2018 Rowan University Football Rowan University (0-0) vs. Widener University (0-0) Thursday, August 30 - 7:37 p.m. Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium (Chester, PA) Rowan Quick Facts The Game Location: Glassboro, NJ 08028 Rowan University opens the 2018 campaign versus Widener University in a non- Founded: 1923 conference game.The Profs look to improve on their 4-6 record from last season. Enrollment: 19,000 The Pride finished 2017 with a 7-4 mark. Nickname: Profs Colors: Brown and Gold Stadium: Coach Richard Wackar Stadium The Series Capacity: 3,700 This is the sixth meeting between Rowan and Widener. The Profs lead the series, Surface: Turf 4-1 and have won three in a row, including a Rowan-Widener Affiliation: NCAA Division III 6-0 win at home last season. Conference: New Jersey Athletic All-Time Series Results President: Dr. Ali Houshmand Alma Mater: University of Essex (UK) Last Meeting - Rowan 6, Widener 0 (Sept. 2007 41-0 W 2014 7-19 L Director of Athletics: Dan Gilmore 2, 2017) 2015 24-10 W Alma Mater: Plymouth State College (‘74) Rowan held the Widener offense to just 131 2016 19-14 W Office Phone: 856-256-4686 yards, including minus-15 rushing, on the 2017 6-0 W Office Fax: 856-256-4916 way to a 6-0 shutout win in the 2017 season On The Web opener. Rowan Athletics: www.rowanathletics.com Rowan Athletics Twitter: @RowanAthletics The Profs notched 10 tackles for a loss (52 yards) and three sacks (28 yards) in Rowan University: www.rowan.edu the impressive defensive effort. Defensive end Kevin Stokes led Rowan with six tackles, 5.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Linebacker Chris Noesges Widener Athletics: www.widenerpride.com totaled six stops, including 1.5 for a loss. Linebacker Godwin Asamoah added five Widener Twitter: @WidenerPride tackles. Defensive back Joe DiBari picked up two interceptions. Widener: www.widener.edu NJAC: www.njacsports.com Running back Anthony Diorio paced the offense with 155 yards on 30 carries. MAC: www.gomacsports.com Running back John Mannion contributed with 87 yards on 13 attempts. Wide NCAA: www.ncaasports.com receiver Nick Grosso caught three passes. AFCA: www.afca.com For the Pride, quarterback Sean McGaughey was 11-of-19 for 146 yards. Wide Media Information receivers Montrell Hicks-Taylor and James Gillespie each made four receptions Radio Broadcast: Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS-FM Internet Radio Broadcast: wgls.rowan.edu for 69 and 52 yards respectively. Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/rowan/football/ Defensive lineman Casey Kerschner produced 18 tackles, three for a loss, and two Live Video: sacks. Defensive back Brian Armstrong tallied 12 stops while linebackers Joe Fox http://www.rowan.edu/it/live/sports/feed0.html and Aaron Mastriani chipped in with nine and eight respectively. Fox also had two tackles for a loss. Athletic Communications Director: Sheila Stevenson Email: [email protected] Kicker Tyler Knighton was responsible for all of Rowan's scoring, booting a pair Assistant Director/Football: Peter Keefe of field goals. His first was a 21-yarder with 1:56 to go in the first quarter. Knigh- Email: [email protected] ton split the uprights from 32 yards out at the 2:48 mark of the third. The kick was Cell Phone: 610-209-6976 set up by DiBari's first pick, which put the Profs at the Widener 22. Office Phone: 856-256-4500 x53143 Multi-Media Specialist: Ryan Barrett Email: [email protected] Office Fax: 856-256-4433 Press Box Phone: 856-256-4905 Mailing Address: 201 Mullica Hill Road Glassboro, NJ 08028 2018 Rowan Football Rowan Coaching Staff Accorsi Begins 17th Season Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator: Jay Accorsi Head coach Jay Accorsi enters his 17th season at the helm and his 26th overall. He Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line/ is now tied for the longest tenured coach in program history with Richard Wackar. Run Game Coordinator: Tom Doddy Accorsi has the most wins (119) and most games coached (172). The Profs have Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/ had a record of .500 or better in all but two seasons under his watch. Wide Receivers: Pat Lancetta Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers/ Accorsi In Season Openers Strength and Conditioning: Cedric Dawkins The Profs are 12-4 in season openers under Coach Accorsi and 6-3 in season Football Operations Coordinator/ Defensive Backs: Kurt Kingett openers on the road. Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line: Phil Petitte Video Coordinator/Wide Receivers: Justin Arabia NJAC Championships Quarterbacks: Leon Harris Rowan has won the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship 19 Running Backs: Tom Lake times, 14 outright and five shared. The Profs captured the conference title in Assistant Defensive Line: Chuck Faisst 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1977, 1976, 1975 Graduate Assistant/Defense Chris Gonzalez Tight Ends: Dave Ellen and 1974. Rowan shared the NJAC Championship in 2014, 2013, 2010, 1983 and Specialists: Jim Cooper 1972. John Green Fellowship/Offense: Joe Costadina Analytics Coordinator & Special Projects: Steve Tucker NCAA Tournament Student-Athlete Development: Jesse Eisenhart Since 1991, Rowan has made 16 appearances in the NCAA Championship Tournament. The Profs have a 31-16 mark in the national tournament. Rowan Widener Coaching Staff has played in the championship game, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, five times Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Mike Kelly Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Dan Connor (1999-98-96-95-93). In 2005, 2004, 2001, 1997 and 1992, Rowan reached the Offensive Line/Strength and Conditioning: Mike Barainyak semifinals of the tournament. Defensive Line/Head JV Coach: Jason Henshaw Receivers: Alex Krivda Trends Under Accorsi Cornerbacks: Gary Vinciguerra In 16 seasons under Accorsi, Rowan is 26-10 in non-conference games. The Specialists: Ken Andres football team has posted a 54-35 overall mark on the road and is 12-8 in non- Operations/Video Coordinator: Matt Blankenstein Offensive Quality Control: Jason Miksit conference road games. Safeties: Vaughn Nichols-Taylor Safeties: Patrick Fisher Profs Traditionally Have Strong Start Assistant Linebackers: Brandon Jones In Accorsi's tenure, the Profs are 40-15 in games played during the month of Sep- Graduate Assistant: Haydn Warren tember. Rowan has only had a losing record twice in the month (2011 and 2014). Offensive Video: Zachary Duff Defensive Video: Elijah Miksit Utility: Garrett LaMartina Opening The Season Against The MAC This will be the 10th straight season that Rowan has played a team from the 2017 Final Team Statistics Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) to start the campaign. The Profs are 6-3 in the RU WU previous nine games. First Downs 123 180 Rushing Offense 99.4 95.8 NJAC Preseason Coaches Poll Passing Offense 107.2 235.5 Wesley College has been selected as the 2018 preseason football favorite in the Total Offense 206.6 331.3 NJAC. Scoring Offense 13.3 22.4 Rushing Defense 130.0 132.4 Passing Defense 180.7 178.3 1. Wesley College (7) Total Defense 310.7 310.6 2. Frostburg State University (3) Scoring Defense 21.4 15.9 3. Salisbury University 3rd Down Conversions 27% 36% 4. Kean University 4th Down Conversions 50% 57% 5. Christopher Newport University Interception Returns 10 14 Interception Yards 66 331 6. Rowan University Fumbles-Lost 21-9 20-8 7. The College of New Jersey Opp. Fumbles-Lost 20-7 18-9 8. Montclair State University Penalties-Yards 66-622 75-725 9. Southern Virginia University Time of Possession 29:02 27:55 10. William Paterson University Sacks By-Yards 20-160 40-262 Sack Allowed-Yards 26-177 22-153 (First place votes in parenthesis) 2018 Rowan Football Page 2 2017 NJAC Final Standings MAC Preseason Coaches Poll NJAC Overall The Delaware Valley University Aggies were selected as the favorite to win the Wesley College 9-0 10-2 2017 MAC title by the conference coaches in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Frostburg State University 8-1 11-2 The Aggies received five of the 8 first-place votes. Salisbury University 7-2 7-4 Montclair State University 5-4 5-5 1. Delaware Valley University (8) Christopher Newport University 4-5 5-5 2. Stevenson University (2) Kean University 4-5 4-6 3. Widener University (1) The College of New Jersey 4-5 4-6 4. Albright College Rowan University 3-6 4-6 5. Lycoming University Southern Virginia University 1-8 2-8 6. Lebanon Valley William Paterson University 0-9 0-10 7. King's College 8. FDU-Florham 2017 MAC Final Standings 9. Wilkes University MAC Overall 10. Misericordia University Delaware Valley University 9-0 12-1 11. Alvernia University Albright College 7-2 8-3 Widener University 7-2 7-4 (First place votes in parenthesis) Stevenson University 6-3 6-5 Lebanon Valley College 5-4 5-5 King's College 4-5 5-5 Season Openers On The Road Lycoming College 4-5 4-6 Rowan is 12-3 in season openers on the road since 1991. FDU-Florham 2-7 3-7 Misericordia University 1-8 1-9 Profs Name Three Captains Wilkes University 0-9 0-10 Running back Anthony Diorio, defensive back Travelle Curry and defensive end Kevin Stokes were named captains for the 2018 season. The players voted on the D3football.com Preseason Top 25 captains during training camp. 1. Mount Union 2. Mary Hardin-Baylor 3. St. Thomas This Week In The NJAC 4. UW-Oshkosh Thursday, Aug. 30 - Frostburg State at Stevenson, 7 p.m.; Friday Aug. 31 - Al- 5. Linfield bright at Salisbury, 7 p.m.; Delaware Valley at Wesley, 7 p.m.; The College of 6.