Box Score 

UNION, N.J. – Trailing by 21 points early in the fourth quarter, William Paterson (3-6, 2-6 NJAC) rallied and had a chance to pull even during the final minute, but Kean's (6-3, 5-3 NJAC) last-second interception secured a 28-21 Cougar victory Nov. 8 at Kean Alumni Stadium. 

William Paterson quarterback Matt Marshall (6-3, 195, Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) completed 20 of 34 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns, increasing his season TD total to 19, one better than the previous Pioneer record of 18 (Rob Warchol, 2001).  In addition, Joel Rivera (6-1, 190, Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) caught eight passes for 72 yards and a TD, giving him 66 receptions this season to surpass the record of 64 (Bryant Richardson, 2001).

Tied at 7-7 at halftime, a bad snap on a William Paterson punt attempt to open the second half gave Kean the ball on the WP 13-yard line, and on the very next play Jared Chunn scampered around the right side and into the end zone. The successful PAT gave the Cougars their first lead of the day at 14-7 with 12:17 remaining in the third quarter.

On the next Cougar possession, a 34-yard completion from Thomas D'Ambrisi to James Felton gave Kean the ball on the WP-3, and two plays later Sean Atkins pushed across the goal line to make it a 21-7 contest (7:42, third).

Senior Mike Lamego (6-1, 235, North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) intercepted a D'Ambrisi pass at the goal line during the Cougars' next drive, but two plays later William Paterson gave away its second fumble of the day. D'Ambrisi later connected with Alex Cade for a 16-yard score and a 28-7 lead 39 seconds into the fourth quarter.

A solid kickoff return by Chris Thomas (5-10, 185, West Milford, N.J./West Milford), followed by successive Cougar personal foul penalties, gave the Pioneers the ball inside the Kean 30-yard line. A 13-yard completion from Marshall to Derrik Rideg (5-10, 213, Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) on fourth-and-four kept the drive alive inside the Kean-10, and three plays later Marshall completed a three-yard pass to a streaking Rivera. The touchdown, Rivera's seventh of the season, cut the lead to 14 at 28-14 (10:27).

On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Patrick Martincavage (5-11, 180, Boyton Beach, Fla./Boca Raton Community) bounced the ball perfectly and a sprinting Leer Biddle (5-10, 195, Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) recovered the onside kick at the Pioneer 40-yard line. After a Marcus McKinney (5-11, 220, Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) carry on fourth-and-inches made it first-and goal at the two, Marshall found Rideg alone in the middle of the end zone (28-21, 6:42).

A sack by junior linebacker Jared Burke (6-1, 220, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.) forced a Kean punt, and Thomas' 27-yard return gave William Paterson a drive start at its own 39-yard line with 3:31 to play. Marshall and Rivera connected three times, one for 38 yards, but an incomplete pass and a short McKinney carry made it fourth-and-five at the Kean-14. Victor Soares (6-3, 190, Paterson, N.J./Monmouth Regional) caught a nine-yard Marshall pass to keep the Pioneers' hopes alive and make it first-and-goal at the five, but the Cougars brought pressure and forced Marshall to complete a pass that resulted in a loss of six yards. Two incompletions again put William Paterson in a fourth-down situation, and this time Marshall's pass was deflected and intercepted by Victor D'Arrigo with 20.7 seconds on the clock, securing the seven-point victory for the Cougars.

Neither team could get on the scoreboard during the opening 15 minutes, as the two sides combined for three turnovers. Biddle forced the first one, thwarting a Kean drive inside the Pioneer-15 with an interception in the end zone with 7:36 remaining in the second quarter. Following a William Paterson fumble, Thomas had the Pioneers' second pick of the day, his first of the season at the WP-20 with 2:11 left during the opening period.

The Pioneers broke the scoring drought with 9:17 to play in the first half, when Marshall found Soares for a 14-yard TD pass. Freshman Dom Busto (5-7, 170, Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes) kicked the extra point, capping a nine-play, 44-yard drive to hand William Paterson the first lead of the day at 7-0.

Chunn evened the contest, rumbling across the goal line from four yards out for a 7-7 score with 3:52 remaining. The Pioneers had a final chance to get on the board during the closing minutes, but a holding penalty and two sacks moved William Paterson out of field-goal range as time expired.

McKinney carried 14 times for a team-best 53 yards, and Soares hauled in six passes for 68 yards and a score for William Paterson.

Defensively, Burke made a team-best seven tackles (four solo, 2.0 TFL), including one sack for -14 yards. Sophomore defensive lineman Dyon Moore (6-2, 260, Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson Catholic) made five stops (four solo, 1.5 TFL), and freshman Doug Dudek (5-9, 170, Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) added five tackles (three solo).

For Kean, D'Ambrisi completed 12 of 16 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. Chunn carried 28 times for 121 yards and two TDs, and Cade caught four passes for 54 yards and a score.

D'Arrigo made a game-high nine tackles (three solo, 1.5 TFL) for the Cougars, and sealed the win with his late interception. Jordan Cagle added eight stops (six solo).

William Paterson will return to Wightman Stadium Saturday, Nov. 15, to celebrate Senior Day as the Pioneers host Western Connecticut for a 1:00 p.m. contest.