Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – First-year head coach Jerry Flora earned his first career victory as the William Paterson football team (1-1) defeated visiting U.S. Merchant Marine (1-2), 21-13, during the Pioneers' home opener Sept. 20 at Wightman Stadium.

William Paterson junior quarterback Matt Marshall (6-3, 195, Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) completed 21 of 32 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns to lead the offense, making his first start for the Pioneers, while junior wide receiver Joel Rivera (6-1, 190, Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) caught nine passes for 138 yards and two scores, blocked a PAT kick and recovered an on-side kick late in the fourth quarter. Senior running back Shaun Puluse (5-10, 210, Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech) carried 20 times for 94 yards to lead the Pioneer ground game.

Sophomore defensive back Joe Pandorf (5-9, 175, Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Twp.) made a game-best eight tackles (three solo), including a sack and 2.5 for loss. Sophomore defensive lineman Dyon Moore (6-2, 260, Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson Catholic) and junior linebacker Angelo Silletti (6-3, 235, Belleville, N.J./Hudson Catholic) each had seven tackles, while freshman Najee McCutcheon (5-8, 165, Paterson, N.J./Passaic Tech), senior Dion Benjamin (6-0, 200, North Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield) and freshman James Grande (6-0, 260, Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) each had interceptions for William Paterson.

William Paterson found the end zone first, a three-play drive set up by Benjamin's interception and return inside the Mariner 20-yard line. Marshall found Rivera in the back-right corner of the end zone, an 11-yard touchdown play, and freshman Patrick Martincavage (5-11, 180, Boyton Beach, Fla./Boca Raton Community) added the extra-point kick for a 7-0 WP lead with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter.

John Watson pulled King's Point back within one thanks to a two-yard scoring run, but Rivera blocked the extra-point attempt, making it a 7-6 game 42 seconds into the second quarter.

Two drives later, Marshall again connected with Rivera, this one a long ball that allowed Rivera to burst past the defensive back and sprint in for a 74-yard scoring play. The Pioneers elected to go for two, but the trick-play pass to the left flat was unsuccessful, keeping it a seven-point margin (13-6, 5:36 to play in second).

The two teams traded punts and fumbles to start the third quarter, but William Paterson began its third drive of the second half with a 32-yard strike from Marshall to freshman wide receiver Victor Soares (6-3, 190, Paterson, N.J./Monmouth Regional), giving the Pioneers a 21-6 margin midway through the third quarter.

Merchant Marine's final score of the day came as a result of a seven-play, 55-drive that culminated with a two-yard pass from Carlton Hobkirk to Mike Mitchell. The successful PAT kick made it an eight-point game (21-13) with 2:10 remaining, but the Mariners' comeback hopes were ended when Rivera came down with the on-side kick. William Paterson was able to bleed the rest of the clock, a drive helped by a 15-yard roughing the kicker penalty that was assessed on a fourth-and-nine punt.

Scott Perruquet was 8-for-12 for 88 yards and an interception for USMMA, and Hobkirk was 6-for-8 for 56 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Mitchell caught six passes for 61 yards and a score, and Davey May carried 15 times for a team-best 45 yards.

The Merchant Marine defense was led by Karl Heimbrock with seven tackles (four solo), 3.5 TFL for -11 yards, and a forced fumble. Marcus Broeder and Kevin Stapf each made seven stops. The Mariner defense forced four fumbles, recovering three of them.

William Paterson will resume conference play Saturday, Sept. 27, at Rowan at 1:00 p.m.