Box Score

DANBURY, Conn. – A Colonial touchdown with 7:33 remaining in the fourth quarter lifted Western Connecticut (3-2, 1-1 NJAC) to a 27-20 victory against visiting William Paterson (2-3, 0-2 NJAC) Oct. 6 at the Westside Athletic Complex.

The Colonials took a 20-6 lead on a 17-yard run by Derrick Way with 12:44 remaining in the third quarter, but William Paterson battled back. The Pioneers drew within seven points after Ira Guilford dove across the goal line from two yards out with 7:08 left in the third quarter.

WestConn squandered its 14-point lead as the third quarter ended when Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) caught a 32-yard pass from Dan Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace), and following Ricky Krautman's (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) extra point, the game was tied, 20-20.

With 8:14 remaining in the final stanza, Lamego fumbled an exchange and WestConn's James Mitchell recovered the ball to give the Colonials prime field position on WPU's 19-yard line. Two plays later, James Williams found Allan Bowen open for the winning score, and WestConn's defense would have to hold down the stretch.

On the Pioneers' final possession, WestConn's junior cornerback Mike Negast preserved the victory when he caused Rivera to lose control of the ball in the back of the end zone with 2:38 left on the clock.

WestConn freshman tailback Wayne Neal, a two-time NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Week, rushed 22 times for 149 yards and scored a one-yard touchdown to put the Colonials on the scoreboard midway through the first quarter.

Williams completed 11 of 23 passes for 185 yards and was intercepted twice, both on deflections in the first half.

Defensively, the Colonials were led by senior free safety John Hoke, who had 11 tackles, a pass break up and a tackle for a loss. Ryan Delage collected eight tackles, including a sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss on the afternoon.

Lamego completed 10 of 19 passes for 152 yards on the day. Rivera led all receivers with four catches for 64 yards. Guilford finished the day with 99 yards on 38 carries and two scores.

Mike Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) led the Pioneers with nine tackles and had two of the Pioneers' three sacks on the day. Sophomore Jared Burke (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.) had eight stops, while Harold Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) and Isaac Abankwa (Willingboro, N.J./Burlington City) each had an interception.