GLASSBORO, N.J. (11/01/08) - Kean University scored 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, however were unable to overcome a 23-point second-half deficit in falling to host Rowan University, 30-22, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Profs improved to 7-1 overall, 6-1 in the NJAC, while the Cougars fell to 5-3 overall, 4-3 in the conference.

Trailing 30-7 after three quarters of play, Kean looked for a repeat of last year's come-from- behind victory when they turned a 28-14 fourth-quarter deficit into a 35-28 overtime victory.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, Kean junior nose tackle Darryl Jackson (Red Bank, N.J.) forced a Rowan fumble at the Prof 37-year line that junior defensive end Darnell Butler (Rahway, N.J.) recovered at the Rowan 35-yard line.

After losing two-yards on the first play of the drive, junior running back Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, N.J.) turned a third-and-long into a 37-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 30-14 with 9:22 remaining after the extra point by junior Richard Jaeger (Hazlet, N.J.).

On the ensuing kick-off, the Cougars recovered the on-sides kick at the Rowan 37-yard line and just six plays later, freshman quarterback Thomas D'Ambrisi (Eatontown, N.J.) connected with junior Derric Harris (Freehold, N.J.) on a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Cougars, who were aided by a Rowan holding penalty on fourth down to keep the drive alive, cut the deficit to eight points at 30-22 when D'Ambrisi found junior tight end Alex Cade (Galloway, N.J.) for the two-point conversion with 7:20 remaining in the game.

The Cougars then forced Rowan into a three-and-out and took over on their own 21-yard line after the Rowan punt with 5:40 remaining on the game. D'Ambrisi hit sophomore Louis Haynes (Tinton Falls, N.J.) on back-to-back completions of 16-yards and 17-yards to move the Cougars into Prof territory at the Rowan 47.

Kean eventually got the ball inside the Rowan 10-yard line following an 11-yard rush by Chunn and a big 30-yard reception by Harris to give the Cougars first and goal at the Rowan 8-yard line with 1:15 remaining.

Chunn and D'Ambrisi combined for three yards on the next two plays, however a pair of D'Ambrisi passes fell incomplete in the endzone on the final two plays to end the chance of a second-straight comeback for the Cougars against Rowan.

The Profs took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, taking advantage of a pair of Cougars fumbles deep inside Kean territory for the early scores.

Rowan extended the lead to 20-0 in the second quarter on a 32-yard pass from junior quarterback Frank Wilczynski (Pine Hill, N.J.) to junior wide receiver Marcus Lee (Vineland, N.J.), before the Cougars got on the board on a two-yard run by junior Sean Atkins (Perth Amboy, N.J.) to pull the Cougars to 20-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Profs again took advantage of Cougar turnovers to extend the lead to 30-7 after an eight-yard rushing touchdown by Wilczynski and a 19-yard field goal by freshman kicker Mark Getsinger (Deptford, N.J.).

For the Cougars, Chunn finished with 95 yards rushing and one touchdown, while D'Ambrisi completed just 14-of-31 passes with two interceptions for 157 yards with one touchdown. Dukes led all Kean receivers with four catches (37 yards), while Harris had a team-high 75 receiving yards on three receptions. Dukes also added two kick-off returns for 60 yards, while Haynes had three returns for 78 yards.

Defensively, rookie Jamahl Williams (Passaic, N.J.) led the Cougars with 10 tackles and one pass break-up, while Jackson added seven tackles, including three for a loss of nine yards, and two forced fumbles.

Wilczynski led Rowan's offense with 70 yards rushing and one touchdown on 15 carries, while also completing 5-of-13 passes for 57 yards and one TD.

Linebacker Drew Yezzi (Franklinville, N.J.), nose guard Justin Hinds (Port Reading, N.J.) and defensive end Matt Hoffman (Burlington, N.J.) all posted eight tackles. Yezzi registered five tackles for a loss (-22 yards), one sack (-3 yards) and one pass breakup.