The Rowan University football team arrived in Wayne, New Jersey on Saturday, Nov. 16, looking to end year one of the Pat Ruley era with a bang, and they did just that, dominating the William Paterson Pioneers in a convincing 45-0 shutout.

“It was the right way to send off the seniors,” Ruley said. “I told the guys before the game, this is the last 60 minutes of this edition of Rowan football, and underclassmen, you’re gonna want the underclassmen when you’re seniors to play a certain way in this type of game, and seniors, this should be like the Super Bowl for you guys.”

The Profs were rolling early and never looked back, as sophomore running back Nunes Bukula IV struck first with an 18-yard rushing touchdown to give the Profs a 7-0 lead with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

The defense got an opportunity to make a play shortly after, and sophomore defensive back AJ Ryker took advantage by securing an interception, returning it 39 yards, and giving the Profs’ offense an opportunity to go up double digits in the opening frame. They did just that, as freshman quarterback Matt Welsey threw a dart to Shane Martin in the corner of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown.

Welsey got the start and finished the season similar to how he started it against Stevenson, throwing for three touchdowns, two of them to Martin. 

The dual-quarterback system is one that usually doesn’t pan out, but this season, the tandem of Welsey and Nate Maiers worked very well. Maiers shook off an early-season sophomore slump to throw for over 200 yards in four of his last five games, and Welsey racked up score after score in his appearances, finishing with 13 total touchdowns and showing off his dual-threat ability in the process.

“Both of them understood their role this year, obviously both of them as competitors want to be out there every single snap,” Ruley said. “They have different skill sets, and the way I look at it, different styles of players but both give their own way of really giving you issues as a defense. That’s problematic for opponents.”

The Profs’ defense consists primarily of seniors, with nine out of the unit’s 11 starters graduating this year. They made sure that their final game counted and gave Pioneers quarterback Mahsiah McRae an afternoon to forget.

The Profs forced six total turnovers in the form of three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Their defensive line harassed the sophomore all day, raking up a season-high nine sacks, a completely dominant send-off for the Profs’ defensive seniors.

Rowan’s defense also achieved an outstanding milestone to end the season, finishing with the most turnovers forced in the country with 32, averaging over three per game. Not a bad start for the defensive-minded Ruley’s tenure here in Glassboro. 

This win locked up a 6-4 finish for the Profs, including a perfect 4-0 record at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium, and a Breakfast Bowl trophy in their double overtime win against Montclair State.

Heading into next season, finding new leaders on both sides of the ball will be something Ruley emphasizes as the off-season progresses.

“Obviously, I’ve already had some of these conversations already,” Ruley said. “I really am looking forward to this off-season, really seeing who continues to take the reins, really elevate themselves as a leader. I think we’ve got some talent coming back in that room for guys who were role players, or a couple returning starters. We’re going to challenge some guys to step into those roles who I’ve identified as kind of those rising guys, and always organically figure out who those guys are that the team gravitates towards and listens to.”

The level of culture and tradition that’s been built since Ruley arrived over the summer has been extraordinary, and in the words of the former Profs linebacker, “We’re just getting started.”

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