SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 12 Salisbury University football team held a 21-14 halftime lead but Rowan University scored twice in the fourth quarter to hand the Sea Gulls a 26-21 setback on Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium during Homecoming.
Rowan (4-1, 2-0 NJAC) opened the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter. Salisbury (4-1, 1-1 NJAC) answered on its ensuing possession, putting together a nine-play, 65-yard drive that SyRus McGowan capped with a 12-yard touchdown run with seven seconds left in the opening quarter.
The Profs regained the lead early in the second quarter with a 47-yard touchdown run, putting Rowan ahead 14-7. Salisbury responded with another sustained drive, covering 75 yards in seven plays. McGowan finished the possession with a two-yard touchdown run to even the score at 14-14 with 7:25 remaining in the half.
The Sea Gulls took their first lead of the afternoon with two minutes left before halftime. After gaining possession, Salisbury needed just two plays to cover 47 yards, as McGowan broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run. The Sea Gulls a 21-14 advantage heading into the break. Neither team scored in the third quarter as the defenses kept the game within one possession.
Rowan pulled within one point early in the fourth quarter. The Profs drove 60 yards on nine plays, finishing the possession with a five-yard touchdown pass with 11:19 remaining. Rowan's extra point was unsuccessful, leaving Salisbury in front, 21-20.
Salisbury looked to protect its narrow lead, but Rowan put together the decisive drive in the final minutes. The Profs marched 70 yards on 10 plays, with an eight-yard run with 56 seconds remaining. Rowan's two-point attempt failed, but the touchdown put the visitors ahead, 26-21. The Sea Gulls were unable to complete a late comeback as Rowan secured the five-point victory.
Game Notes
- McGowan led Salisbury's offense with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. He also passed for 146 yards.
- Dario Belizaire added 34 rushing yards on three carries and led the Sea Gull receiving corps with three catches for 49 yards. Brody Strachan hauled in four passes for 45 yards, while Tyler Orth recorded a 40-yard reception.
- Defensively, Dylan Lyerly paced Salisbury with 11 total tackles, including five solo stops. Tyler Ohlmeyer and Joe Rosano each finished with 10 tackles, while Ohlmeyer added a sack for a seven-yard loss. Patrick Sheil contributed seven tackles and two pass breakups.
- Salisbury finished with 314 yards of total offense, including 168 rushing yards, and held Rowan to 351 total yards. The Sea Gulls possessed the ball for 30:10 and converted three of their four red-zone scoring opportunities into touchdowns or scores.
Salisbury returns to the road for another NJAC matchup, traveling to Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
