Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. -- Junior wide receiver Joel Rivera (6-1, 190, Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) broke the Pioneers' single-season receiving yardage record as William Paterson (3-5, 2-5 NJAC) used a 22-point third quarter to pull away for a 51-24 victory against visiting Buffalo State (0-8, 0-7 NJAC) Nov. 1 at Wightman Stadium.

Rivera, who caught 10 passes for 161 yards against the Bengals, now has 809 receiving yards this season to eclipse the previous record of 736 established by Bryant Richardson during the 2001 campaign. Earlier this fall at Rowan (Sept. 27), Rivera created new William Paterson single-game records with 16 receptions for 226 yards.

For the Pioneers, the 51 points were the most scored since Oct. 28, 1994, when WP won a 51-15 decision at New Jersey City. William Paterson owned a 448-227 advantage in total offensive yards, including a 296-165 edge in the passing game, and had nearly 10 more minutes of possession time (34:09 to 25:44).

Pioneer junior quarterback Matt Marshall (6-3, 195, Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) showed some resolve after an early interception to finish 18-of-29 for 296 yards with four touchdowns thrown to four different Pioneers.

Junior Victor Soares (6-3, 190, Paterson, N.J./Monmouth Regional) was a big-play target, recording three catches for 74 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown grab in the first half. The backfield duo of Shaun Puluse (5-10, 210, Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech), who had 24 carries for 94 yards, and Marcus McKinney (5-11, 220, Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy), who carried 10 times for 48 yards and a score, and caught a 14-yard TD pass, highlighted a William Paterson ground game that amassed 152 yards.

Freshman Dom Busto (5-7, 170, Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) had his best game in a Pioneer uniform, hitting a 30-yard field goal during the third quarter and making four of five extra-point attempts.

William Paterson sophomore defensive lineman Dyon Moore (6-2, 260, Brooklyn, N.Y/Hudson Catholic) had a 50-yard fumble return for a touchdown, and sophomore defensive back Leer Biddle (5-10, 195, Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) finished with two interceptions and four tackles (three solo) to highlight a dominant defensive performance during the second half. Biddle also handled kickoff duties and averaged 50 yards per kick.

Seven different Pioneers recorded tackles for a loss, with Angelo Silletti (6-3, 235, Belleville, N.J./Hudson Catholic) and Doug Dudek (5-9, 170, Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) leading the Pioneers with six tackles apiece (four solo).

Trailing 17-12 at the half, the Pioneers immediately answered with one of their five second-half touchdowns. After Soares hauled in a spectacular 40-yard leaping grab, the Pioneers capped a six-play, 66-yard drive when Marshall hit McKinney on a middle-screen that resulted in a 14-yard touchdown. Marshall then hooked up with Derrik Rideg (5-10, 213, Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) for a successful two-point conversion as the Pioneers claimed a 20-17 lead with 12:50 remaining in the third quarter.

Still ahead 20-17 in the third, Marshall connected with Rivera on a screen pass and the junior receiver displayed his full arsenal of talents, running past an army of tacklers for a 70-yard catch to bring the Pioneers to the Bengals' one-yard line. On the next play, freshman Corey Paladino (6-0, 180, Lodi, N.J./Lodi) barreled into the end zone for the touchdown, and Busto connected on the extra point to give William Paterson a 27-17 advantage with 7:53 remaining.

Two possessions later, the Pioneers' Corey Stanton (6-0, 200, Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) forced and recovered a fumble during a Buffalo State punt return to set up a third-straight scoring drive for the Pioneers. On third down, Marshall found tight end Chris Schule (6-3, 225, Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) across the middle for a nine-yard scoring pass, and Busto made another extra point as the Pioneers led 34-17 with 3:011 remaining in the third.

William Paterson's offense was making all the noise until Biddle closed a dominating third quarter with his second interception grab of the day.

Busto then opened the fourth-quarter scoring, drilling a 30-yard field goal - the fist of his career –as William Paterson took a commanding 37-17 lead with 11:16 remaining in the game.

Buffalo State finally stopped a 25-0 scoring run when two unsportsmanlike penalties against the Pioneers defense and an 18-yard rush by Todd Hurlbut, set up Sammy Smith's (seven-yard plunge, cutting the William Paterson advantage to 37-24 with 9:42 remaining.

With a 13-point lead in the final quarter, the Pioneers called McKinney's number to move the chains and keep the clock rolling. Nine rushes and 44 yards later, McKinney pushed through the line for a one-yard score as the Pioneers answered right back, taking a 44-24 lead with 3:08 left in the game.

On the ensuing possession, Buffalo State backup quarterback Jeremy Mountain was looking down field and scrambling in the pocket when he was sacked by freshman James Grande (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea), whose hit forced a fumble at midfield. Right on the play was Moore, who scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 50 yards to paydirt. Busto added the extra point to finish a second half during which the Pioneers outscored Buffalo State, 39-7.

Senior Matt Pacana halted the Pioneers' first drive of the game with an interception and returned it 27 yards to inside the WP one-yard line. Four plays later, quarterback Kenny Murphy scored on the keeper on third-and-inches, and freshman Josh Richbart tacked on the extra point to give the Bengals the first score of the game (7-0, 9:54).

As the first quarter was winding down, William Paterson engineered an 11-play, 77-yard drive, one that was helped by a 21-yard reverse by Rivera. Rivera helped end the drive five plays later, catching a five yard pass from junior quarterback Marshall as time expired, but Busto's extra point hit the right upright, and Buffalo State carried a 7-6 edge into the second quarter.

A 27-yard completion from Murphy to senior Greg Meyer on first-and-20 helped spark a scoring drive that ended with a Hurlbut two-yard TD run. Richbart's extra point made it a 14-6 game with 3:22 remaining in the first half. Richbart then tacked on a 37-yard field goal as the final horn sounded, pushing the Bengals ahead 17-12 at halftime.

William Paterson will play at Kean Saturday, Nov. 8, for a 1:00 p.m., while Buffalo State will host Morrisville State Nov. 8 at 12:00 p.m.