner coached from 1981-1987 before handing off the team to John Bunting. Bunting guided Rowan to its first playoff appearance before leaving to coach in the NFL in 1993. KC Keeler took over in 1993, guiding the Profs to their first of four national championship game appearances. Current head coach Jay Accorsi followed Keeler in 2002, when Keeler left to become the head coach of the University of Delaware. KC Keeler played for Delaware in the late 1970’s.
The Profs improve to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference. The Bengals have a 1-6 record with a 1-5 NJAC mark. Rowan outgained Buffalo State, 422-44 in yardage.
Superback Ryan Leafey led the Rowan offense with 62 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Quarterback Frank Wilczynski added 58 yards and one touchdown on seven rushes. He also threw for 119 yards and one touchdown with nine completions in 16 attempts. Wilczynski and Leafey did not play the second half.
Superback Jon Downes compiled 53 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts. Quarterback Tim Hagerty and superback Tariq Gaines added one rushing touchdown apiece. Tight end Anthony Barone made three catches for 76 yards and one touchdown.
The defense held Buffalo State to 76 yards passing and -32 yards rushing. Linebacker Andrew Yezzi registered seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and two forced fumbles. Linebacker Kevin Taylor posted six stops and one tackle for a loss. Defensive end Matt Hoffman had 0.5 sacks and blocked a punt. Defensive end Steve Hague forced a fumble.
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