BOX SCORE 

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The William Paterson football team (2-2, 1-2 NJAC) couldn't overcome a third-quarter offensive push, falling at Buffalo State (2-3, 2-2 NJAC), 42-27, Oct. 1 at Coyer Field.

Junior Dawys German (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) rushed 24 times for 137 yards, adding a 69-yard touchdown run.  Senior wide receiver Joe Muraglia, Jr. (Belleville, N.J./Queen of Peace) caught a season-high five passes for 79 yards, and sophomore wide receiver Mick Paye (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) registered four catches for 65 yards, including a 42-yard reception.  Junior quarterback Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) finished 13-for-27 for 176 yards and a touchdown. 

Junior linebacker Clifton Glaze (Palmyra, N.J./Palmyra) recorded a team-high 10 tackles (0.5 for loss), and senior linebacker Jim Hamill (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) posted seven tackles and one interception.

Buffalo State junior quarterback Casey Kacz rushed for 33 yards to bring the ball to the Pioneer 11 yard line during the first drive of the game.  Sophomore running back Ismail Brooks capped off the drive by punching an 11-yard run into the end zone, giving the Bengals an early 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

On third down, the Pioneers faked a punt and direct snapped to Hamill, who rushed for four yards into Buffalo State territory, giving William Paterson a first down.  A pass interference call on the Bengals brought the Pioneers to the Buffalo 29 yard line, setting up a German 23-yard run to the six yard line.  Another penalty by Buffalo State put William Paterson at the two yard line and freshman running back Daryl Shuler (Peekskill, N.Y./White Plains) punched it in for the score, knotting the game at 7-7 with 7:38 left to play in the first quarter.

Buffalo State had the ball to start the second quarter but Kacz was intercepted by Hamill at the Pioneer 21 yard line and returned it for 10 yards, giving the Pioneers possession at their own 31.  German found a hole and rushed for a 69-yard touchdown two minutes into the second quarter, giving the Pioneers a 14-7 advantage. 

An 18-yard rush by freshman Rich Pete combined with a personal foul on the Pioneers gave the Bengals the ball at the William Paterson 23 yard line.  Pete found the end zone with 9:56 on the clock, evening the game at 14 apiece.

Gresik completed a 10-yard pass to Paye with a minute to play in the half, bringing the Pioneers to the Buffalo State 21 yard line.  A delay of game penalty pushed William Paterson to the 26 yard line, and freshman kicker Robert Sinegra (Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls) lined up for a 43-yard field goal attempt that split the uprights, putting the Pioneers up 17-14 going into the half.

Gresik was intercepted at the 33 yard line by junior linebacker Pasquale Vaccio, who returned it into the end zone for a touchdown a minute and a half into the third quarter.  The Bengals scored again on their first offensive possession of the second half on a Brooks 31-yard touchdown run, giving Buffalo State a 28-14 advantage with 9:32 left on the clock.  Four consecutive rushes by Pete put the Bengals at the Pioneer two yard line with a fresh set of downs.  Kacz rushed the two yards for the score, putting the Bengals ahead 35-17 with 3:21 left to play in the quarter.

On a third-and-eight play, Gresik completed a 34-yard pass to Muraglia, putting the Pioneers on the Buffalo State 30 yard line as time was winding down in the third quarter.  A personal foul on the Bengals gave the Pioneer offense a first down at the 13 yard line.  As the fourth quarter began, William Paterson settled for a 23-yard field goal, cutting the Buffalo lead to 35-20.  The Pioneers struck again as Gresik completed a 42-yard pass to Paye, putting William Paterson at the Buffalo State 33 yard line.  A roughing the passer penalty pushed the Pioneers farther into Bengal territory, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown reception by junior Joseph Cordato (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), making it a one-score game with 11:57 left to play.

After exchanging punts, the Pioneers got the ball back with 4:58 left in the fourth quarter, but on the first play of the drive Gresik was intercepted by Kevin Healy, who was taken out-of-bounds at the William Paterson seven yard line.  Just 12 seconds later, Brooks rushed into the end zone, giving the Bengals a 42-27 lead.  The Pioneers were able to put a drive together with four minutes left to play, getting down to the Buffalo State 12 yard line, but were unable to capitalize and turned the ball over on downs with two minutes left.

Kacz finished 9-for-18 for 86 yards.  Pete rushed 16 times for 118 yards and a touchdown, and Brooks finished with 12 carries for 77 yards and three scores.  Vacchio had a team-high 11 tackles (4.0 for loss, 2.0 sacks) and a 33-yard interception return.  Healy recorded 10 tackles (2.0 TFL), a 37-yard interception return and two pass break-ups for the Bengals.

William Paterson will host Rowan Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1:00 p.m.