Rowan game notes

Rowan has advanced to the national championship game in five of head coach K.C. Keeler's seven seasons. Under Keeler, the Profs have won the East Region title every time they have made the NCAA playoffs (six times). This is Rowan's eighth appearance in the NCAA Championships and fifth consecutive (1991-92-93-95-96-97-98). The Profs are 20-7 overall in the NCAAs with four second place finishes.

Tabb's Thievery: Free safety Clinton Tabb has an interception in seven straight games, raising his team-leading total to 12. Tabb has nine picks over the seven-game stretch. At Montclair State in the national quarterfinal (Dec. 4), he had a 95-yard fumble recovery for a TD and a 56-yard interception return for a score. This year he led the NJAC and was tied for 17th in Division III in interceptions per game (0.8). Tabb, the 1998 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Co-Defensive Player of the Year, had five interceptions.

Turning It Over: In four playoff games, Rowan's defense has forced 21 turnovers. The Profs registered eight turnovers against Montclair State (five interceptions, three fumbles) and Ursinus (six interceptions, two fumbles), three at Rensselaer (all interceptions) and two at Mount Union (one fumble, one interception). The breakdown: 15 interceptions and six fumbles. Rowan's defense has scored four touchdowns in the last two games and were accountable for the Profs' only touchdown against Mount Union, a 33-yard fumble return by Tim Watson.

Frabasile's Feat: Rookie running back Jason Frabasile has emerged as Rowan's top running back. Frabasile was the hero against Mount Union, scoring the game-winning 7-yard score in overtime. He finished the game with 147 yards on 24 carries, both which were season highs. Frabasile has assumed the starting role after Justin Wright suffered a right knee injury at Cortland State (Oct. 16).

Rookies On The Rise: Rowan has two rookies starting on offense: quarterback Mike Warker and running back Jason Frabasile. Warker has been the starter under center since October 2 and has passed for 1,861 yards and 17 touchdowns. Frabasile has 131 rushes, most on the team, for 610 yards and seven touchdowns.

Streak Busters: Rowan's 24-17 win over Mount Union snapped the Purple Raiders' consecutive win streak at 54 games, an all divisions college football record. It was the Profs' first win against Mount Union, offsetting three prior losses in the national championship game. In all four games against the Purple Raiders, Rowan has scored 24 points (34-24 in 1993, 56-24 in 1996 and 44-24 in 1998).

Watson and White: Defensive tackle Tim Watson (6-4, 285) and defensive end Cornelius White (6-4, 285) anchor the number one ranked rush defense in the country (35.9 yards per game). Each player has 10 sacks. White (49 tackles) leads the team in tackles for a loss (18) and has two interceptions and three breakups. Watson (50 tackles) has 13 stops for a loss, five batted balls, one interception and two fumble recoveries.

Frade's Foot: Placekicker Nick Frade established two Rowan NCAA playoff records last week. Frade was 3-for-5 on field goal attempts, both new marks. The previous marks were three attempted and two made.

Keeler Passes Wackar: Head coach K.C. Keeler is the all-time leader in wins, surpassing Richard Wackar's 65 victories. Rowan's win at William Paterson on November 6 established the mark. Keeler has a 70-16-1 record (.810 winning percentage) in seven seasons. Tied at 12 The Rowan football team has tied the school record for wins in a season with 12. The Profs were 12-1 in 1992 and had won their first 12 games before losing to Washington & Jefferson, 18-13, in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. The Profs have won at least 10 games in six of seven seasons and five straight under Keeler.

Player Profiles

OFFENSE
#76 Jarryn Avery
Left Tackle Senior 6-5 305 North County/Baltimore, MD

in his third year at Rowan as starting left tackle...1999 Preseason All-American selection for the following publications: Football Gazette, Preview Sports, Street and Smith's and The Sporting News...named to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) All-Conference first team in 1999 and 1998 and second team in 1997...also selected to the 1998 Football Gazette All-East Region first team...protects quarterback's blind side...offense ranked 12th in scoring (37.6 points per game), 26th in Division III in rushing offense.

#4 Taman Bryant
Wide Receiver Senior 6-2 227 Buena Reg./Vineland, NJ

third year at Rowan as starting wide receiver...selected the 1999 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and chosen to the All-Conference first team...leads team in receiving yardage (975) and touchdown receptions (11)...has 52 catches, second behind Scott Lipford (56)...named to the USA Football Division III Offensive Honor Roll for his performance at University at Albany (six catches, 129 yards, two TDs)...against Kean (seven catches, 190 yards, two TDs), he was chosen NJAC Offensive Player of the Week.

