The most anticipated football game of the season between these two New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) football rivals occurred Friday night in a fierce battle.
The Montclair State University Red Hawks traveled down to Glassboro, New Jersey to play the Rowan University Profs for the third annual Breakfast Bowl.
In addition to the football being played on the field, the game would settle the proper name for a breakfast item: Taylor Ham (Montclair State) vs Pork Roll (Rowan). Montclair State would secure the win 35-28.
First half
Whoever scored first could set the momentum for the rest of the game. Five minutes into the first quarter, the Profs took flight. Nate Maiers gave Nunes Bukula IV the ball who ran it in for a 25-yard touchdown. The Red Hawks did not want to go into the second quarter without any points and with 11 seconds left in the quarter, Christopher Arnold got the Red Hawks on the board with a six-yard rushing touchdown.
In the second quarter, there was not a lot of action except Rowan was getting more physically aggressive. A point would not be scored until the Red Hawks took flight. Diante Wilson ran in a three-yard touchdown for the Red Hawks. The Red Hawks had enough in them to take a field goal. Brendan McGonigle kicked a successful field goal. At the end of the first half, the Red Hawks would lead the Profs 17-7.
Second half
The second half would be a chance for Rowan to come back and take the lead or tie the game. Four minutes into the third quarter, the Profs took off. Nigel Jennings took the ball for a two-yard touchdown run. Rowan showed dominance in the third quarter. That meant that with four minutes left, the Profs struck again. Tyshawn Bookman broke off a 35-yard rushing touchdown. Going into the fourth quarter, Rowan had taken a four-point lead.
Montclair State had to act fast and they did just that. Two minutes into the quarter, Henrich passed the ball to TJ Kachala for a Red Hawk touchdown. The Red Hawks would remain dominant for the rest of the quarter, as Brendan McGonigle kicked his second successful field goal.
Rowan was trying to answer back but, they were just taking too many penalties. The Red Hawks took advantage of the weakened Prof’s offense as three minutes after the field goal, Wilson scored another touchdown. The Red Hawks had enough in them for one more touchdown. Nate Maiers threw the ball to Luke Hoke for a 10-yard touchdown. Montclair State would win the Breakfast Bowl 35-28.
History made
For the first time since the Breakfast Bowl was created back in 2023, Montclair State took home the trophy to Little Falls. The official name for the breakfast meat until the 2027 Breakfast Bowl will be Taylor Ham.
