SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University football team forced four second-half turnovers, and superback Joey Bildstein rushed for 151 yards and two scores in his return to action, propelling the Sea Gulls to a 36-19 comeback win over the William Paterson Pioneers on Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
- Neither side could sustain a drive in the opening period with each of the teams' first three drives ending in punts.
Second Quarter
- After another Salisbury punt, Charles Barley got in front of a Christopher Leimberg pass for an interception, returning it to the WPU 11 yard line. Kollin Samaha connected on a 23-yard field goal four plays later to give the Sea Gulls a 3-0 lead at the 11:54 mark of the second.
- SU forced a three-and-out and marched down to the WPU 38, but Yubir Rojas-Herrera sacked Ben Hutchins on fourth and seven and the Pioneers took over on downs.
- Leimberg then orchestrated a six-play, 54-yard drive, capped with a six-yard touchdown pass to Matt Clarke to give the Pioneers a 6-3 lead with 2:15 until halftime.
- Hutchins and the Sea Gulls answered with an 11-play two-minute drill, highlighted by a 15-yard pass to Jaden Davis on third and seven to get SU into field goal range. Samaha eventually converted from 33 yards out to bring the Sea Gulls even, 6-6, at the half.
Third Quarter
- Salisbury forced WPU to punt to open the third, but Davis mishandled a pitch on the first play of SU's drive and Jojo Kirby ran it back 29 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-6 Pioneers.
- The teams traded punts on each of their next two drives, and A.J. Butler gave the Sea Gulls a spark with a 47-yard punt return, coupled with an illegal block, to move the ball deep into WPU territory. Joey Bildstein soon after powered it up the middle for a 12-yard touchdown run to tie it 13-13.
- William Paterson countered with a 58-yard drive for a score on a one-yard connection from Leimberg to Clarke. On the PAT, Ryan Muller blocked the kick and Colin Wargo ran it back 95 yards for two points, keeping SU within 19-15 at the 3:06 mark.
Fourth Quarter
- With a short field after the kickoff, Salisbury powered a 10-play, 60-yard drive between the third and fourth quarters to take the lead for good. Bildstein ran the ball seven times on the drive, and on third and 12 Hutchins hit Gabe Williams in the left corner of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 22-19 Sea Gulls.
- On the ensuing kickoff, Barley jarred the ball loose and Carlton Johnson recovered the fumble on the WPU 26. David Fletcher set the Sea Gulls up on the goal line with a 24-yard rush to the one, and Bildstein plunged it up the gut two plays later for his second TD, boosting the SU lead to 29-19 with 12:26 to go.
- The Pioneers had a chance to answer on their next drive, as Leimberg hit Tyreek Rollins in stride for what could have been a 57-yard touchdown, but Rollins fumbled the ball unprompted at the Salisbury 10 and Matt Hessler pounced on it for the Sea Gulls.
- SU's next drive stalled but Tucker Smack booted a 62-yard punt to pin the Pioneers deep in their own territory. With Leimberg and WPU on the move, Frank Giannetti blasted through the line for a strip-sack, and Casey Counts corralled the Sea Gulls' third fumble recovery of the quarter.
- Salisbury salted it away from there as Ronald Clark powered it home from three yards out to make it 36-19 with under a minute to play.
- SU recorded one more turnover by forcing the Pioneers into a four-and-out on their final drive.
SALISBURY GAME NOTES
- Salisbury ran a season-high 75 plays and racked up 286 yards of total offense, including 228 on the ground.
- Ben Hutchins passed for 58 yards and a touchdown, completing 4-of-13 throws.
- After missing the first four games with an injury, Joey Bildstein picked up right where he left off on the ground, rushing 32 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
- Jaden Davis and David Fletcher ran for 27 and 24 yards, respectively, while Ronald Clark picked up 16 rushing yards and a touchdown.
- Gabe Williams caught two passes for 37 yards and a touchdown.
- Kilo Mack led the SU defense with six tackles.
- Ryan Muller racked up five tackles (four solo) and blocked an extra point.
- Charles Barley made four tackles, intercepted one pass, broke up another, and forced a fumble on a well-rounded day.
- Sa'Veon Olfus sacked the WPU quarterback twice.
- Chase Lomax and Frank Giannetti each recorded a sack and Gianetti forced a fumble on his.
- Casey Counts, Matt Hessler, and Carlton Johnson each recovered a fumble.
- Kollin Samaha converted both of his field goal attempts from 23 and 33 yards.
- Tucker Smack netted 222 yards on six punts, including a 62-yarder in the fourth quarter, pinning the Pioneers inside their 20 three times.
WILLIAM PATERSON GAME NOTES
- William Paterson netted 227 yards of total offense.
- Christopher Leimberg went 16-of-28 passing for 191 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
- Isaac Cherry led the Pioneer ground game with 39 yards on nine carries.
- Matt Clarke caught both of Leimberg's touchdown passes, reeling in six catches for 70 yards.
- Daquan Knight recorded a team-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo efforts.
- Samod Wingo and Jayce Harmon each notched 10 tackles.
- Yubir Rojas-Herrera made nine tackles, including four for loss, plus a sack and a half.
- Jojo Kirby returned an SU fumble 29 yards for a touchdown.
UP NEXT
- The Sea Gulls hit the road for the next two weeks, starting next Saturday, Oct. 14, at Montclair State.
- Kickoff from Montclair, N.J. is set for 1 p.m.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 196 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.