#22 Jason Frabasile
Running Back Freshman 5-7 173 Bishop Ahr/Carteret, NJ

true freshman became the starting running back after Justin Wright suffered a knee injury at Cortland State (October 16)...rushed for 147 yards (24 carries) and the game-winning, seven-yard overtime touchdown against Mount Union in the semifinals...the 24 carries and 147 yards were his highest output of the season...scored a rushing TD all four playoff games...first on the team in rushing attempts (131)...second behind Wright in yards (610) and rushing touchdowns (seven)...NJAC's fifth leading rusher

#71 John Gagnon
Right Guard Senior 6-1 275 Northern Highlands/Upper Saddle River, NJ

second-year starter on the offensive line...started all 13 games...1999 NJAC All-Conference first team selection...part of an offensive line which is averaging 193.5 yards per game on the ground...law and justice studies major

#1 Scott Lipford
Wide Receiver Sophomore 6-0 170 Ocean City/Egg Harbor Twp., NJ

speedy wideout has developed with Taman Bryant as a dangerous tandem...1999 NJAC All-Conference first team...leads the team in receptions with 56...second in yardage with 904 and third in touchdowns (five)...made nine grabs for 104 yards against Mount Union...it was his fourth 100-yard game of the year (174 at Albany, 111 vs. Buffalo State and 125 at Cortland State)...against the Purple Raiders, he had an 18-yard reception on third and 10 in overtime, setting up Frabasile's game-winning run on the next play.

#45 David Sadowski
Tight End Senior 6-3 255 Bishop Eustace/Mt. Laurel, NJ

in his third year at Rowan...1999 NJAC All-Conference first team...moved back to tight end this season where he began his career from fullback...team's third leading receiver with 21 catches for 277 yards...his six receiving TDs are second behind Taman Bryant (11)...scored a TD in playoff games against Ursinus and Montclair State...selected to the 1998 NJAC All-Conference second team as a fullback...Rowan's short yardage man last season, scoring six TDs on just 39 carries...caught 26 passes (third best on the team)

#5 Mike Warker
Quarterback Freshman 6-3 205 Oakcrest/Egg Harbor, NJ

true freshman has started the last nine games...1999 NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year and All-Conference second team...replaced starter Jeff Orihel in week four after Orihel suffered a knee injury against The College of New Jersey (October 2)...rallied Rowan for 40 unanswered points against the Lions and a 40-3 victory...named the NJAC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance (five of 13, 163 yards, two TDs)...left-hander has completed 114 of 221 passes on the season for 1861 yards and 17 touchdowns.

#3 Bobby Woolfolk
Wide Receiver Sophomore 6-4 208 Glassboro/Glassboro, NJ

a big play receiver who leads Rowan in yards per catch (19.9 avg.)...has 17 catches for 339 yards and two touchdowns...both TDs were in playoff games, a 13-yard score against Ursinus and a four-yarder at Montclair State...81 yards at Rensselaer were a season high...tallied 10 catches, 159 yards and one touchdown in first season...in last year's national semifinal against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, he made two grabs for 71 yards, including a 46-yard reception that set up Rowan's second TD.

#18 Justin Wright
Running Back Senior 5-9 193 Triton Reg./Laurel Springs, NJ

top running back has been hampered by a knee injury most of the season...ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament at Cortland State on October 16...remains the team's leading rusher with 871 yards on 119 carries...named to the NJAC All-Conference second team...lead Rowan with 7.3 yards per carry and eight touchdowns...rushed for 234 yards and one touchdown in win at Division I-AA University at Albany...for his game against Albany, Wright was the NJAC Offensive Player of the Week and was on the ECAC Metro Region Honor Roll.

Defense

#97 Luke Carpenter
Left End Junior 6-5 250 Pennsville/Pennsville, NJ

in his third year with the program and second as a starter at defensive end...1999 NJAC All-Conference honorable mention...14th on the team with 21 tackles, 12 solo and nine assisted...has registered 10 tackles for a loss of 34 yards...five sacks for a loss of 22 yards...also has four pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery...his lone interception came at Rensselaer in the opening round of the playoffs...it set up Rowan's first TD as the Profs rolled to a 29-10 victory

#8 John Gavlick
Outside Linebacker Senior 6-1 235 Eastern Reg./Medford Lakes, NJ

four-year starter at outside linebacker...emerged as the team's defensive leader...named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America team...1999 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference first team choice...has 68 total tackles, 50 solo and 18 assisted...has 15 tackles for a loss of 79 yards...seven and a half sacks leads the linebackers and is fourth on the team....also has three interceptions, two pass breakups and one forced fumble

