Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson football team (1-3, 0-3 NJAC) held a 13-point lead, but Montclair State (4-0, 3-0 NJAC) rallied for two touchdowns, including quarterback Ryan Boysen's five-yard toss to junior Jeff Papcun to convert on fourth down and complete its 14-13 victory Oct. 4 at Wightman Stadium.

Boysen led the Red Hawks down the field through the air and on the ground during Montclair State's 13-play, 80-yard scoring drive. He completed passes of 26 and 18 yards to freshman wide receiver Yessy Tejada and, after a sack by William Paterson defensive lineman Dan Jones (5-10, 260, Riverhead, N.Y./Riverhead), Boysen rushed for 16 yards to convert a third-and-13.

After his 11-yard draw brought it to the Pioneers' five-yard line, Boyson converted the key fourth-down play when he rolled left and found Papcun open in the front-right corner of the end zone to tie the game at 13-13. Marco Capozzoli nailed the extra point with 37 seconds remaining to give MSU the 14-13 lead, the Red Hawks' first advantage of the day.

The Pioneers had one final attempt at a comeback with just 30 seconds remaining at the 28-yard line, advancing it almost to midfield before Matt Marshall (6-3, 195, Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) was sacked as time expired.

Boysen finished the game 12-of-26 for 117 yards and a touchdown, and he had 17 yards on five carries. The Red Hawks converted four third-down conversions during the final quarter to complete the comeback.

Senior wide receiver Omar Sevilla led Montclair State with four catches for 61 yards, followed by Tejada (three receptions, 51 yards), and freshman Dan Keegan, who had 32 yards on three receptions.

Ahead 7-0 at halftime, the William Paterson offense immediately hit stride with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive, capped when Marshall hit a streaking John Malone (6-0, 200, Haledon, N.J./Paramus Catholic) on fourth-down for a 24-yard touchdown pass. More importantly, the Pioneers missed low on the extra point but still had a 13-0 advantage.

William Paterson had shut down any offense by Montclair State during the third quarter, allowing just five rushing yards to running back Jeff Bliss after he had gained 67 by halftime. However, down 13-0 as the fourth quarter got under way, Bliss gained four yards on fourth-and-inches and finished off a 15-play, 70-yard drive with a touchdown run from four yards out, making it a 13-7 Pioneers lead with 9:49 remaining.

Marshall completed 14-of-25 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Malone had two catches for 34 yards and a score, while freshman Corey Paladino (6-0, 180, Lodi, N.J./Lodi) hauled in two passes for 28 yards and a touchdown. A week after setting single-game records for receptions (16) and receiving yards (226) against Rowan, junior wide receiver Joel Rivera (6-1, 190, Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) was held top six catches for 39 yards.

Leading the Pioneers' ground game, senior running back Shaun Puluse (5-10, 210, Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech) rushed for 64 yards on 20 carries

Junior linebacker Angelo Silletti (6-3, 235, Belleville, N.J./Hudson Catholic) led all Pioneers with 10 total tackles (six solo), including a 1.5 sacks, while Leer Biddle (5-10, 195, Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) made eight tackles (eight solo) with an interception and three pass defenses. Senior linebacker Mike Lamego (6-1, 235, North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) added seven tackles (three solo) and a forced fumble.

The two sides began the contest by trading punts until the Red Hawks' third possession when Biddle picked off an Eric Palmer pass near midfield. However, the Pioneers were unable to capitalize, as Montclair State's Nick Giangrande forced a fumble by Puluse, and the Red Hawks' Brian Drew recovered the ball to give possession back to MSU.

Senior defensive back Wilson Medina (West New York, N.J./Memorial) secured the Pioneers' second interception of the day, cutting off another Palmer pass early in the second period. A Red Hawk personal foul at the end of the return gave William Paterson the ball at the MSU-21, and three plays later Marshall found Paladino in the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown. Freshman Patrick Martincavage's (Boyton Beach, Fla./Boca Raton Community) extra point gave the Pioneers a 7-0 lead.

William Paterson forced its third turnover of the afternoon during Montclair State's next possession, when sophomore defensive lineman Marcell Bates (Paterson, N.J./Paterson Eastside) brought pressure up the middle, forcing Palmer to stumble backwards. Lamego followed up with the sack and forced fumble, which was recovered by defensive lineman Dyon Moore (Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson Catholic) at the Pioneers' 49-yard line. William Paterson was unable to turn the miscue into points and remained in front at halftime, 7-0.

William Paterson will celebrate Homecoming when the Pioneers host Morrisville State Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2:00 p.m.