Box Score

UNION, N.J. (OCTOBER 28, 2006) – The William Paterson football team (1-7, 1-4 NJAC) could not hold on to a 17-7 halftime lead, falling to host Kean (5-3, 3-2 NJAC) 20-17 Oct. 28 in Union.

Senior Dan Casasnovas (Belleville, N.J./Passaic Valley) made the first big play of the day for the Pioneers, tipping a ball and intercepting it to end the Cougars' second drive at the WPU 41-yard line. William Paterson turned the INT into three points, as junior Ricky Krautman (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) successfully kicked a 28-yard field goal, giving WPU a 3-0 lead with 32.7 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

However, that lead was short lived, as Kean's Brian Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

Casasnovas came up with his second interception of the day, and fourth of the season, when he caught a ball off the hands of a Kean receiver with 4:19 left in the second quarter. Five plays later, freshman quarterback Bryan Petite (Center Reach, N.Y./Newfield) found junior Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan B. Wagner) down the right sideline for a 45-yard touchdown. Krautman's extra point made the score 10-7 with 1:13 to play in the first half.

William Paterson's third interception of the day was made by sophomore Harold Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton), who hauled in a deflection and returned it 33 yards to the Cougar eight-yard line with 40.7 seconds on the clock. Thirty seconds later, sophomore Mike Vicci (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) ploughed his way into the end zone from one yard out and Krautman converted the PAT, giving the Pioneers a 17-7 edge.

Kean found the end zone midway through the third quarter, cutting the Pioneers' lead to 17-14 with 6:58 on the clock. The Cougars then took their first lead since the end of the first quarter, scoring on a 15-yard screen pass to jump ahead 20-17 with 10:51 remaining in the contest.

The Pioneers had one last chance to get back on top, starting at their own 43-yard line with 3:32 to play. A nine-play drive ended with a WPU opportunity to tie the score, but Krautman's 41-yard field-goal attempt into the wind was short with 1:00 remaining.

Petite completed 12 of 26 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown. Freshman Kieron Gardiner (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) carried 13 times for 39 yards to lead the rushing attack, while Moon caught seven passes for 113 yards and one touchdown.

Green led the WPU defense with 10 tackles (five solo, five assisted), including two for loss, and an interception. Freshman Jared Burke (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./ Egg Harbor Twp.) added eight stops, and Casasnovas had seven tackles and two interceptions.

The Pioneers will host Montclair State Saturday, Nov. 4, at 1:00 p.m.