/notables/2019/09/paterson-skid-snaps-at-27

Big rally helps Paterson snap skid at 27

More news about: William Paterson
Terrique Riddick ran for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter at FDU-Florham.
William Paterson athletics file photo
 

Running backs Terrique Riddick and Marcel Mason combined for 245 yards rushing and four touchdowns as William Paterson (1-1) rallied from a 17-0 second half deficit to upset FDU-Florham, 28-23 on Friday night in Madison, New Jersey.

The win snaps a 27-game losing streak, which dated to an Oct. 1, 2016, win vs. Montclair State. It's the first head coaching win for Dustin Johnson, who is in his second year as head coach of the Pioneers.

The Devils (1-1) picked up right where they left off their its 56-point performance against Merchant Marine in Week 1, as FDU connected on their first drive of the game. Late in the opening drive, junior Anthony Caserta found junior Rory Sullivan for a 10-yard gain to put the Devils deep into Pioneers territory at the 24-yard line. Following a pair of Caserta completions, FDU sat at the 5-yard line and turned to junior Tyler Adams to put them on the scoreboard, as he hauled in a Caserta pass for the touchdown.

The Devils added a field goal in the second quarter and Mark Kepler scored on a 6-yard touchdown run with 5:59 left in the third quarter to give FDU-Florham a 17-0 lead.

Paterson (1-1) got on the scoreboard when Riddick took a handoff and cut back left untouched up the middle 41 yards to the end zone. The extra point cut the score to 17-7 with 2:26 left in the third. After a three-and-out by FDU, Paterson ground out a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped off by Marcel Mason's 1-yard touchdown run to bring the Pioneers within three, 17-14, with 11:52 left in the game.

Riddick got his second touchdown of the night on the next drive, after he put the Pioneers in great field position with a 45-yard run to start the possession. The score gave WPU a 21-17 lead with 8:00 left in the game.

Riddick got things going on the Pioneers' next drive as well, with runs of 14, 2 and 40 yards to get WPU into the red zone. From there, Mason wrapped things up with a 10-yard run to cap off the rally and put William Paterson up 28-17. FDU was able to answer on its next drive, but was unable to complete the two-point conversion, and WPU was able to cover the onside kick and run out the clock.

Riddick finished with 167 yards on 11 attempts and two scores, and Mason tallied 78 yards on 19 attempts and a pair of touchdowns. Freshman quarterback George Crespo finished 17-for-25 for 107 yards while adding 35 on the ground.

Dec. 15: All times Eastern
Final
Cortland 38, at North Central (Ill.) 37
@ Salem, Virginia
Video Box Score Recap Photos
Dec. 9: All times Eastern
Final
North Central (Ill.) 34, at Wartburg 27
Box Score Recap
Final
Cortland 49, at Randolph-Macon 14
Box Score Recap Recap Recap Photos
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