SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 12 Salisbury University football team returns to Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, welcoming Rowan University for Homecoming and a pivotal New Jersey Athletic Conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Sea Gulls enter the contest with a perfect 4-0 record and a 1-0 mark in NJAC play after opening conference action with a 21-9 victory at The College of New Jersey. Rowan enters at 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play after setting a program record with a 79-0 victory over Vermont State Castleton last Saturday. Salisbury has outscored its opponents 142-32 through four games and enters Saturday averaging 35.5 points per game while allowing just 8.0 points per contest. Rowan has scored 136 points this season and is averaging 34.0 points per game.
THE RUNDOWN
GAME NOTES
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
TICKETS
The Series: Saturday's contest marks the 33rd meeting between Salisbury and Rowan. The Sea Gulls hold a 17-14-1 advantage in the all-time series and have won eight consecutive meetings. Salisbury has also won nine of the last 10 matchups between the two programs. The Sea Gulls earned a 31-28 victory over Rowan in last year's meeting in Glassboro. The series dates back more than three decades, with the teams meeting regularly throughout their histories. Salisbury's current eight-game winning streak began with a 33-0 victory in 2017. The Sea Gulls also defeated Rowan 38-7 in 2019, 24-7 in 2021, 28-23 in 2022, 35-20 in 2023, 42-35 in 2024 and 31-28 in 2025.
Last Time Out: Salisbury improved to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in NJAC play with a 21-9 victory at The College of New Jersey on Oct. 3. The Sea Gulls have scored at least 21 points in every game this season while allowing no more than 13 points in any contest. Rowan enters Saturday coming off its most dominant performance of the season. The Profs defeated Vermont State Castleton 79-0 on Oct. 3, setting a Rowan program record for points in a game while also establishing the largest margin of victory in program history. Wide receiver Michael Zarfati posted career highs with 190 receiving yards and three touchdowns on six catches, while defensive back Kam Brown tied a program single-game record with three interceptions and returned two for touchdowns.
Defense Leading the Way: Salisbury's defense has been one of the nation's most consistent units through the opening month of the season, allowing only 960 total yards and 32 points. The Sea Gulls have recorded 12 sacks and have forced five turnovers, while opponents have scored an average of just eight points per game. Linebacker Tyler Ohlmeyer leads Salisbury with 36 tackles, while defensive back Dylan Lyerly has totaled 35 tackles and recorded an interception, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Defensive lineman Cole Ferrara has been the Sea Gulls' leading pass rusher with three sacks, while Nana Eshun-Baidoo has added two sacks and three tackles for loss.
Scouting the Profs: Rowan enters Saturday with a 3-1 overall record and a 1-0 mark in NJAC play. The Profs have scored 136 points while allowing just 35 through four games. Unlike Salisbury, which has relied heavily on its rushing attack, Rowan has generated much of its production through the air. The Profs average 257.8 passing yards per game and 406.8 yards of total offense per contest. Quarterback Nate Maiers leads the Rowan offense with 907 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. His primary target has been Michael Zarfati, who has hauled in 26 passes for 611 yards and eight touchdowns. Zarfati is averaging 152.75 all-purpose yards per game. On the ground, Tyshawn Bookman leads Rowan with 214 rushing yards, while Nunes Bukula IV has rushed for 194 yards and three touchdowns. The Rowan defense has been particularly stout against the run. The Profs have allowed just 64 rushing yards through four games, an average of 16.0 yards per contest. Rowan has allowed 799 total yards this season. The Profs have also created plenty of havoc through the secondary. Rowan has intercepted four passes and returned those interceptions for 150 yards and three touchdowns. Senior defensive back Kam Brown leads the team with three interceptions and 110 interception-return yards, including two touchdowns.
Strength Vs. Strength: One of the game's most intriguing matchups will come when Salisbury's powerful rushing attack meets Rowan's nationally impressive run defense. The Sea Gulls average 256.8 rushing yards per game, while Rowan has surrendered only 64 rushing yards all season. Salisbury has scored 14 rushing touchdowns compared to five through the air. The matchup on the other side of the ball will be equally important. Rowan's passing attack, led by Maiers and Zarfati, will face a Salisbury secondary that has helped the Sea Gulls hold opponents to 479 passing yards through four games. Ball security could also prove critical. Salisbury has yet to lose a turnover this season, while Rowan has six turnovers lost. At the same time, the Profs have four interceptions and three fumble recoveries, making their opportunistic defense a major factor entering Saturday.
Up Next: Following Saturday's Homecoming matchup with Rowan, Salisbury hits the road for another NJAC contest, traveling to Vermont State University Castleton on Saturday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 26 individual national championships, and 211 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
