Box Score

BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The William Paterson football team (0-1) battled back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to take a 20-14 third-quarter lead, but host Brockport (1-0) responded to force overtime and eventually went on to earn a 26-20 victory during the second extra session Sept. 6.

Brockport, playing its first football game as a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), scored two second-quarter touchdowns and a two-point conversion to take the 14-point edge into the locker room. The Pioneers came to life during their second possession of the second half, putting together a nine-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a Matt Marshall (Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) 24-yard touchdown pass to Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken). Freshman Patrick Martincavage (Boyton Beach, Fla./Boca Raton Community) added the extra point for a 14-7 score with 7:35 remaining. 

Following an interception by William Paterson senior linebacker Mike Lamego (North Arlington, N.J./Queen of Peace) at the Brockport 27-yard line, Marshall again came off the bench and moved the Pioneers inside the 10-yard line. Martincavage's 25-yard field goal was good, but a Golden Eagle penalty for roughing the kicker gave WP another set of downs, and on the very next play Marshall found Derrik Rideg (Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) for a four-yard TD to even the score at 14-14 with 4:36 to play in the third.

Three plays later, Lamego came up with his second interception of the day and returned it 20 yards to push the Pioneers ahead, 20-14. Martincavage's PAT kick was blocked, keeping it a six-point game.

Brockport began the fourth quarter with an 11-play, 63-yard drive that resulted in a three-yard touchdown pass from Zack Luke to Felipe Diaz. The PAT kick failed, keeping the score even at 20-20 with 11:56 remaining in regulation. A Marshall interception ended a promising William Paterson drive at the Brockport-30 with 6:06 to play, and neither team could get within scoring range during the final minutes of the fourth quarter, forcing overtime.

Brockport had the first offensive possession of the extra session, but came away without a point following a fumble forced and recovered by Dyon Moore (Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson Catholic) at the one-yard line. Five straight carries by Shaun Puluse (Haledon, N.J./Passaic Tech) made sure that William Paterson retained possession, and set-up a potential game-winning field-goal attempt for Martincavage. Unfortunately, his 24-yard attempt was blocked, ending the first overtime period.

WP had the ball first during the second overtime, but on a second-and-13 from the Golden Eagles' 16, Marshall was intercepted by Brockport's Neil Fay. Four plays later, Garet Lynch found the end zone from eight yards out, giving the home team the season-opening victory.

Moore led the William Paterson defense with a game-high 11 tackles (five solo), adding a sack, two fumbles forced and a fumble recovery. Senior Corey Stanton (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) and sophomore Joe Pandorf (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Twp.) each made nine stops, and Lamego added five tackles to his two interceptions and touchdown.

Marshall was 14-for-25 for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while junior John Woodson (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) was 9-for-18 for 141 yards. Puluse carried 19 times for 53 yards, and Rivera caught five passes for 90 yards and a TD.

Following a bye week, William Paterson will play its first home game of the year Saturday, Sept. 20, against U.S. Merchant Marine at 1:00 p.m.