Game Notes (PDF)

The William Paterson football team will attempt to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2001 when the Pioneers take on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (0-2) Saturday, Sept. 15. Kickoff at Captain Tomb Field (4,000) will be at 2:30 p.m. 

SCOUTING WILLIAM PATERSON
William Paterson is 1-0 this season following a 17-16 upset victory at No. 13/15 Wilkes Sept. 1.

Senior Dan Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) leads the Pioneer offense, completing seven of 19 passes for 69 yards. Senior Ira Guilford (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) has carried 12 times for a team-best 37 yards and a touchdown, and Bruce Katkowski (Saddle Brook, N.J./Paramus Catholic) has caught four passes for 46 yards.

Junior Mike Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) and freshman Leer Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape), the Sept. 2 NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Week, have each made nine tackles to lead the William Paterson defensive effort. Senior Frank Musolino (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) has made six stops, including a sack, and recovered a fumble, while junior preseason all-American Harold Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) has two tackles, a 23-yard interception return, and four passes broken up.

Senior Ricky Krautman (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) has punted 13 times for 429 yards (33.0 average), landing five inside the 20-yard line with just one touchback. He has also averaged 60.2 yards per kickoff (four kicks, 241 yards), and made a 27-yard field goal that was the difference in the scoring column for WP at Wilkes.

The Pioneers returned 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 U.S. MERCHANT MARINE
The Mariners are 0-2 this season after losing at the Coast Guard 36-31 Sept. 8. In its season opener, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy suffered a 48-7 loss at Kean Aug. 31.

Freshman Derrick Ventre has taken the most snaps for the Mariners, completing 27 of 46 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns. James Intorcia has rushed 17 times for a team-best 75 yards, and junior Jon Spiropoulos has caught two passes for 14 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Geoff Troy has made one of three field-goal attempts and has averaged 37.5 yards per punt.

Patrick Hehir has made a team-best 15 tackles (five solo), including a sack. Senior Garron Edgington has made 10 stops and has one interception this fall.

 
FOUR CONFERENCE SELECTIONS RETURN FOR PIONEERS
Four 2006 all-conference selections returned 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 as a junior, 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.

Senior 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.