Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
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Turnovers
Time of Poss.
MONTCLAIR, N.J. – William Paterson (3-6, 1-5 NJAC) suffered a 40-13 loss at Montclair State (3-5, 2-3 NJAC) in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) football action Nov. 2.
A 48-yard completion by senior quarterback Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) to senior wide receiver Mick Paye (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) during the opening drive helped set up a 28-yard field goal by junior Robert Sinegra (Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls), and the Pioneers owned a quick 3-0 lead 2:08 into the contest.
The Red Hawks immediately answered with a 69-yard Ryan Davies touchdown pass to Malcolm Robinson, making it a 7-3 count with 10:54 left in the first quarter.
Another long Gresik-to-Paye pass play, this one for 78 yards, put WP on the MSU-2, and sophomore running back Darius Kersey (Dover, N.J./Dover) covered the final yards on the ground. Sinegra's extra point pushed William Paterson ahead, 10-7, three minutes later.
Montclair State finished its next possession with a 27-yard field goal by John Schubert (10-10, 5:11), and opened the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run by Denzel Nieves to take its first lead at 17-10 with 12:13 to play before halftime.
The two teams traded punts until a fumble gave the Red Hawks the ball inside the WP-10, and A.J. Scoppa cashed the turnover in for points with a seven-yard TD run (24-10, 4:45).
Sinegra's 22-yard field goal during the final minute of play made the score 24-13 at the intermission.
Nieves made it a 31-13 score with his six-yard score 10 minutes into the second half, and a Pioneer interception led to a Schubert 29-yard field goal less than three minutes later (34-13, 1:58). Nieves' third touchdown of the night, this one from one yard out, finished the scoring early in the fourth quarter (40-13, 9:20).
Gresik was 14-for-31 for 209 yards, and Paye caught four passes for 138 yards. Sophomore running back Matt Deiana (Somers, N.Y./Somers) carried 12 times for 84 yards.
Senior linebacker David Zurla (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) had a game-best 10 tackles (eight solo), and sophomore linebacker Carlo Caponetta (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) posted seven stops.
Davies was 9-for-20 for 159 yards and a touchdown for MSU. Robinson caught three passes for 99 yards and a score, and Nieves gained 123 yards and scored three times on 24 rushing attempts.
Dan Avento and Andan Sakiri each made seven tackles for the Red Hawks.
William Paterson will celebrate Senior Day Saturday, Nov. 9, when the Pioneers host The College of New Jersey in the regular-season finale at 1:00 p.m.
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