Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. – William Paterson (3-4, 1-3 NJAC) converted a pair of blocked punts into 10 points en route to a 17-14 victory against host Buffalo State (2-5, 1-4 NJAC) in a conference clash Oct. 20 at Coyer Field.
Junior Bruce Katkowski (Saddle Brook, N.J./Paramus Catholic) caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from sophomore John Woodson (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) on a fourth-and-14 play late in the third quarter, and the Pioneers were successful on the two-point conversion to put William Paterson ahead for good at 17-14 and complete the scoring.
Starting quarterback Dan Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) was 8-of-18 for 86 yards. Senior Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner) had four catches for 51 yards, and junior Shaun Puluse (Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech) led the Pioneers' rushing attack with 34 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Junior linebacker Mike Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) led the William Paterson defense with 11 tackles (four solo) and a 49-yard interception return. Senior defensive lineman Frank Musolino (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) added 10 tackles (four solo), including two sacks, while freshman cornerback Leer Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) added seven solo stops.
Senior Ricky Krautman (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) established a new WP record for single-season punts landed inside the opponent 20-yard line (16), breaking the mark of 15 he set last fall.
Dan Lopezled the Buffalo State offense with 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 34 carries. Dan Aquilio was limited to just 6-of-31 passing for 86 yards with an interception. Jermaine Roseled the defense with eight tackles, including two for losses, and Ron Webber had eight stops and a sack.
The Bengals opened the scoring with a 13-yard Lopez run late in the first quarter, capping an 11-play, 79-yard drive (7-0, 5:08). William Paterson's Keith Sayball (Milford, Conn./Foran) blocked a Buffalo State punt early in the second quarter, and sophomore Jared Burke (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.) came up with the ball on the Bengals' one-yard line. Puluse punched it in for the score two plays later, but after a failed extra-point attempt, the Bengals still led, 7-6, with 14:02 remaining before halftime.
The Pioneers started the second half by again blocking a punt, this time by Burke. Isaac Abankwa (Willingboro, N.J./Burlington City) recovered at the Buffalo 49-yard line, and 10 plays later, Krautman connected on a 27-yard field to give WP a 9-7 lead with 8:00 to play in the third quarter. But, Buffalo State quickly answered when Lopez scampered into the end zone from 16 yards out, giving the Bengals a 14-9 edge with 5:49 on the clock.
The Pioneers' game-winning score came during the very next drive, one that was extended by a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty on fourth-and-five at the Buffalo State 34. Woodson entered for Lamego, and completed the 23-yard touchdown pass to Katkowski on fourth-and-14, making it a 15-14 WP edge with 3:24 to play in the third quarter. Lamego then re-entered the contest, and completed a pass to sophomore tight end Pascal Faustin (Irvington, N.J./Irvington) on the PAT to make it a three-point game (17-14).
William Paterson began the fourth quarter with a goal-line stand, four times denying the Bengals from inside the six-yard line, including a three-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line. On Buffalo State's very next drive, Mike Lamego came up with an interception at the Pioneers' 14, returning the turnover 49 yards and helping to pin the Bengals in their own end for the remainder of the contest.
The Pioneers will return home to face Kean Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1:00 p.m.
