Box Score 

GLASSBORO, N.J. – Junior wide receiver Joel Rivera (6-1, 190, Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) had a school-record 16 catches and 226 yards, but William Paterson (1-2, 0-2 NJAC) was unable to complete an improbable comeback as the Pioneers lost at Rowan (2-1, 1-1 NJAC), 39-24, at the Profs' John Page Field Sept. 27. 

Rivera eclipsed the William Paterson single-game records of 11 catches (Bryant Richardson, 10/27/01, vs. Alfred) and 192 receiving yards (Brian Lowenstein, 10/20/01, vs. SUNY Cortland).  Pioneer junior quarterback Matt Marshall (6-3, 195, Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) completed 29 of 51 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Shaun Puluse (5-10, 210, Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech) carried 16 times for 55 yards, and junior wide receiver John Malone (6-0, 200, Haledon, N.J./Paramus Catholic) caught three passes for 38 yards and a TD.

Junior linebacker Jared Burke (6-1, 220, Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Egg Harbor Twp.) made a team-best 12 tackles (eight solo, 2.5 TFL) for the Pioneers, while senior linebacker Mike Lamego (6-1, 235, North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) had 10 stops (five solo) and returned a fumble 25 yards for a score. Senior Dion Benjamin (6-0, 200, North Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield) added five tackles to his first-quarter interception.

Rowan stormed out to a 20-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, thanks to a five-yard run by quarterback Frank Wilczynski, a 22-yard Wilczynski pass to Vinnie Graff and another Wilczynski scoring run.

The Pioneers got on the scoreboard 2:34 into the second quarter, when Marshall connected with Rivera for a 42-yard pass. Freshman Patrick Martincavage's (Boyton Beach, Fla./Boca Raton Community) extra point made it a 20-7 contest with 12:26 remaining in the first half.

Rowan answered immediately, a drive that culminated with a five-yard touchdown pass from Wilczynski to Mark Lisa. Burke's block of the extra point made the score 26-7 with 11:04 on the clock.

Following an unsuccessful fourth-down attempt by the Pioneers and a pair of punts, the Profs found pay-dirt again when Wilczynski found Anthony Barone for a 12-yard touchdown, and following a missed kick, Rowan owned a 32-7 edge with 4:14 remaining before halftime.

Thanks to three successful third-down completions and a two-yard pick-up by Puluse on fourth-and-one, William Paterson moved the ball down the field during its next possession. Martincavage kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired, making it a 32-10 game as the two teams entered the locker room.

The Pioneers had the ball first to begin the second half, and Marshall completed all five of his passes during the opening possession, the last a 26-yard touchdown to Malone (32-17, 9:31). With Wilczynski forced to the sideline due to an injury, Rowan turned to Graff under center, and the Profs were not able to muster a scoring drive for the remainder of the third quarter.

The Profs' second possession of the fourth quarter was ended when Brett Scott fumbled and Lamego scooped it up and scampered 25 yards for the William Paterson touchdown, making it a single-score difference at 32-24 with 10:18 to play. However, Steve Wall returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards, and Jon Downes picked up the remaining 13 yards on the very next carry, restoring Rowan's two-score cushion (39-24, 9:55). A late Marshall interception, as well as a Rivera fumble, ended the Pioneers' fourth-quarter comeback hopes.

William Paterson (370 yards) and Rowan (361) were nearly even in terms of total offense, with the Pioneers owning a 353-130 advantage through the air and the Profs dominating 231-17 on the ground.

William Paterson will return to Wayne for back-to-back home games, starting with a contest against rival Montclair State Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1:00 p.m.