Box Score  

BROCKPORT, N.Y. – Six turnovers and 21 consecutive points from the Golden Eagle offense resulted in a 30-16 loss for William Paterson (4-2, 3-2 NJAC) at Brockport (2-4, 2-3 NJAC) Oct. 16.

Knotted at 9-9 at halftime, the Golden Eagles used a 28-yard Alex Hendrickson run to take a 15-9 lead after the PAT kick failed with 4:33 left in the third quarter. Quarterback Joseph Scabilia's four-yard run and two-point conversion pass to Jake Spalik made it a 23-9 score less than two minutes into the final period, and Brockport put the game away with an Adam Erickson one-yard plunge with 6:00 to play in the contest.

Sophomore Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) was 19-for-32 for 149 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for William Paterson. Classmate Dawys German (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) picked up 39 yards on 12 carries, and sophomore Chris Manfredo (Staten Island, N.J./Tottenville) caught eight passes for 78 yards.

Sophomore linebackers Jimmie Ray Ragland (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) and Luigi Napolitano, Jr. (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) each made 15 tackles to lead the Pioneer defense. Sophomore safety German Decena (Union City, N.J./Emerson) added 10 stops.

William Paterson drew first blood after a roughing the kicker penalty on a fourth-down punt gave the Pioneers the ball on the Brockport-38. After a short gain, incomplete pass and Gresik fumble was recovered by William Paterson on third-and-goal, freshman Cory Mundt (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) made good on a 22-yard field goal for a 3-0 score at the 9:29 mark of the first quarter.

The two teams exchanged punts until freshman running back Will Woodley (Belleville, N.J./Belleville) fumbled inside the Pioneers' 15-yard line. The William Paterson defense held the Golden Eagles out of the end zone, but EJ Genzano's 29-yarder was true, forging a 3-3 tie with 2:00 remaining in the opening period.

Gresik was intercepted by Ross Ragonesi on the first WP offensive play after the kickoff, and the 17-yard return gave the Golden Eagles the ball at the William Paterson 20-yard line. A holding penalty on third down gave Brockport new life, and Scibilia took advantage three plays later when he rushed for a seven-yard touchdown. Senior cornerback Leer Biddle (Sicklerville, N.J./Lenape) blocked the extra point, keeping it a 9-3 score with nine seconds left in the first quarter.

The Pioneers answered with 44-yard kickoff return from Biddle, giving William Paterson excellent field position at the Brockport 34-yard line. Gresik found junior Matt Reggio (Commack, N.Y./Commack) for a seven-yard completion on fourth-and-four from the Eagle-10, and later connected with Kyle Hart (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional) for a three-yard score. Mundt's PAT was no good, and the two teams were tied at 9-9 less than four minutes into the second quarter.

Following a three-and-out by the Brockport offense, the two sides traded turnovers. Alex Hayes forced a Gresik fumble that was recovered at the Golden Eagle 17-yard line, but six plays later WP junior bandit Doug Dudek (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) intercepted Scibilia at the Pioneers' 33. Neither team threatened again and the scoreboard remained at 9-9 at halftime.

The Pioneer defense came up with a stop on fourth-and-13 to begin the second half, but the Golden Eagles got the ball right back when Darren Vukovic intercepted Gresik on the next play and ran it back 21 yards to the Pioneers' 19-yard line. Napolitano and sophomore cornerback Andre Snead (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) dropped Chris Grace for a one-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line, but William Paterson could not get the ball out of its own end, and a Mundt punt allowed Brockport to start its next drive deep in Pioneer territory at the 36-yard line. Hendrickson carried three straight times, the last one for a 28-yard score. Grezano's kick was no good, but the Golden Eagles had seized a 15-9 lead.

Brockport finished an 11-play, 66-yard drive with a Scibilia four-yard quarterback keeper, and the two-point conversion handed the Golden Eagles a two-touchdown advantage, 23-9, to start the fourth quarter. Brockport then recovered a Biddle fumble of the ensuing kickoff return and bled off a precious 153 seconds, eventually punting into the Pioneer end zone.

Getting the ball back with 11:04 to play, a five-yard Gresik run and a 14-yard completion to Manfredo gave WP some breathing room at its own 39-yard line. However, Brockport's Nate Bull stepped in front of Gresik's next pass and returned it eight yards. The Golden Eagles chewed up the remaining 38 yards as well as 4:36 of the clock, adding a one-yard Erickson insurance touchdown (30-9, 6:00).

Gresik had to leave the field due to an injury, but freshman quarterback Dave Milne (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) was able to get the Pioneers another 20 yards closer to the Brockport end zone before Gresik returned with a 14-yard pass to sophomore tight end Joseph Cordato (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), making it first-and-goal at the seven-yard line. After a penalty pushed the Pioneers back five yards, Gresik connected with Alex Price (Newton, N.J./Newton) for a 12-yard touchdown with 3:28 to play. William Paterson attempted the onside kick, but the ball went out of bounds, ending the Pioneers' comeback hopes.

Scibilia was 15-for-32 for 128 yards and an interception. Hendrickson gained 138 yards and scored a touchdown on 29 attempts, while Jordan Hogan caught five passes for 55 yards.

The Brockport defense was led by Nate Bull with 20 tackles (two solo) and an interception. Derek DeCandia had 13 stops (3.5 for loss) and a fumble forced.

William Paterson will play at Kean Saturday, Oct. 23, at 1:00 p.m.