Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – After the two teams combined for 22 points during the game's first 30 minutes, Cortland (5-2, 5-2 NJAC) outlasted William Paterson (3-4, 2-4 NJAC) in a tough second-half defensive battle, as neither team scored again in a 12-10 decision Oct. 24 at Wightman Stadium.

William Paterson went vertical on the first offensive play of the game when senior Matt Marshall (Burlington, N.J./Burlington City) found classmate Joel Rivera (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) with a 35-yard pass along the right sideline that Rivera turned into a 76-yard touchdown, making two Red Dragon defensive backs miss on his way to the end zone. Freshman Ryan Brzycki (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) added the extra point for a 7-0 Pioneer lead 19 seconds into the contest. With the completion, Marshall tied the WP career touchdown passes mark of 28 established by Robert Pirmann (1975-78).

The two teams exchanged punts before a 46-yard completion from Alex Smith to Eric Hajnos helped set up an eventual 35-yard field goal by Marc Corrado, making it a 7-3 contest with 5:54 remaining in the opening quarter.

William Paterson answered with an eight-play, 59-yard scoring drive that ended with a Brzycki 30-yard field goal and a 10-3 WP edge at the 1:05 mark of the first quarter. Two more punts preceded another field goal, this one for 22 yards off the foot of Corrado with 5:18 to play in the second quarter (10-6). After a three-and-out and punt for the Pioneers, Anthony Giuliano passed out of the wildcat formation to Hajnos, a 54-yard play for the Red Dragons' only touchdown of the day. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, keeping it a 12-10 score with 3:17 on the clock.

William Paterson was driving down the field late in the second quarter, converting on fourth-and-one on the Cortland 36-yard line to keep the drive alive, but a Chris Hanlon interception in the end zone ended the Pioneers' scoring chances 14 seconds before the intermission.

Two punts opened the third quarter, followed by an eight-yard Cortland completion on fourth-and-10, and a fumble on the center/quarterback exchange for William Paterson. The Red Dragons started the ensuing possession on the WP-30, but the Pioneers' defense held and forced another punt. The Cortland defense did the same during William Paterson's next possession, and the Pioneers later got the ball back on their own 25-yard line after stopping Dom Sair for no gain on fourth-and-one.

William Paterson began the fourth quarter with a punt, but got the ball back at its own 19-yard line after a Smith pass went off the hands of Hajnos on fourth-and-one. The Pioneers were unable to get a first down on their next offensive series, but the defense forced another Red Dragon punt and a touchback after a three-and-out.

WP started its next series at its own 20-yard line with 4:05 to play, and Marshall began with two straight screens to senior Bruce Katkowski (Saddle Brook, N.J./Paramus Catholic), who gained a total of 27 yards and gave WP second-and-one at its own 47-yard line. An incompletion and a Kyle Hart (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon) carry for no gain made it fourth down, and sophomore Marcus McKinney (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) was unable to move the chains, stopped in his tracks with 2:38 to play. Cortland then ran out the clock, converting on third-and-three.

Marshall was 12-for-23 for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Rivera caught seven passes for 110 yards and a score, while Katkowski had four receptions for 49 yards. McKinney carried 20 times for 38 yards, and sophomore Corey Paladino (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) had 25 yards on three rushes.

Junior linebacker Jim Hamill (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) led an excellent Pioneer defensive effort with 17 tackles (six solo, 0.5 TFL). Junior defensive back Leer Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) had eight stops (four solo) and a pass break up, and sophomore Levi Still (Blackwood, N.J./Timber Creek) made seven tackles (four solo).

Smith completed 15 of 27 passes for 174 yards for Cortland. Hajnos had seven receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown, and Sair led the Red Dragon ground game with 104 yards on 21 carries.

Senior Evan Wyler led Cortland with 13 tackles (10 solo). Junior Will Schroeder made seven stops (three solo, 1.0 TFL).

William Paterson will visit Buffalo State Saturday, Oct. 31, at 12:00 p.m.