WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson football team (2-7, 1-7 NJAC) suffered a 26-7 loss to Christopher Newport (6-3, 5-3 NJAC) on Senior Day Nov. 5.
Junior running back Aqeel Daniels-Lundy (Edison, N.J./Edison) turned a short screen pass into a 48-yard gain on the first offensive play of the game, but a high snap resulted in sophomore Nick DeAngelis (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) pushing a 30-yard field-goal attempt wide left.
Freshman defensive back Ra'Keem Bennett (Linden, N.J./Carteret) stopped the Captains' opening possession when a pass over the middle sailed high and he came up with the interception, returning it 31 yards to the CNU-11. A pass interference call in the back of the end zone on third-and-19 kept the drive going, and two plays later Daniels-Lundy went off right tackle for a two-yard touchdown. DeAngelis kicked the PAT and the Pioneers owned a 7-0 edge with 8:10 remaining in the first quarter.
Christopher Newport turned a fumble recovery near midfield into seven points as junior quarterback K.J. Kearney pushed across a one-yard keeper and sophomore Rhett Morris converted the extra point, knotting the score at 7-7 with 1:40 on the clock in the first.
Senior wide receiver Taylor Loudan strung out a six-yard carry to the pylon, but the PAT was blocked by junior defensive lineman Omar Mahmoud (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro), and the Captains were ahead by a 13-7 count 4:48 into the second period.
Loudan caught a short pass from Kearney and burst up the left side for a 30-yard score. The two-point pass attempt failed, leaving it a 19-7 margin 3:04 before halftime.
The Captains finished the scoring with 1:17 to play in the fourth quarter on a two-yard Kearney-to-Loudan completion and Daniel Ponton kick.
Junior quarterback James Waldron (Edison, N.J./Edison) went 12-for-28 for 169 yards for WP, and Daniels-Lundy gained 35 yards and scored a touchdown on 10 carries. He also paced the Pioneers with 56 receiving yards on two receptions.
Freshman linebacker Taheem Jackson (East Orange, N.J./East Orange Campus) led all players with 12 tackles (0.5 TFL), and junior linebacker Charles Faulkner (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) chipped in 11 stops (0.5 TFL). Senior defensive back Pat Moran (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) collected nine tackles, and Mahmoud posted eight stops (five solo, 1.0 sack) and a blocked PAT. Bennett added seven tackles to his interception and fumble recovery.
Kearney was 15-for-18 for 152 yards, two TDs and an INT under center. Senior Daquan Davis carried 17 times for 86 yards, and Loudan caught 10 passes for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Junior linebacker Brennan Gary and freshman linebacker Jamal Spence each made eight tackles for CNU. Junior defensive lineman Colby Beecham added seven stops (1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack).
Prior to the game, WP honored its seniors Tyler Alvarez (Keyport, N.J./Keyport), Anthony DiMarsico (Stony Point, N.Y./Suffern), Russell Fallacara (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), Darrius Flowers (Vineland, N.J./Vineland), Nick Freeman (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), Craig Kimbrough (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Catholic), Frank Leon (Garfield, N.J./Bergen Tech), Moran, Obinna Nwanonyiri (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia), Ndubuisi Okafor (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia), Malcolm Robinson (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), Connor Thomson (Keyport, N.J./Keyport) and Kyle Tucci (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence).
The Pioneers will finish their season Saturday, Nov. 12, at Wesley at 1:00 p.m.
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