Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. (OCTOBER 7, 2006) – A 22-yard field goal as time expired allowed Western Connecticut (4-1, 1-1 NJAC) to escape William Paterson (0-5, 0-2 NJAC) with a 20-17 victory Oct. 7 as the Pioneers celebrated Homecoming at Wightman Stadium.
Kevin March's kick split the uprights as the clock struck 0:00 to foil WPU's comeback bid, one that saw the Pioneers score 17 straight second-half points to force a deadlock at 17-17 five seconds into the fourth quarter.
Trailing 17-0 at the break, William Paterson sophomore Harold Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) picked off a James Williams pass midway through the third period and returned it 19 yards to the Colonial one-yard line, setting up a Mike Vicci (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) touchdown plunge for the Pioneers' first score of the game (17-7, 7:08). On the very next WPU possession, freshman quarterback John Woodson (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) connected with junior Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan B. Wagner) for a 65-yard score, pulling William Paterson to within three points (17-14) with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Senior Dan Casasnovas (Belleville, N.J./Passaic Valley) blocked a punt for the second straight week and Kyle Harkins (Milltown, N.J./Spotswood) returned it 17 yards to the WCSU three-yard line with 1:00 showing on the clock in the third. Four plays later, junior Ricky Krautman (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) converted a 23-yard field-goal attempt, pulling the Pioneers even at 17-17 with 14:55 remaining in the contest.
Casasnovas came up big again, forcing a Colonial fumble and giving William Paterson possession four minutes into the final period. However, WPU was unable to convert the turnover into points, and the two teams traded punts to end the next five possessions.
Western Connecticut began its final drive at its own 44-yard line with 1:18 to play, and a 30-yard pass from Williams to Yvens Louis helped set up March's 22-yard game-winning kick.
Even though the Pioneers were held scoreless during the game's first 30 minutes, several individuals made impact plays. Senior all-American Shadee Davis (New Brunswick, N.J./New Brunswick) snuffed out a fake field-goal attempt with his tackle on the WPU one-yard line midway through the first quarter, and junior Stephon Anderson (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) intercepted Western Connecticut's Williams twice in the first half, including one in the end zone.
Woodson completed nine of 18 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown after both Sean Ryan (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) and Dan Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) were forced out of the game due to injuries. Freshman Kieron Gardiner (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) had 41 yards on 15 carries, while sophomore Mike Vicci (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) added nine rushes for 21 yards and eight receptions for 20 yards.
Green led the William Paterson defense with his team-high nine tackles (nine solo), one interception and two passes defensed. Casasnovas added 5.5 tackles, a fumble forced, one fumble recovered and a blocked punt, while Anderson picked off two passes for the Pioneer defense.
