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The Red Hawks improve to 8-1 overall and 8-0 in the conference. Montclair State faces Kean University on Saturday, November 14 for the NJAC title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The Profs have a 6-3 record with a 5-3 NJAC mark.

Montclair State quarterback Tom Fischer completed 15 of 25 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown. Wideout Byron Lewin made four receptions for 42 yards. Running back Jeff Bliss ran for 36 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries.

Linebacker Brian Tweer compiled 10 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery. Defensive end Chris Merkle made nine tackles, while defensive back Ed Kirschenbaum had eight stops and one fumble recovery. Cornerback Gary Knoeppel contributed with six tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.

For Rowan, quarterback Frank Wilczynski threw for 235 yards and one touchdown with 19 completions in 39 attempts. Superback Ryan Leafey rushed for 72 yards on 16 carries. Wide receiver Vinnie Graff had four catches for 72 yards. Wideout James Kinloch hauled in three balls for 80 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Anthony Barone added five grabs for 43 yards.

Linebackers Jerome Gordon and Andrew Yezzi each registered 13 tackles. Gordon forced three fumbles and Yezzi had one interception. Defensive end Matt Hoffman followed with seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and one sack. Linebacker Moe Ghotok forced a fumble and safety Eric Sharkey and defensive end Frank Olexson both had a fumble recovery.

Montclair State went ahead 7-0 at 4:06 in the first quarter. Bliss carried the ball into the end zone from two yards out. Fischer completed three of four pass attempts for 52 yards in the 11 play, 84 yard drive. At 6:46 in the second period, Fischer threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Letizia to put the Red Hawks up 14-0 at the half. Montclair State took over on downs at its own 35-yard line. Fischer hooked up with Letizia on the first play from scrimmage.

Rowan got on the scoreboard at 12:02 in the third quarter. Wilczynski connected with Kinloch on a 57 yard touchdown pass. With 1:17 remaining in the game, Rowan started on its own 20 yard line. The Profs drove down the field to the Montclair State 32 yard line, but the Red Hawks held their ground for the win.

Rowan hosts NJAC opponent The College of New Jersey in its final game of the season on Saturday, November 14 at 1 p.m.

Kicker Billy Daniels recorded a 26 yard field goal in the second overtime to give Kean University a 23-20 win over Rowan University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.

In the first overtime, Kean went ahead 20-17 in the first series with a 37 yard field goal by Daniels. Kicker Mark Getsinger tied the score with a 37 yard field goal on Rowan’s series. In the second overtime, the Profs missed a 40 yard field goal attempt before Daniels kicked the game winning field goal.

The Cougars are 7-1 overall and they are undefeated in the conference with a 7-0 mark. Rowan is 6-2 overall with a 5-2 NJAC mark.

Kean quarterback Tom D’Ambrisi passed for 78 yards with 10 completions in 23 attempts. He carried the ball 13 times for 44 yards and one touchdown. Running back Jared Chunn totaled 93 yards with 26 carries. Derric Harris led the receivers with three catches for 37 yards.

On defense, free safety Mike Mancini compiled 12 tackles and one sack for a loss of nine yards. Linebacker Bekim Bujari contributed with 11 tackles while strong safety Jamahl Williams and linebacker Victor D’Arrigo added 10 apiece. Williams also recorded one interception.

For Rowan, quarterback Frank Wilczynski made 12 of 28 attempts for 91 passing yards. He rushed for 69 yards on 18 attempts and one TD. Superback Ryan Leafey rushed 19 times for 78 yards. Wide receiver Kay Robinson had 31 yards with four grabs. Linebacker Jerome Gordon totaled 11 tackles, including seven solo stops and one interception.

Linebacker Andrew Yezzi registered nine tackles and three tackles for a loss (-8 yards). Strong safety Rocky Aliberti collected six tackles and forced a fumble. Free safety Mike Barone recovered a fumble and had four tackles.

Rowan was ahead 17-7 going into the final quarter. Daniels nailed a 22 yard field goal at 9:46 and Kean trailed by seven points. With 1:49 remaining, D’Ambrisi scored with a one yard carry and Daniels kicked the extra point that tied the game. The Profs were stopped on their next drive and the Cougars started with the ball on their 13 yard line. On the first play, DiAmbrisi was picked by Gordon at the Kean 23 yard line. Rowan’s 38 yard field goal attempt with 1:04 left to win the game was wide right.

The Profs started the second half with an opening kick return of 100 yards for a touchdown by superback Tariq Gaines. Getsinger put the Profs ahead 17-7 with a 24 yard field goal with 51 seconds remaining in the third period. The scoring drive was 14 plays and spanned 87 yards. Leafey contributed with 46 yards on three carries in the drive.

After a scoreless first quarter, Rowan got on the scoreboard when Wilczynski kept the ball for a four yard touchdown run at 7:35. The lead was short lived because Williams returned the Profs’ kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown 17 seconds later. The score was tied at seven after the first half.

Next week, Rowan is home on Saturday, November 7 against Montclair State University at 1 p.m.