On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, Central Bucks seniors AJ Gerace, Ryan Clemens & Finn McGowan were recognized for committing to play football at the collegiate level.
Ryan Clemens – Washington & Lee University (Football)
Major: Business/Finance
Final list of colleges: Washington & Lee, Middlebury, Bates, Franklin & Marshall
Reasons for choosing Washington & Lee: “They had really good academics. I really liked the culture down there, and the brand of football they play seemed like a good fit for me. The students down there fit my vibe. One of the former players I played with here is actually there right now.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “I’d say a couple games into my junior year I realized I had a lot of yards a game, and I realized I could probably go somewhere if I wanted to. Coach told me that if I went to some camps in the summer and reached out to coaches, I could make something happen.”
Central Bucks West coach Rob Rowan: “I have said so much about Ryan because he has been asked about so much. In my opinion, he’s the best player the program has seen in two decades. With everything that he’s accomplished from sophomore year on – which is so spectacular, I don’t think I’ll ever see somebody be able to put together the total package of what he did in a three-year period in all phases of the game. In the Pennridge game, he scored a touchdown, and then we came back on defense, he had an interception. The next play he broke a 50-yard touchdown run. It was essentially 14 points with an interception all within six plays. He was so super natural, but he made it look so natural that sometimes as coaches we fell victim that it was just normal, and nothing that he did was normal - it was incredible. He’s impossible to replace. Who Ryan is off the field is so impressive, and all of that was a catalyst for his ability to excel on the field. He’s going to Washington & Lee, which is a top end school academically. It’s the perfect fit for him. It’s what he was looking for, so I couldn’t be more thrilled that he landed at the place where he wanted to be.”
About Ryan:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie: Rocky IV
Favorite music: Country
Finn McGowan – Ithaca College (Football)
Major: Finance
Final list of colleges: Ithaca, East Stroudsburg, Franklin & Marshall, Muhlenberg, Dickinson, West Chester
Reasons for choosing Ithaca: “The culture up there is really amazing. They welcomed me as a recruit, they showed their love for me, and I really had it right back for them. I’ve been there a handful of times over the past year. As a team, they have a different energy that their head coach brings. There’s also a big rivalry game, and I can’t wait to continue that.”
What’s the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “I started playing football in third grade, and as I played more, I fell in love with it more. Really, in high school with Coach Rob – he and Coach Goldrick showed me the ropes of recruitment, and that’s when I decided – if I could take my talent to the next level, why not?”
Central Bucks West coach Rob Rowan: “He’s the best. I’m so proud of him really for the maturation process off the field. He had a really good junior year. He was a first team all-league player, so I think he realized and recognized what he was capable of. I watched him really buy into that and mature over the course of January through camp in August. He became a leader of our team. He was just a dominant force on the league and a guy we knew we could count on every single week. In crucial situations when we needed a yard, we were going to run behind Finn.
“He’s salt of the earth. Ithaca really fell in love with him – we do a spring showcase with CB South and CB East, and Ithaca really fell in love with him there. I’m really glad that he landed there because I think it’s the right fit for the program and him.”
About Finn:
Favorite food: Chicken Wings
Favorite TV show: Breaking Bad
Favorite music: Classic Rock/Country/Hip-Hop
AJ Gerace – University of Rochester (Football)
Major: Business or Accounting
Final list of colleges: Rochester, Widener, RPI, Susquehanna
Reasons for choosing Rochester: “When I went to the campus, I met some of the people that played there, and they were really welcoming. I loved the academics, and that was a big thing for me. The coaches were awesome. I loved the campus, and it’s just a great school overall.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “I have always wanted to play football in college. When I was younger, I had dreams of playing big-time, but then I got into high school. My sophomore year is when I really dialed in and started to talking to Coach Rowan, and he helped me through the recruiting and everything.”
Central Bucks West coach Rob Rowan: “AJ is the guy that kind of flies under the radar a little bit, but from a coaching perspective, he was the glue of what we were. Foundationally, he was so important to the success that we had on both sides of the ball both offensively and defensively. Offensively, he was at the tip of the spear every play. Ry (Clemens) and Noah (Miller) were accounting for 90 percent of our offense. AJ was at the point of attack 90 percent of the time. He was so important to everything that we did.
“We lost two games in the regular season – one to CB South on the Hail Mary and the other loss was to Souderton, and that was the only game of the year AJ didn’t play. I look back at that game, and I say – ‘Man, the one variable that was missing was AJ.’ He’s a three-year starter who played above his weight, played above his height and is just so smart, so crafty and so selfless. Anything we ever asked him to do, he did it, and he did it exceptionally well.
“Rochester was the first program to really pursue him. There’s something to that when a program really shows interest. He had some other schools come on late, but the type of person he is – he honored the first program that really showed interest in him, and I respect that. I’m happy that he landed there.”
About AJ:
Favorite food: Steak (medium rare)
Favorite TV show: Tires
Favorite artist: Kendrick Lamar
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