Chip Knapp

GLASSBORO, N.J. — Of all the big things that Wesley College’s football program has accomplished over the last decade and a half, the Wolverines’ streak of playoff appearances may have been the biggest.

So it was a difficult thing for Wesley when that streak apparently came to an end on Saturday.

There’s no reason to think the Wolverines will make a 14th-straight NCAA Division III playoff appearance after their second one-point loss in three weeks, this time a crushing 28-27 loss to Rowan at Wackar Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

No. 8 Wesley (4-2 NJAC, 5-2 overall) couldn’t hold a 27-14 third-quarter lead, as the Profs (4-2 NJAC, 5-2 overall) snapped a four-game losing streak in the series, beating the Wolverines for the first time since 2013.

It’s also only the third time since 2003 that Wesley has lost two regular-season games.

“It was just a missed opportunity by our guys to play good football,” said Wolverines coach Chip Knapp. “We win as a team and we lose as a team. It’s very frustrating and very disappointing that we didn’t put our best foot forward.

“It’s hard to win a football game. We needed to bring more energy to the game. We needed to bring more execution and we just didn’t do it. ... It’s going to be tough because we have such high expectations for this program. To lose to Rowan — a team we should beat — makes you want to evaluate everything we do.”

Just like in their 35-34 loss to Frostburg State, it was a missed extra point — this one after the Wolverines’ fourth touchdown — that ultimately cost Wesley.

But Wesley made plenty of other mistakes.

On the first play after the Wolverines went up 27-14, Rowan’s John Mannion broke off a 77-yard touchdown run that got the Profs right back in the game.

Then, after an interception set up Rowan again at the Wesley 11, Mannion (19 carries-156 yards) scored again on a four-yard run. Ethan McCarren’s PAT kick after the TD gave Rowan its first lead of the game with 8:09 left in the third quarter.

Wesley had four possessions after falling behind but never seriously threatened to score again.

Rowan outgained Wesley, 449-330 in total yards and finished with a decisive 38:28-20:57 advantage in time of possession.

Quarterback Khaaliq Burroughs completed 18-of-29 passes for 234 yards with a pair of scoring passes but also threw an interception and lost a fumble. E.J. Lee ran for 54 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.

Ruhann Peele and Corterris Simpson both caught TD passes.

Defensively, the Wolverines did force a pair of interceptions. They also recovered a fumble at the Rowan one to set up their first TD.

Cappadonna Miller and Isiah Mitchell both had interceptions for Wesley.

The Wolverines host Montclair State next Saturday at 1 p.m. for homecoming.

“Like Coach (Mike) Drass said and I’ve always said, the most important play is the next play,” said Knapp. “I told our guys, the program ... we’re at a crossroads, What we do next is going to determine how this program is going to move into the future — for years to come, I say. This week is going to be a real big week for us. Our guys have to make decisions, our coaches have to make decisions to be all-in and to put our best foot forward. It’s just very disappointing.”