Oct. 14, 2006
Final Stats
BRONX, N.Y.-The Fordham football squad used timely playmaking Saturday to lead the homestanding Rams to a 13-9 victory over Marist at Coffey Field. Fordham improved to 2-4 overall with the win, while the Red Foxes dropped to 2-5.
The Red Foxes got on the board first with a 33-yard field goal by junior kicker Bradley Rowe (Stratham, N.H.), finishing off an eight play, 60 yard drive. The score was Rowe's first field goal of the season.
Rowe, a preseason I-AA Mid-Major All-America honoree, tacked on a 34-yarder at the 9:01 mark of the second stanza, capping a three minute, 16 second drive that went six plays for 58 yards to put Marist up 6-0.
The Red Foxes held the Rams at bay throughout the first half until the final play when Fordham quarterback John Skelton launched a deep desperation pass into the end zone and into the waiting arms of junior wideout Sylvester Clarke. Senior placekicker Micah Clukey added the point after to make the halftime margin 7-6 Rams.
The Fordham rushing defense, tops in the Patriot League and 12th in the nation, held Marist to 30 first half rushing yards on 20 carries. However, Marist junior quarterback Stephen McGrath (Manasquan, N.J.) went 9-for-11 for 131 yards in the first half to bolster the Red Foxes' offensive attack.
The Rams were stymied by seven first half penalties for 64 yards, while the Red Foxes, who entered the game in the top 15 nationally in fewest penalties and penalty yardage, were just hit with three flags for 16 yards. However, one of those penalties was of the holding variety, which wiped out a long completion from McGrath to senior wideout Prince Prempeh (Hamilton, N.J.).
Fordham junior punter Benjamin Dato also held the Red Foxes in check with a 54 yard average in the first half on two punts. Dato entered Saturday's contest ranked 12th nationally with a 42.24 average.
The Red Foxes went back on top with 8:38 to play in the third quarter when Rowe connected on his third field goal of the game, a 33-yarder that finished off a 10 play, 53-yard drive that consumed four minutes and two seconds. The score salvaged a promising drive that was thwarted when McGrath fortunately corralled an errant snap on third down in the Fordham red zone to preserve the possession.
The Rams pulled in front with a one-yard dive over the top by Skelton, the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week to make the score 13-9 Rams with 10 seconds left in the third quarter. Skelton's two-point conversion pass failed, however, keeping the Marist deficit at four.
The Red Foxes had a chance to take the lead with under five minutes remaining when they had the ball at the one, but McGrath fumbled into the end zone on a lunge over the top to stall the drive. Fordham subsequently ran out the clock to end the contest.
McGrath finished the game 17-for-24 for 237 yards and one interception, while Skelton wound up 9-for-16 for 105 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. McGrath also finished as Marist's leading rusher with 14 carries for 50 yards, while Fordham junior running back Jonte Coven ran for 85 yards on 13 carries.
Marist senior wide receiver Kevin Frederick (Meriden, Conn.) had career-highs with eight catches for 86 yards to lead the Red Foxes' receiving attack, while Fordham's Clarke had five catches for 75 yards.
Defensively, senior safety Huck Correia (Pittsfield, Mass.) had nine tackles and an interception, while junior defensive lineman Matt Wolfman (Andover, Mass.) had a pair of sacks. For Fordham, senior linebacker Marcus Taylor finished with a game-high 15 stops including a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Taylor entered Saturday's game 17th nationally with 10.2 tackles per contest.
The Red Foxes will now turn their attention to a road date with league foe Duquesne on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
