WILKES-BARRE, PA – Senior quarterback Rob Johnson (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater) hit junior wide receiver Jordan D'Emiliio (Stowe, PA/Saint Pius X) for a 21-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and then blocked an extra point with 0:53 remaining in the half to beat the College at Florham Devils, 7-6, in a driving rain storm in Middle Atlantic Conference action on Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, the Devils dropped to 1-6 (0-4 MAC) while the Colonels improved to 4-3 (1-3 MAC).
FDU got the ball first and punted it away to Wilkes who marched it down to the Devils 25 yard line where on fourth-and-five; the Devils defense stuffed a run play to get the ball back. The Devils then faced a fourth down of their own at the Wilkes 41 yard line, but this time it was the Colonels turn to get a stop to turn the ball over on downs. The Colonels used that stop to get on the board first as they marched 55 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to D'Emiliio with 14:47 left in the second quarter.
Facing a fourth-and-three from their own 37 yard line with 2:30 left in the half, the Devils lined up to punt but junior punter John Hancock (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) couldn't handle the snap so in a head's-up move he tossed the ball to junior left tackle James Sullivano (Howell, NJ/Howell) who scampered for five yards and the first down. On third-and-15 from the FDU 37, senior quarterback Bill Winters (Brick, NJ/Brick) connected with junior wide receiver Andrew Scamporino (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) for 39 yards down to the Wilkes 24 yard line. The pair then hooked up again for a 23-yard touchdown pass to get the Devils on the board, 7-6 with 0:53 remaining in the half, but the extra point was blocked. On the first play of the next Wilkes possession, sophomore defensive tackle Gilbert Taylor (Salem, NJ/Salem) sacked Johnson and forced a fumble that senior defensive end James Gartland (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin) recovered on the Wilkes 31 yard line. The Devils could only get one yard though, before the half ran out.
After a scoreless third quarter, Wilkes moved the ball down to the FDU 20 yard line and faced a fourth-and-two. Johnson found senior wide receiver Gennaro Zangardi (Pittston Twp., PA/Pittston) for 13 yards down to the Devils seven yard line. The FDU defense stood tall and forced a field goal attempt with 10:10 left in the game but Wilkes muffled the snap and the score remained 7-6 in favor of the Colonels. On FDU's first play, Winters ran for 44 yards to the FDU 49 yard line and a late hit by Wilkes on the second play put the ball on the Colonels on the 30 yard line. Winters then scampered for 12 yards down to the Wilkes 18 yard line before the Devils stalled and attempted a 40-yard field goal that was well short allowing the Colonels to take over.
Wilkes drove all the way down to the FDU 32 yard line and faced a fourth-and-six but the Devil defense came up big once more, getting the stop and the ball back with 2:42 left in the game. Winters found senior wide receiver Kyle Bukowiec (Howell, NJ/Howell) twice to the Wilkes 47 yard line but a sack pushed the Devils back to the their own 45. On third-and-10, Winters hit senior tight end Beau Reed (Ocean, NJ/Rumson) to the Wilkes 44 with 1:16 left on the clock but Winters was intercepted at the Colonels 20 yard line two plays later allowing Wilkes to escape with the win.
Winters finished the game 10-of-24 for 132 yards to go along with a touchdown and an interception through the air while rushing for 85 yards on 17 carries on the ground. Scamporino had two catches for 62 yards and a score while junior running back Bayshawn Wells (Lawrence, NJ/Lawrence) had 41 yards on 13 carries. Taylor led the defense with six tackles, five for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles while sophomore linebacker Steve Hoverson (Middletown, NJ/Iona) had seven tackles, two for loss, and a sack.
The Devils return to action on Saturday, October 31, 2009, at Albright beginning at 1 pm.
