Kean Battles Late, But Falls to Rowan on the Road

by: Michael Sanders

GLASSBORO, N.J. — It was a tough afternoon for Kean football, but the Cougars showed fight until the final whistle. Despite a slow start, Kean closed strong with back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter before falling 42-14 to Rowan in NJAC play on Saturday.

The Profs came out firing, jumping to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter with two rushing touchdowns, a passing score, and a pick-six that set the tone early. But Kean kept pushing, refusing to let the game end quietly.

In the fourth, the Cougars found rhythm. Quarterback Rocco Pellegrini led an 83-yard drive over 15 plays, finishing it with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Sal Marchione to get Kean on the board.

Momentum swung the very next drive when Chris Amos turned defense into offense. The senior linebacker scooped up a fumble and sprinted 96 yards to the end zone, giving Kean its second touchdown in a matter of minutes and firing up the sideline.

On defense, Meir Pittman led the charge with 12 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, while Amos added six tackles, a tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry to round out a huge all-around performance.

On offense, Christian Bujno remained steady, hauling in six catches for 75 yards to pace the receiving corps.

The scoreboard didn’t tell the whole story. The Cougars showed flashes of grit, composure, and late-game fight that they’ll look to carry into the final stretch of the season.

Final: Rowan 42, Kean 14

Takeaway: Kean took its lumps early but punched back late. From Pellegrini’s poise under pressure to Amos’ game-changing fumble return, the Cougars left Glassboro with momentum to build on.