Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – The offense, defense and special teams all found the end zone as William Paterson (3-1, 2-1 NJAC) scored a dominating 35-0 Homecoming victory against Western Connecticut (0-4, 0-3 NJAC) Oct. 2 at Wightman Stadium.

The shutout was the first for the Pioneers since a 17-0 road win against Plymouth State during the 2005 season (Sept. 17). The Homecoming victory was the third in a row for William Paterson, thanks in part to a 379-145 advantage in total offensive yards, and gave WP its best start to a season since 1992 (5-0).

The Pioneers' five scores came in a variety of ways. The first two were one-yard carries by freshman Ray VanPeenen (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills), and the next a 10-yard completion from sophomore Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) to a wide-open Joseph Cordato (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne). Senior Bret Cadena (Madison, N.J./Madison) scooped up a fumble and returned it 22 yards for a third-quarter touchdown, and junior Doug Dudek (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) returned a punt blocked by senior Chris Thomas (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) for a 26-yard TD early in the fourth period to finish the scoring.

Gresik was 11-for-16 for 177 yards, a touchdown and an interception. VanPeenen finished with 45 yards on 23 carries, and freshman quarterback Dave Milne (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) had six rushes for 86 yards, including an 80-yard run for the Pioneers' longest play from scrimmage this fall. Cordato caught three passes for 47 yards and a score to lead seven different players with a reception against the Colonials.

Dudek led the Pioneer defense with 12 tackles (2.0 for loss) and a fumble recovery. Junior defensive back Stephen Bovo, Jr. (Dunellen, N.J./Dunellen) and junior linebacker Damian DiIorio (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) each had six stops, and senior defensive lineman Dyon Moore (Brooklyn, N.Y./Hudson Catholic) had five. Sophomore safety German Decena (Union City, N.J./Emerson) added two pass breakups to his five tackles.

William Paterson moved the ball down the field on the first drive of the game, and was aided by a pass interference call on fourth-and-goal, giving the Pioneers a new set of downs. On fourth-and-one, VanPeenen stormed his way over the goal line, but the two-point pass attempt by holder Thomas to senior Derrik Rideg (Rochelle Park, N.J./Paramus Catholic) was unsuccessful, and WP enjoyed a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

WestConn seemingly lost the ball on a fumble to end its first possession, but Dudek was ruled to have recovered and then fumbled the ball himself, giving the Colonials the ball back with a fresh set of downs at the WP 24-yard line. Three play later Western Connecticut attempted a 41-yard field goal, but it was well short, giving the ball back to William Paterson.

Sophomore Chris Manfredo (Staten Island, N.J./Tottenville) turned a short completion into a 64-yard gain on third-and-10, and VanPeenen finished the seven-play, 76-yard drive with a one-yard leap over the pile and into the end zone. Pressured in the backfield, Gresik stepped up and found a streaking Cordato for the two-point conversion, making it a 14-0 score with 17.7 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The two teams traded interceptions to start the second period, as Keith Getz picked off Gresik and ran 26 yards to the Pioneer-14 before sophomore Luigi Napolitano, Jr. (Morris Plains, N.J./Parsippany Hills) answered two plays later with an interception of Adler Florian, racing 55 yards up the left sideline before being pushed out at the WestConn 36-yard line.

William Paterson turned the ball over on downs, but the Pioneers' Thomas recovered a Florian fumble two plays later. WP then covered 34 yards in eight plays, the last 10 from Gresik to Cordato for an easy touchdown. Freshman Cory Mundt (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) added the extra point to make it a 21-0 score with 7:27 on the clock.

After an A.J. Flores (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) kickoff rolled into the end zone for a touchback, senior Ansumana Kaba (Wilmington, Del./Christiana) forced a Tyler DeRosa fumble. Cadena alertly picked up the ball and scampered 22 yards into the WestConn end zone. Mundt's PAT ensured that the Pioneers entered the locker room with a 28-0 lead.

WP didn't just dominate the first half on the scoreboard. The Pioneers outgained the Colonials 204-71 overall, including a 152-0 edge through the air.

Neither team could get much going in the third quarter, but on the first play of the fourth, Thomas blocked a James Campbell punt. Dudek collected the bouncing football and covered the final 26 yards for William Paterson's fifth touchdown of the day with 14:11 to play. The Pioneers' back-ups took over from there, including the 80-yard quarterback keeper on Milne's second collegiate snap under center.

Florian was 0-for-8 passing while carrying 20 times for 41 yards. DeRosa gained 74 yards on 22 attempts for Western Connecticut.

Junior Greg Galasso led all tacklers with 14 stops (six solo, 1.5 TFL). Senior defensive back Cliff Rone had seven tackles and a fumble recovery, while sophomore cornerback Tyrell Ballard had six stops, and Getz posted five tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

William Paterson will host Morrisville State Saturday, Oct. 9, at 1:00 p.m.