Box Score GLASSBORO, N.J. – In its season opener, the Stevenson University football team grinded out a 20-17 over Rowan on Thursday night in a defensive battle.
Trailing 17-14 at half, the Mustangs (1-0) kept the Profs (0-1) off the board in the second half.
Brody Campbell connected on two field goals, including the eventual game winner with 10:58 left in regulation from 30 yards out. He tied the score at 17-all with 5:54 left to go in the third quarter on a 38-yarder that just snuck inside the right upright.
Quarterback
Nyaire Wilson went 13-for-23 for 141 yards and a touchdown, while
Elijah Marquez rushed for 119 yards on 30 attempts, while adding in a score.
Pat Gorman caught a team-high eight passes for 84 yards, while
Tylor Blake caught the lone scoring pass from Wilson from three-yards out.
Clarence Travis had nine tackles to lead the Mustangs, with an interception that he returned for 15 yards.
Demetrius Salley and
Gavin Shields each had eight tackles each.
Josh Dodd had four punts on the evening, averaging 33.3 yards with a long of 42 yards.
The start of the game was probably not how the Mustangs envisioned, as Stevenson fumbled the opening kickoff giving the Profs the ball at the Mustang 7-yard line. But, the defense held and the field goal attempt by Rowan was missed.
Rowan would take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter as Eric Bryant returned a Wilson pass 28 yards for a pick six with 11:45 left. They would extend the lead to 10-0 with 2:25 left as Connor Batten connected on a field goal from 26 yards out.
Stevenson would get on the board, completing a 13-play, 81-yard drive in 5:58 with a 3-yard TD pass from Wilson to Blake with 9:02 left. The Mustangs took a 14-10 lead with 1:55 left in the half as Marquez completed a seven-play, 69-yard drive with a nice four-yard run.
Rowan wouid take a 17-14 lead at intermission as Noah Brunatti tossed a 26-yard pass to Jake Schicke with three seconds left in the half.
In the second half, Stevenson was able to control the game as they went on a long drive (16 plays, 63 yards in 7:17), polishing it off with Campbell's 38 yard field goal with 5:54 left.
After stopping a Prof drive at the Mustang' 38, Stevenson was able to flip the field and a
Josh Dodd punt put the Profs at their own 17 yard line.
In the fourth, Travis stopped a Prof drive at the 29 yard line, returning it to the 14-yard line. Campbell connected on a 30-yard field goal with 10:58 left for the final score of the game.
From there, Rowan would get no farther than their own 35.
Stevenson will open up at home next Saturday, September 9, as the Mustangs host Lebanon Valley.
