TCNJ’s rally falls short in loss to Rowan

EWING >> If there was ever a football team that needed a highlight reel, it’s The College of New Jersey.

Freshman quarterback Dave Jachera provided it early in the fourth quarter on Saturday night as he dropped back to pass, was chased out of the pocket, twice survived a sack and as he was spun around he found Vinny Guckin in the endzone.

Statistically, it was a 14yard TD pass, but it really travelled about 35 yards as Jachera was being chased.

The thrilling play brought the Lions to within three with 13:16 left in the game, but despite a furious rally late, TCNJ fell to Rowan, 17-14, in a classic New Jersey Athletic Conference rivalry game played on the Lions turf.

TCNJ fell to 0-6 overall and 0-5 in the NJAC and Rowan improves to 4-2 and 3-2 in the conference.

After the Jachera heroics, the Lions final drive started at their own 32 and just 1:35 on the clock. A fourth down conversion pass to Jack Clevenger got the Lions to the Rowan 38, but a sack on fourth down ended the rally.

It wasn’t a win, but it was a different TCNJ team in the second half.

The College of New Jersey came out with guns blazing on the first possession as it picked up three first downs and drove 68 yards to the Rowan one yard line.

Then “Murphy’s Law” set in and anything that could go wrong did, at least in the first half.

There was a fumble on the one in the first series, a bad snap on a punt, a pair of interceptions, including one at the Rowan one yardline and the result was 10 first half points for Rowan.

Oh yeah, the Lions had 99 yards in penalties in the first half.

After the fumble at the 1 yardline by Mark Pacini, the Lions got it back when Gavin Liepe intercepted a Rowan pass attempt.

But disaster struck on the Lions; next possession. The snap on a punt sailed over Zach Warcola’s head and Rowan took possession at the 1 yardline.

It only took on play with Riley Giles, the Rowan quarterback, getting the touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 1:45 left in the initial period.

Then in the second period it was Rowan’s Travelle Curry with a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 14-0 Profs lead.

Rowan’s Ethan McCarren booted a 41-yard field goal as time ran out in the first half for a 17-0 Rowan advantage.