Glassboro, NJ – Quarterback Dante Pinckney connected with Russ Forchion on a 92-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to put No. 16/18 Rowan in front as the Profs knocked off Montclair State 13-7 at Wackar Stadium on Saturday evening .
Tyler Knighton booted a pair of field goals for the Profs, who remained unbeaten at 3-0 overall while capturing their New Jersey Athletic Conference opener.
JOHN DISTEFANO rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown for the Red Hawks, who fell to 0-3 on the season, 0-2 in the conference. It is the second time in three years that Montclair State has opened the year with three straight defeats.
Forchion's catch gave the Profs a 10-7 advantage. He made three receptions for 104 yards in the game. Running back Withler Marcelin had 28 carries for 77 yards. Pinckney
completed seven passes in 12 attempts for 149 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Darren Dungee made 10 tackles, including two for a loss (3 yards), had one interception and forced a fumble. Linebacker Jeff Rodriguez made nine stops, including 1.5 for a loss (2 yards) and picked-off one pass. Linebacker John Barillo and defensive lineman Anthony Rizzolo each tallied six tackles.
Montclair State quarterback
RYAN DAVIES threw for 127 yards (17-36). Running back
DENZEL NIEVES had 16 rushes for 36 yards. Running back
JOHN DISTEFANOcarried the ball seven times for 64 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver
AARON WILLIAMS made six receptions for 56 yards. Defensive back
BILL SHIMKO and linebacker
MICHAEL TENPENNY each registered 11 tackles. Shimko's total gave him 203 for his career as he became the 23rd player in Montclair State history to achieve that mark. Tenpenny also had two tackles for a loss (2 yards). Defensive lineman
JOE FALATO registered seven tackles, including 3.5 for a loss (13 yards).
The only scoring in the first half was on a 24-yard field goal by Knighton with 1:15 left in the opening quarter. The Profs drove the ball 61 yards in 14 plays and took 7:02 off the clock. Marcelin ran the ball nine times for 38 yards during the drive.
DiStefano gave the Red Hawks a 7-3 lead on a 24-yard touchdown run at the 6:31 mark of the third. The play capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive. DiStefano had four carries for 51 yards during the drive.
On the second play of Rowan's second drive in the fourth, Pinckney hit Forchion for the 92-yard touchdown. The Profs went out in front 10-7 after the successful point after attempt. Rodriguez picked-off Davies at the 8:50 mark of the fourth, setting the Profs up at the Montclair State 12 yard line. Knighton converted a 21-yard field goal attempt for a 13-7 Rowan lead with 6:47 to play. The defense forced the Red Hawks to turn the ball over on downs in their final two possessions.
MSU will look to capture that elusive first win next Saturday, October 3 when it hosts local rival William Paterson University at Sprague Field. Kickoff of the Homecoming contest will be at 3:00 pm.
