Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (1-1, 0-1 NJAC) opened its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) football schedule with a 26-3 loss to No. 18 Rowan (2-0, 1-0 NJAC) Sept. 19 in the Pioneers' home opener.
Junior defensive back Pat Moran (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) led the WP defense with a career-best 15 tackles (eight solo, 1.0 TFL). Senior linebacker Carlo Caponetta (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) registered 13 stops and recovered a fumble, while sophomore linebacker Charles Faulkner (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) collected 13 tackles (1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) and caused a fumble.
Junior defensive back Jared Sanchez's interception and a 15-yard Pioneer personal foul on a third-and-19 play resulted in the Profs eventually crossing the goal line first, as senior running back Withler Marcelin ran 15 yards off right tackle for the game's first points. Sophomore Tyler Knighton kicked the extra point and Rowan owned a 7-0 lead with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter.
Faulkner's forced fumble and Caponetta's recovery gave William Paterson the ball at the Rowan-12, and freshman Nick DeAngelis (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) converted the turnover into points with a 28-yard field goal for a 7-3 score with 6:00 to play before halftime.
Marcelin found the end zone again, this time from seven yards out, but the PAT was blocked, making it a 13-3 game 28 seconds before halftime.
Knighton split the uprights for field goals of 21 yards (16-3, 7:57) and 37 yards (19-3, 1:20) during the third quarter, and a 46-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Dante Pinckney to senior Russ Forchion less than four minutes into the final period finished the Profs' scoring.
Junior quarterback Mike Keller (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Pinelands Regional) was 8-for-13 for 92 yards and two interceptions, and sophomore signal caller James Waldron (Edison, N.J./Edison) finished 2-for-10 for 18 yards and a pair of INTs. Senior running back Matt Deiana (Somers, N.Y./Somers) rushed 13 times for 41 yards, and senior wide receiver Mike Vannucci (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainedge) caught three passes for 25 yards.
Sophomore defensive lineman Omar Mahmoud (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro) contributed 12 tackles (1.0 TFL), and junior defensive back Jason Montalvo (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) had 11 stops.
Pinckney went 11-for-16 for 139 yards and one touchdown for Rowan, and Marcelin carried 28 times for 116 yards and two scores. Forchion tallied four catches for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Junior linebacker Jeff Rodriguez had eight tackles and an interception for the Profs, while senior linebacker Darren Dungee contributed seven stops as well as a fumble forced and recovered.
William Paterson will play at Kean Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:00 p.m.
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