Box Score

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The William Paterson football team (4-5, 2-4 NJAC) lost a 42-28 decision at local rival Montclair State (7-2, 4-2 NJAC) Nov. 3.

Neither team registered a first down until late in the first quarter, as the two defenses dominated the early action. A Red Hawk 37-yard field goal attempt sailed wide with 3:29 left in the opening period to keep the game scoreless, but two plays later, Vin Iachetta came up with an interception of a John Woodson (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) pass, giving Montclair State the ball at the WP-seven. Ryan McCoach picked his way into the end zone on the next play, giving the Red Hawks a 7-0 edge with 2:45 on the clock.

During the Pioneers' next possession, Cornell Hunt picked off a Woodson pass, returning it four yards to the MSU-38. Michael Jump later connected with Omar Sevilla for a 50-yard score, pushing MSU ahead 14-0 with 1:10 to play in the opening stanza.

On fourth-and-four from the Red Hawk 25-yard line, Woodson found sophomore Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) at the left pylon, and Rivera made an excellent play to haul in his sixth touchdown of the year. After senior Ricky Krautman's (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) extra point was blocked, William Paterson trailed MSU, 14-6, with 13:22 remaining in the first half.

Less than a minute later, McCoach rambled 67 yards for his second touchdown of the night (21-6, 12:46), and with 4:52 to play, Jeff Bliss pushed his way into the end zone from the one-yard line, giving Montclair State a 28-7 edge.

A 26-yard crossing-route completion from Woodson to Rivera set up a one-yard Ira Guilford (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) TD, and a two-point conversion pass caught by Pascal Faustin (Irvington, N.J./Irvington) cut the lead to 14 (28-14, 2:24) just before the two teams entered the locker room.

During its first possession of the second half, William Paterson again used a long completion from Woodson to Rivera to set up a score, this one 60 yards that eventually led to a one-yard Woodson dive. After Krautman's PAT, the score was 28-21 in the Red Hawks' favor with 7:52 on the clock in the third. However, MSU answered on the next drive, capped by a McCoach one-yard TD (35-21, 4:51), and McCoach later crossed the goal line for the fourth time of the night, a two-yard score with 3:52 on the clock (42-21).

William Paterson scored the final points of the night when Woodson found Bruce Katkowski (Saddle Brook, N.J./Paramus Catholic) for a 19-yard completion with 2:20 to play in the contest.

Woodson completed 12 of 28 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, and added a team-best 90 yards rushing and a TD on 16 attempts. Junior Shaun Puluse (Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech) carried 22 times for 80 yards, while Rivera caught seven passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore Jared Burke (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.) led the Pioneer defense, collecting 14 total tackles, including 11 solo stops and 5.0 for a total loss of 16 yards. Senior Brian Burd (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) had eight tackles (four solo, 2.0 for loss), while junior Harold Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) had seven stops (six solo) and a pass broken up.

The Pioneers will finish the regular season and celebrate Senior Day Saturday, Nov. 10, against Rowan. Kickoff at Wightman Stadium will be at 1:00 p.m.