#25 Ron Gibson
Cornerback Junior 5-10 188 Camden/Camden, NJ

two-year starter at cornerback...responsible for covering opposition's top wideout...called the best cover corner in the country by head coach K.C. Keeler...NJAC All-Conference first team in 1999...eighth on team in tackles with 37...has 30 solo stops and seven assisted...five interceptions is second on the team behind Clinton Tabb (14)...leads team with 14 pass breakups...made 12 tackles, nine solo and three assisted, in 1998...registered three interceptions and three breakups

#10 Mark Hendricks
Outside Linebacker Senior 6-2 235 Deptford/Wenonah, NJ two-year starter at outside linebacker...two-time captain...1999 NJAC All-Conference first team...Hendricks has started all 13 games at outside linebacker and is second on the team in tackles with 64 (42 solo and 22 assisted)...career high 13 tackles for a loss...tied for fifth in pass breakups (five)...in 1998, Hendricks was named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Region Honor Roll twice...he recorded 60 tackles and three sacks in 1998...received NJAC All-Conference honorable mention

#87 Randy Marotto
Defensive Tackle Senior 6-4 290 Toms River N./Toms River, NJ

second season on the defensive line for Rowan...1999 NJAC All-Conference first team defense...ninth on team in tackles with 34, 19 solo and 15 assisted...16 tackles for a loss of 80 yards ranks second, behind Cornelius White...eight sacks is third best on team...has two pass breakups...named to the ECAC/Budget Metro Region and USA Football Division III Defensive Honor Rolls (November 8)...came off the bench in 1998...recorded five sacks for a loss of 26 yards...had two additional tackles for a loss

#27 Clinton Tabb
Free Safety Sophomore 6-1 175 Pennsauken/Pennsauken, NJ

two-year starter at free safety...1999 NJAC All-Conference first team...has intercepted a pass in seven consecutive games...overall, he has 12 interceptions for 166 yards...at Montclair State in the NCAA quarterfinal, Tabb scored two touchdowns, a 95 yard fumble recovery and a 56-yard interception return...sixth on team in tackles with 46, 37 solo and nine assisted...seven pass breakups is third among the secondary...in 1998, he was selected the NJAC Co-Defensive Rookie of the Year

#56 Leroy Thompson
Defensive End Senior 6-1 235 Rancocas Valley Reg./Mt. Holly, NJ

pass rush specialist who sees action on third downs...has four and a half sacks this year...sacked Mount Union's Gary Smeck and forced a fumble which tackle Tim Watson returned 33 yards for a Rowan touchdown...18 tackles, 13 solo and five assisted...eight tackles for a loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble...recorded a team-high nine sacks for a loss of 65 yards last year...had 19 total tackles, 13 solo and six assisted...forced one fumble and recovered two more

#99 Tim Watson
Defensive Tackle Senior 6-4 285 Mainland Reg./Williamstown, NJ

Watson has helped form one of the top defensive lines in Division III...1999 NJAC All-Conference first team choice...he has started all 13 games at defensive tackle and is fourth on the team in tackles with 50 (27 solo and 23 assisted)...Watson is tied with end Cornelius White with 10 sacks...his 13 tackles for a loss are tied for fourth on the team...leads the defensive line with five batted balls...the Profs ranked first in the country against the run, allowing 35.9 yards per game

#90 Cornelius White
Right End Senior 6-4 285 Newburgh Free Academy (NY)/Silver Spring, MD

second season as a starting defensive end at Rowan University...two-time NJAC All-Conference selection (1998 and 1999)...White is fifth on the team in tackles with 49 (37 solo and 12 assisted)...White shares the club lead in sacks with 10 and is first in tackles for a loss (18 for 94 yards)...he leads the defensive line with two interceptions...in a 40-3 win over The College of New Jersey (October 2), White recorded five tackles and two sacks and the defense held the Lions to 56 yards on 41 carries

Specialists

#19 Nick Frade
Kicker Sophomore 6-2 176 Cherry Hill E./Cherry Hill, NJ

first season as Rowan's placekicker...also kickoff specialist...connected on eight of 12 field goals this season with a long of 40 yards...booted three field goals in semifinal win at Mount Union, including distances of 20, 40 and 33 yards...five of six between 20 and 29 yards and is perfect (two for two) from 40 yards and over...second in NJAC in kick scoring and field goals made per game...health and exercise science major

#37 Darryl Fanelli
Punter Sophomore 5-7 160 Washington Twp./Sewell, NJ

first season as Rowan's punter...averaging 32.5 yards per punt...70 punts for 2272 yards...has placed 15 inside the 20-yard line...long punt in 64 yards...fifth in the NJAC in punting average...batted .242 in 33 games as an outfielder for the baseball team which advanced to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional