Saturday October 15, 2005

The #4 nationally ranked Rowan Profs defeated the Cortland State Red Dragons 24-16 Saturday. Junior quarterback Mike Orihel paced the Profs offense with 246 yards passing. Cortland sophomore Alex Smith passed for 243 yards and 1 touchdown to rally Cortland after falling behind early.

The Rowan Profs built a 21-0 lead in the first half before hanging on in the final 2 minutes of the game. In the first quarter the teams traded drives where defenses bent without breaking. A 12-play 76-yard drive by Rowan ended late in the first quarter when Orihel ran the ball in from 1 yard out. The touchdown was marred by a controversial ruling on the field. The play appeared to be stopped short of the goal, but no whistle was blown. Rowan took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter, then lengthened the advantage when Profs Keith Heimerl blocked a Cortland punt and Dustin Katcher covered the ball in the endzone. Rowan converted the extra point to lead 14-0. On Cortland's next possession, Heimerl blocked another punt to give Rowan a short field at the Cortland 30 yard line. Orihel connected with wide receiver Phil Silva for a 9 yard touchdown pass, and a Rowan romp was on at 21-0.

Cortland fought back late in the first half. A Derek Ziders field goal capped off an 11-play drive with a 28 yard field goal to pull Cortland within 21-3. Sophomore LB Dave D'Aurelio intercepted Orihel on the next possession, returning the ball to the Rowan 31 yard line. Quarterback Alex Smith found Anthony Morat cutting across the endzone for a 27 yard touchdown pass. A failed extra point attempt kept the score at 21-9 heading into half-time.

Perhaps the key turn of events came in the third quarter. Alex Smith found Zak Carter on a slant pattern which turned into a 68 yard catch and run. Carter appeared to be headed for a touchdown but defensive back Zakee Babb made a score saving tackle at the Profs 9 yard line. Two rushes by Dustin Bowser got the ball to the 2 yard line. But on 3rd and goal from the center of the field, a curious play call sent Bowser wide right on another run. He was stopped for a short loss. This set up a difficult angle for Derek Ziders, who missed what otherwise would have been a chip shot from 20 yards out. Arguably the best option may have been to go for the touchdown on fourth down, with a failed attempt leaving Rowan pinned deep.

Zak Carter breaks a slant for a 68 yard catch and run

The half remained scoreless until Profs sophomore Matias Spahn booted a 34 yard field goal into a stiff wind with 11:24 remaining in the game. The conversion increased the Rowan advantage to 24-9 and appeared to cement the victory. While Orihel went to the bench with a hand injury, Cortland's offense came out running and gunning. A 10-play 60-yard drive ended with a 3 yard touchdown run by Bowser to cut the lead to 24-16 with only 3:31 remaining.

The Cortland defense stopped Rowan on 2 running plays, forcing new Profs quarterback Joe Rankin to pass on 3rd down and long. Josh Jablonksi put a rush on Rankin and forced a poor throw, which Greg Steward intercepted for the Red Dragons at the Rowan 27 yard line. With 2:28 remaining in the game, Cortland was in position to tie the score. However on first down all NJAC lineman Brian Bond and Heimerl sacked Alex Smith for an 11 yard loss. Cortland got 10 yards back on 2nd down, but Rowan held the next 2 plays and got the ball back on downs.

Dustin Bowser's touchdown pulls the Red Dragons to within 24-16

Jablonski's pressure sets up an interception by #18 Steward behind and right of him

Another controversial call came inside the final minute of the game. A Rowan hand-off up the middle appeared to be fumbled, but the play was ruled over due to forward motion being stopped. The clock ran out on the game, and perhaps on Cortland's NCAA playoff aspirations for 2005. Rowan held on 24-16.

The Rowan victory effectively clinched the NJAC championship and an automatic NCAA tournament birth, although mathematically a 3-way tie for first is still possible if Montclair upsets Rowan in November.