By Pat Cummings
D3sports.com
GLASSBORO, N.J. -- It was not pretty.
Rowan: 424 total yards
Christopher Newport: 36 total yards.
With 44 seconds gone by in the fourth quarter, the Captains had managed to lose 17 yards to that point in the game.
The final score of 32-8 does not seem all that bad considering those numbers. Rowan missed three field goal attempts from 30, 34, and 35 yards; two of those drives that led to misses were started within CNU territory and another drive that started there led to a turnover on downs.
It could have been much worse.
Rowan quarterback Mike Orihel, returning in his first game from a season-ending wrist injury in 2005, led the Profs on a nine-play, 65-yard drive to start his revival and put the Profs on top to stay. The wheels then fell off the CNU wagon.
Captains quarterback Hudson Bryant dropped back on CNU's second offensive play and lost the handle on the football in the wet conditions. The pigskin was corralled by Rowan's Randy Tosh who stumbled a few yards to give the Profs a quick 14-0 lead. Next drive -- Captains prepare to punt and the snap flies over punter Matt Barcus' head ... Rowan recovers for a score.
21-0. Game over.
Captains fans: At least the quarterback controversy may have been solved. Hudson Bryant and Todd Faison vied for playing time throughout camp and there was no clear starter for this year's opener. Bryant finished the day 0-for-6 with an interception while Faison completed 12 of 25 passes with an interception, and CNU's lone touchdown of the game.
The CNU offensive line had no time to handle the third-ranked Profs and allowed seven sacks, five of which fell onto the back of Faison who found himself in a Rowan sandwich on several occasions. One Rowan fan turned to me in the misty conditions and noted the obvious after one such incident, "I'd say the pocket collapsed there."
I'd say it could only get better for the Captains at this point but the visiting Crusaders of Mary Hardin-Baylor will step into POMOCO as heavy favorites. It will be a Game of the Week, but probably more so because UMHB is coming into the mid-Atlantic, not because we expect CNU to contend nationally. Should the Captains play a relatively close game, I would be impressed.
Red Devils shine bright in opener
Dickinson returned its entire defense from a year ago and opened the season with a 14-0 shutout of future Centennial Conference opponent Juniata. Quarterback Matt Torchia tossed 10 completions from 12 attempts including two touchdowns to junior wide receiver Chris McInerney in the coasting victory.
The Red Devils have prospects for this season and will face a stiff test against Hobart in Week 2.
Eagles roll against offense-less Terror
Welcome back Eagles fans. Ho hum, 41-0. Nice way to get rolling in 2006. With Shenandoah's listless offense next week, Bridgewater stands to roll up a bunch of points on their side of the scoreboard in the first two weeks of the season.
Quarterback Jeff Highfill passes for 175 yards and runs for another 105, including a 44-yard touchdown rush.
Not too bad. Of course, coach Mike Clark thinks the Eagles missed some opportunities.
"We don't need to be kicking field goals inside the 10-yard line," Clark critiqued to the Harrisonburg Daily News Record.
Bridgewater running back Winston Young left the game midway through the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. The senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had 12 carries for 56 yards in the limited time, and fortunately for the Eagles, they didn't really need him.
McDaniel quarterback Brad Baer made his comeback after going out in Week 1 last season with an injury. Baer got most of the yardage on his own in a year in which McDaniel's top four running backs did not return to the team. Next start against second-year program Seton Hill should get the team on the board.
Picking up where they left off
The surprising offensive production of 2005 will surprise no one who faces the Guilford Quakers in 2006. The Quakers picked up their first Week 1 win since 1999 (21-16 v. Methodist) and sophomore ball-slinger Josh Vogelbach tossed a school record six touchdowns, including three to Micah Rushing and two to Joe Joyner. The 49-35 final was the most points allowed by Ferrum since a 49-0 loss against the same Guilford Quakers.
"Our coaches put together an unbelievable game plan, like they put us in the right situation every time," Vogelbach told the Greensboro News Record. "Eventually when it comes down to it," Vogelbach recited with professional precision, "players got to make plays, and the guys around me are truly unbelievable and they make my job easier."
Vogelbach ended the day with 338 passing yards, marking the seventh consecutive game in which he has thrown for more than 300 yards.
Ferrum, meanwhile, suffered an opening-week loss after winning the USA South Conference last season and running all over their opponents. Terrell Mulford, the Panthers' leading running back, graduated this spring and no one really stepped in to take his spot in the backfield. Quarterback Jermaine Pitts kept the ball most of the afternoon and tallied 170 yards on 21 keepers.
The Panthers have Week 2 off while preparing for Bridgewater in Week 3.
Mid-Atlantic Region Top 5
Once again, I will prop my subjective five best regional teams up there for your own debate. From a disclosure standpoint, no one votes in these rankings -- they are based on my tenured analysis. Should you wish to opine, send me a note, or take it to the message boards.
1. Bridgewater
2. Wilkes
3. Guilford
4. Delaware Valley
No fifth team right now. Dickinson's shutout of lowly Juniata does not seem worthy, nor does a late Randolph-Macon win against Denison. We'll leave it this way for now and see how things develop. Bridgewater fired on all cylinders to shutout McDaniel while Wilkes equally demolished William Paterson. Guilford's offense against Ferrum was back to its 2005 feel and the Quakes seemed to pick up where they left off. Del Val is at the bottom of the list because of their idle week and our lack of knowledge as to how the Aggies will replace Adam Knoblauch.
Games of the Week
Wilkes at Widener, Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium, Chester, Pa, 1:00 p.m.: The Colonels have taken three consecutive wins over the season-opening Pioneers. David Wood's squad has been improving and the Colonels are one of the two teams to beat in the MAC. This one should be fun.
Mary Hardin-Baylor at Christopher Newport, POMOCO Stadium, Newport News, Va., 1:00 p.m.: One of UMHB's two non-conference games, and this one is the easier game for the Crusaders who will host UW-Whitewater at the end of October. One paper, this seemed like a great game in the preseason. Regardless, it will be nice to see a quality Texas squad visiting the region.
