With Stony Brook and Hofstra facing off Friday night, it is possible, that in crunch time, the football will be in the hands of two local freshmen running backs. Stony Brook’s Edwin Gowins and Hofstra’s Brock Jackolski both lead their team’s running backs in rushing yards, and will be counted on to carry the load on Friday.
Gowins provided a bona fide running game for Bellport High School. He led Bellport to the Long Island championship game in 2006, running for 1,996 yards and scoring 34 touchdowns along the way. In the championship game he rushed for 219 yards and 3 touchdowns in a losing effort. That year he won the Hansen Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding football player in Suffolk County. For his career he rushed for 2, 529 and scored 45 touchdowns.
William Floyd, less than 15 miles from Bellport, would also produce a star back of their own in 2006. Jackolski, was more than a running back, he was an entire offense. In his career, he never lost a high school football game. They took Floyd on their backs to a 33-0 record over three years. His senior year he rushed for 1,381 yards and 31 touchdowns. For his career, he rushed for 3,601 yards in and scored 64 touchdowns. Jackolski also played safety on defense, with 236 tackles and 8 interceptions and also returned kicks. He won the Hansen Award in 2007.
As freshmen, both players are starting to show their worth. Jackolski won the Colonial Athletic Association rookie of the week for his performance against Rhode Island. He had 13 carries for 144 yards in only his second collegiate game. He also had 73 return yards on kickoffs. He leads the team with 163 rushing yards on only 21 carries, and has totaled 325 all-purpose yards.
Gowins has been a bright spot this year for the Seawolves. He leads the Seawolves with 343 rushing yards on 47 attempts and three touchdowns. Gowins also received honors for his performances in two straight weeks being named the Big South’s Freshman of the week after performances against Elon and Colgate.
In their first collegiate match up head to head, Gowins and Jackolski bring a true Long Island flavor to what both backs hope to see grow as a real rivalry.
Additional reporting by Carl Carrie