EWING, N.J. — William Paterson (1-0, 1-0 NJAC) jumped out
to an early lead and then held off a late The College of New Jersey
(0-1, 0-1 NJAC) rally for a 15-7 New Jersey Athletic Conference
(NJAC) football victory Sept .3 at Lions' Stadium.
With the win, the Pioneers opened the season with a victory for
the first time since 2007 (17-16 at No. 13/15 Wilkes, 9/1), started
the year with a conference win for the first time in school
history, and extended their win streak against the Lions to two
games after losing 15 straight to TCNJ. The last time William
Paterson won a game played in Ewing was 1992 (14-13, 9/18).
WP opened up a 15-0 lead midway through the third quarter but had
to hold off a late Lions surge, one that saw them score a touchdown
less than five minutes into the final period, and threaten with the
ball inside the Pioneer 20-yard line during the final minute. A
pass break-up by senior Chris Thomas (West Milford, N.J./West
Milford) on third-and-five from the WP-16 meant that TCNJ had one
last opportunity to keep its comeback hopes alive, but an
incomplete pass inside the five allowed William Paterson to take
over on downs and run out the clock with three kneel downs.
Sophomore Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) was very efficient
under center, finishing 21-for-30 for 185 yards, a touchdown and an
interception. Sophomore running back Dawys German (North Arlington,
N.J./North Arlington) rushed 18 times for 106 yards and a score,
his first career 100-yard rushing effort, while freshman Ray
VanPeenen (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) had 14 carries for 40
yards.
Junior Joe Muraglia, Jr. (Belleville, N.J./Queen of Peace) hauled
in seven passes for 70 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown. Junior
Matt Reggio (Commack, N.Y./Commack) gained 59 yards on four
receptions, while sophomore Chris Manfredo (Staten Island,
N.J./Tottenville) added four catches and senior Derrik Rideg
(Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) had three.
Senior linebacker Jim Hamill (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley
Regional) led William Paterson with nine tackles (three solo).
Senior defensive lineman Dyon Moore (Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson
Catholic), had eight stops (1.5 for loss), and junior bandit Doug
Dudek (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) and sophomore safety German
Decena (Union City, N.J./Emerson) each had seven. The Pioneer
defense held TCNJ to just 135 yards of total offense, including 17
yards passing on 13 attempts.
The Pioneers fumbled to end the first drive of the game near
midfield, but the WP defense came up with a stop on fourth-and-two
on their own 34-yard line as Hamill and Dudek dropped TCNJ's
Erik Smithman.
The Lions answered back with a goal-line stand, denying German on
fourth down just inches shy of the end zone, but on the very next
snap linebackers Brandon McNeil (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) and
Jimmie Ray Ragland (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) brought down Kevin
Brown for a safety. The defensive play gave the Pioneers the first
points of the game (2-0) with 4:44 left in the opening period.
William Paterson got the ball back after the defensive score and
advanced to the TCNJ-42 before German ripped off a run up the
middle and found daylight, sprinting the rest of the way to record
the first William Paterson touchdown of the season. Freshman Cory
Mundt's (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) extra point made it a
9-0 contest at the 1:33 mark of the first quarter.
The Pioneers were twice inside the Lions' five-yard line
during the second period, but fumbles kept them off the scoreboard.
However, the WP defense did its job, limiting TCNJ to 10 total
yards and forcing a three-and-out on each of the Lions'
possessions. William Paterson owned a 223-28 advantage in total
yards, including a 91-0 edge through the air, while possessing the
ball for 20:20 of the opening half.
After The College of New Jersey punted to start the third quarter,
William Paterson got a break during its first drive when a
potential turnover was called back. Gresik deflected a high snap
and tried to cover it up, but the ball squirted away and the Lions
recovered. However, the official had blown the play dead before
Gresik had full control of the football, and the result was to
replay the down.
That call would be an important one, as the Pioneers went on to
put together a nine-play, 59-yard scoring drive. On
second-and-nine, Gresik found Reggio, who broke up the left
sideline for a 34-yard gain to the 13-yard line. A holding penalty,
sack and rush for a loss of two yards backed William Paterson up to
the 29, but a perfect pass and catch by Gresik and Muraglia for 20
yards gave WP a chance with the ball on the nine-yard line. A
false-start penalty made it fourth-and-11, but a second spectacular
play between Gresik and Muraglia, this one a pass that the receiver
somehow managed to secure at the front-right pylon despite two TCNJ
defenders blanketing him, resulted in six points. The PAT was wide,
but William Paterson still owned a 15-0 edge with 6:34 on the clock
in the third.
The Pioneers looked like they might immediately add to their lead
when Ragland picked off a Nicholas Tyson pass and returned it two
yards to the TCNJ-35. But, Gresik's attempt three plays later
was tipped, kicked up into the air and snagged by the Lions'
Kevin Allgood at his own 19-yard line.
TCNJ later took advantage of a short field, starting a drive on
the Pioneers' 26 after a 21-yard punt return. On the third
play of the drive, Tyson followed his blockers into the end zone
from five yards out, and Tyler Olsson converted on the extra point
to make it a 15-7 score with 10:41 remaining in the contest.
The Pioneers were able to bleed more than five minutes off the
clock during their next possession, but a stop on fourth-and-inches
gave the Lions the ball back at their own 30-yard line. The two
teams traded three-and-outs before the final TCNJ possession that
ended just shy of the end zone during the final minute.
Tyson was 1-for-8 for 12 yards under center, and rushed 13 times
for 52 yards and a touchdown for The College of New Jersey. Matthew
Kreider led the Lion defense with 10 tackles (seven solo) and a
fumble recovery.
William Paterson will enjoy a week off before opening its home
slate Saturday, Sept. 18, against King's. Kickoff at Wightman
Stadium will be at 1:00 p.m. The Pioneers will be celebrating Take
a Kid to the Game Day (all children 12 and under admitted for
free), and William Paterson students with valid I.D. will be
eligible to compete at halftime to win a Wii gaming system.
William Paterson 15, New Jersey 7
Sep 03, 2010