Box Score

EWING, N.J. (OCTOBER 14, 2006) - For a second straight week, the William Paterson football team (0-6, 0-3 NJAC) rallied in the second half only to lose on the game's final play, dropping a 27-21 overtime decision at The College of New Jersey (3-3, 1-2 NJAC) Oct. 14 in Ewing.

The Pioneers, who had the ball first in overtime, seemingly scored on their very first play when freshman quarterback Bryan Petite (Center Reach, N.Y./Newfield) scampered 25 yards and into the end zone. However, the officials ruled that he fumbled the ball at the one-yard line, and TCNJ recovered the ball for the touchback. Lion quarterback Chris James scored three plays later from five yards out to give TCNJ the 27-21 victory.

The Lions, who were celebrating their Homecoming, got on the scoreboard almost immediately after returning the opening kickoff 55 yards. Dan Dornacker punched across the goal line three plays later from one yard out, but the kick failed, leaving TCNJ with a 6-0 lead 1:57 into the contest.

Sophomore Mike Vicci's (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) 13-yard burst with 4:48 left in the opening quarter tied the game at 6-6, and junior Ricky Krautman's (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) extra point gave WPU a one-point lead.

The Lions pulled ahead thanks to a nine-yard carry by James two minutes later, and a two-point conversion made it a 14-7 TCNJ advantage. Dornacker's second touchdown of the day, this one from six yards out with 6:43 on the clock in the second quarter, made the score 21-7.

Sophomore Bruce Katkowski (Saddle Brook, N.J./Paramus Catholic) made two outstanding special teams plays during the first half, downing Krautman's punts on the Lions' one and four yard lines.

The Pioneers also picked off three TCNJ passes during the game's first 30 minutes. Junior Stephon Anderson (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) grabbed his third interception in two weeks, ending the Lions' third drive of the game. Sophomore Harold Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) kept the Lions off the scoreboard with his pick on the WPU three-yard line with 1:02 to play in the second quarter, and senior Dan Casasnovas (Belleville, N.J./Passaic Valley) later ended the half with his first INT of the season deep in WPU territory.

William Paterson cashed in on its first drive of the second half. A 16-yard catch by junior Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan B. Wagner) on fourth-and-11, and a 15-yard scamper by freshman Kieron Gardiner (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield), set up an easy one-yard touchdown trot by Vicci. Krautman's extra point trimmed TCNJ's lead to 21-14 five minutes into the third quarter.

The Pioneers' fourth interception of the game came on a batted ball near midfield that senior Brian Burd (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) was able to grab before it hit the turf. Four plays later, Petite connected with sophomore John Malone (Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) for a 43-yard touchdown, knotting the score at 21-21 with 4:13 to play in the third.

TCNJ threatened midway through the fourth quarter, but an Anderson pass break up in the end zone, followed by a sack by Green and a touchdown pass that was called back due to offensive holding, led to an interception by Green. The Lions again looked like they would break the tie, but a 37-yard field goal attempt into a blustery wind fell well short with 42 seconds to play.

A 45-yard pass from Petite to Moon gave WPU a chance to end the game in regulation, but Krautman's 48-yard field goal try fell short at the back of the end zone.

Petite completed 15 of 26 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown in his first college action. Gardiner carried 14 times for 75 yards, while Vicci added 51 receiving yards (five catches) to his 39 yards on the ground (12 carries). Moon caught five balls for 90 yards, and Malone had three catches for 84 yards.

The William Paterson defense tallied five interceptions and six pass break ups on the day. Senior Todd Gorski (Howell, N.J./Freehold Twp.) and classmate Kyle Harkins (Milltown, N.J./Spotswood) led the Pioneers with 10 tackles each. Green added nine tackles to his two interceptions, while freshman Jared Burke (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.) also had nine tackles, including two for loss.