Box Score
KINGS POINT, N.Y. – A record-breaking five touchdown passes by senior Dan Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) allowed the William Paterson football team (2-0) to roll past the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (0-3) 41-12 Sept. 15 at the Mariners' Tomb Field.
Lamego completed 16 of 21 passes for 218 yards, establishing a new school record with his five touchdown passes. The previous record was four, set by Brian Leary against Trenton State (Sept. 20, 1991), and tied by Rob Warchol against Cortland State (Oct. 20, 2001).
With the victory, the Pioneers started the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2001 campaign. William Paterson earned a 17-16 upset victory at No. 13/15 Wilkes in its season opener Sept. 1, and had a bye last week. The Pioneers also posted their second straight turnover-free effort, and now possess an overall turnover margin of +7, including two takeaways at USMMA.
Just as it did at Wilkes, William Paterson received the opening kickoff and broke off a big return, this time a 61-yard spurt by senior Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner) that gave the Pioneers a drive start at the Mariners' 31-yard line. Two plays later, Lamego launched a ball to the back-left pylon and sophomore Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) came down with it, a 21-yard touchdown that gave WP a 7-0 lead 1:38 into the opening stanza.
Lamego and Rivera connected again, this time for 11 yards, to push the Pioneers ahead 13-0 with 4:58 remaining in the opening quarter. The PAT kick was blocked, but senior Mike Vicci (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) alertly scooped up the ball and scampered into the end zone for the two-point conversion and a 15-0 lead.
The Pioneer scored one more time before halftime, an 18-yard completion from Lamego to Moon, for a 22-0 advantage with 14.0 seconds remaining in the first half.
Senior Ricky Krautman's (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) 32-yard field goal pushed the Pioneers ahead 25-0 with 5:58 to play in the third quarter. The Mariners finally got on the scoreboard 1:42 later, but USMMA's extra-point attempt was blocked by Jared Burke (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.). Freshman cornerback Leer Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) came up with the football and sprinted nearly 90 yards down the right sideline, registering the two points for William Paterson (27-6, 4:16).
Lamego found Rivera on a crossing pattern, and the two connected for a 21-yard score 5:38 into the fourth quarter (34-6). Following a Merchant Marine touchdown two minutes later, Rivera held on to a Lamego pass at the back of the end zone, a 25-yard completion that finished the day's scoring (41-12, 6:41).
Rivera caught seven passes for 117 yards and four touchdowns in his first action of the 2007 campaign. A former selection in the Major League Baseball Draft, Rivera is in just his second season playing organized football. He appeared in seven games last fall, primarily on special teams, and had one career reception, a catch in the finale at No. 16 Rowan (Nov. 10, 2006).
Moon caught four balls for 73 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown called back due to a holding penalty.
Junior Shaun Puluse (Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech) carried 25 times for 81 yards, while senior Kevin Drakeford (Englewood, N.J./Paramus Catholic) gained 58 yards on eight attempts.
Biddle had a team-best nine tackles and intercepted a first-quarter pass, while Burke made six stops, including a sack. Senior Brian Burd (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) contributed five tackles and a fumble recovery.
Krautman punted seven times for an average of 31.1 yards and kicked a 32-yard field goal.
The Pioneers will play their 2007 season home opener Saturday, Sept. 22, against FDU-Florham at 1:00 p.m.
