Game Notes (PDF)
The William Paterson football team will begin its 2007 campaign with a stiff road test, playing at No. 15 Wilkes Saturday, Sept. 1, at 1:00 p.m.
SCOUTING WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers return seven offensive starters and five defensive starters from a 2006 team that posted a 1-9 overall record and a 1-6 mark in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. However, that record was a bit deceiving, as William Paterson had chances to win almost every ballgame. Five of the losing margins were seven or fewer points, and in back-to-back outings, William Paterson was defeated on the final play of the game. A field goal as time expired gave Western Connecticut a 20-17 win in Wayne Oct. 7, and an overtime touchdown lifted The College of New Jersey to a 27-21 victory Oct. 14.
Injuries also played a major role, particularly under center. Three different Pioneers started at quarterback during the 2006 campaign, and a total of five different players called the signals during the 10-game schedule.
SCOUTING WILKES
The Colonels enter the 2007 campaign ranked 15th in the d3football.com Top 25 Poll. Wilkes returns 57 letterwinners and 11 total starters from a 2006 team that compiled an 11-1 overall record and a 9-0 mark in Middle Atlantic Conference play, winning the MAC title and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.
FOUR CONFERENCE SELECTIONS RETURN FOR PIONEERS
Four 2006 all-conference selections return to lead the Pioneers this fall.
Senior wide receiver Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner) was named to the All-NJAC Offensive First Team. A second-team all-NJAC pick in 2005 and an honorable-mention selection in 2004, Moon hauled in 35 passes for 621 yards and five touchdowns last season, and became WPU's all-time leader in career receiving yards (1,774) last season.
Junior safety Harold Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) was selected to the All-Second Team. Green had a breakout season as a sophomore, leading the Pioneers in tackles (80 total, 54 solo). Nine of his stops were for a loss, and he added five interceptions, 4.0 sacks, 13 passes broken up, a fumble forced, one blocked kick and a fumble recovered.
Junior kicker/punter Ricky Krautman (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) was an honorable-mention selection. He punted 48 times for an average of 36.8 yards/kick, dropping 15 inside the opponent 20-yard line and eight times forcing a fair catch. Also the placekicker, he made seven of 14 field-goal attempts and 18 of 19 PATs.
Junior running back Mike Vicci (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) also earned honorable-mention honors. He caught a team-high 38 passes last fall for 200 yards, and added 331 yards and four touchdowns on 118 carries out of the backfield.
NEW FACES
Just 35 letterwinners return for the Pioneers this fall, but William Paterson will welcome 56 newcomers who could make big impacts on the field this year.
Included among the 56 new faces are 43 freshmen, and a total of 18 spots on WP's projected opening-game two-deep are new to the program.
Expected to start for the Pioneers against Wilkes are right tackle Jeffrey Arista (Paterson, N.J./Passaic Tech), a junior transfer from Saint Peter's; freshman right guard Devin Turner (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner); freshman tight end Mark Engravalle (Hawthorne, N.J./St. Joseph's); senior running back Ira Guilford (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken), a transfer from Troy; freshman cornerback Leer Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape); and sophomore cornerback Lauren Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape).
