Box Score

WAYNE , N.J. – The William Paterson football team (2-1) lost a closely-contested 14-13 decision to FDU-Florham (2-1) in the Pioneers' home opener Sept. 22 at Wightman Stadium.

Neither team could find the end zone during the first quarter, but the Devils did eventually break the scoreless tie 56 seconds into the second frame when Daniel Harrison bounced off the line and sprinted down the left sideline, a 19-yard touchdown for a 7-0 FDU-Florham lead.

On the very next play, William Paterson senior Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner) received the kickoff and weaved his way 82 yards through the coverage, crossing the goal line for his 17 th career touchdown (14 receiving, two punt returns, one kickoff return). Senior Ricky Krautman's (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Ramapo) extra point tied the game, 7-7, with 13:43 remaining in the first half.

Five drives later, senior Brian Burd (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury) blocked a FDU-Florham punt and sophomore Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) fell on top of it at the FDU-31. That takeaway set up a Krautman 32-yard field goal eight seconds before halftime, giving the Pioneers a 10-7 lead at the break.

Rob Roberts' hit of a scrambling Dan Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) forced a William Paterson fumble at the WP 38-yard line, and on their first play of the drive, Devil quarterback Bill Winters found Rob Eck for a 38-yard touchdown completion. The extra point gave FDU-Florham a 14-10 lead with 4:41 to play in the third quarter.

Another Krautman field goal, this one from 37 yards with 13:06 remaining in the game, made it a one-point FDU lead (14-13). William Paterson twice had chances to move the ball into field-goal range, but Lamego's sneak on fourth-and-two at the FDU 46-yard line came up a yard short with 8:28 on the clock, and he was sacked for a seven-yard loss on fourth-and-five from the WP-30 during the game's final 30 seconds.

Lamego completed 16 of 32 passes for 166 yards, throwing one interception. Seniors Ira Guilford (Jersey City, N.J./Hoboken) and Kevin Drakeford (Englewood, N.J./Paramus Catholic) each gained 28 yards on the ground, and senior Mike Vicci (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) caught five passes for a team-best 50 yards.

Burd led the defensive effort with nine total tackles (five solo), including 1.5 for loss, and the blocked punt. Freshman Santino Mangiro (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) and sophomore Saul Garcia (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) each had six stops, while freshman cornerback Leer Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) added an interception to his three tackles.