Turnovers plague Morrisville State as Rowan claims 36-17 NJAC win

Morrisville State College football gave away possession five times in the contest, including three in the second half, as visiting Rowan University claimed the 36-17 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) victory Saturday afternoon in Morrisville.



Morrisville State drops to 1-5 overall, 1-4 in conference action, while Rowan improves to 4-2 on the season, 4-1 in NJAC play.



Lemar Johnson (Ossining, NY) completed nine passes in 23 attempts for 122 yards, throwing two interceptions, while adding 42 yards on the ground to lead the running game for the Mustangs. Mychael Hardamon (Roosevelt, NY) completed 2-of-5 passes for 19 yards and an interception. Sam Stonerock (Hornell, NY) had 31 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.



Josh Powell (Yonkers, NY) led the receiving unit with two catches for 43 yards, adding 154 yards in kick off returns to his tallies for the day.



TJ Barnaba (Marcy, NY) posted 10 total tackles for the Mustangs, two solo, while defensive back Jeremy Stewart (Moravia, NY) added nine, six solo stops.



Profs quarterback Louie Bianchini completed 12-of-21 passes for 154 yards and two scores, six passes to Dan Reed for 65 yards and a score. Steve Henvalow led all ball carriers with 95 net yards in the running game as Rowan edged Morrisville State 108 to 95 yards on the ground.



Dean Hammel led the Rowan defensive unit with 10 total tackles, including two for a loss of three yards, while recovering two fumbles for 35 yards returned. Daniel Ashley added seven tackles, three solo, and had a sack for a loss of five yards.



On the first drive of the contest, linebacker Patrick Ruley forced a Johnson fumble that was recovered by Hammel and returned for a Rowan touchdown just 1:36 into the game. Midway through the quarter, Tom Wilczynski extended the Prof lead to 10-0, hitting the 25 yard field goal.



Morrisville State turned over the ball over on downs at the end of the first quarter, and Rowan took advantage, completing an eight play, 40-yard drive for the 16-0 advantage just 3:38 into the second quarter.



Powell returned the kickoff 39-yards to the Rowan 46 yard line, and after a set of unsportsmanlike conduct and pass interference penalties, Morrisville State capitalized with a two yard run by Stonerock for their first points of the day.



On the ensuing Rowan drive, Morrisville State linebacker Josh Whitehead (Oneonta, NY) forced a Hevalow fumble which lead to a second touchdown run by Stonerock midway through the quarter, bringing the Mustangs to within two.



A fumble forced by Travis French (Newark Valley, NY) late in the quarter led to a 21 yard field goal by Juan Rios (Grahamsville, NY) for the 17-16 halftime lead.



In the third, Rowan regained the lead with an 11-yard scoring pass from Bianchini to Reed before adding another score nearly a minute and half later, after blocking a punt, on a Hevalow nine yard run.



Minutes before the end of the quarter, Bianchini found Eddie Eisenhart for the 53-yard scoring reception to extend the Prof lead to 36-17.



In the fourth, the Mustangs drove deep into Rowan territory twice, but were unable to capitalize, throwing interceptions twice and turning the ball over on downs once.



Morrisville State returns for the field Saturday at eighth nationally ranked Kean University.