Gearing up for TCNJ
It may not have an intriguing name like the Cortaca Jug (played this weekend between Cortland and Ithaca), but Rowan against TCNJ is one of the premier rivalries in the nation.
That Saturday’s match up will be the 50th meeting between the two schools (dating back to when TCNJ was Trenton State and Rowan was Glassboro State). The Profs lead the all-time series 31-16 (with a pair of ties). And no matter what, the game should be a nail-biter.
Need proof? Last season, TCNJ won the NJAC and Rowan suffered through their worst season in over 20 years but it took a late interception returned for a touchdown by Lions safety Andrew Larkin to seal a 10-7 TCNJ victory. In 2006, TCNJ went 2-5 in the NJAC and Rowan advanced to the national quarterfinals, but the Profs barely ousted the Lions, 14-6. You have to go all the way back to 1999 to find the last time this rivalry was decided by more than 15 points (that year, the Profs drubbed the Lions, 40-3, on their way to a Stagg Bowl loss).
“TCNJ is a rivalry game so we have to put today behind us and come out and get a win,” said quarterback Frank Wilczynski following last weekend’s loss to Montclair. “You never want to end the season with two straight losses. We have to go out and play our style of football. We can’t let this week affect us.”
Senior safety Jimmy DiPaolo, who will be playing the Lions for the final time, knows the importance of the game:
“We’re not going to pack it in right now,” said DiPaolo. “We’ve had too good of a season.”
The Lions have nothing to play for but pride. The Profs? Only the slightest chance at an at-large bid. But still, expect the teams to leave everything they have on the field.
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