BOX SCORE

WAYNE, N.J. – A furious 21-point fourth-quarter Pioneer rally was spoiled by a Prof score 1:41 later as Rowan (3-2, 3-1 NJAC) held off William Paterson (2-3, 1-3 NJAC) for a 30-21 victory Oct. 8 at Wightman Stadium.

Trailing 20-0 entering the final period, freshman quarterback Joe Salame (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) connected with sophomore Mick Paye (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) for a 49-yard touchdown on the Pioneers' first offensive play of the quarter.  Freshman Robert Sinegra (Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls) tacked on the extra point for a 20-7 score with 14:05 on the clock.

After WP forced a three-and-out by the Rowan offense, it was Salame-to-Paye for two consecutive completions, the second a 29-yard scoring play.  Sinegra's PAT made it a 20-14 game with 12:01 remaining.

Rowan started its next drive at its own 39 yard line, but a Doug Dudek (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) hit on scrambling Rowan quarterback Louis Bianchini led to a fumble that was picked up by senior linebacker Jim Hamill (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) and returned five yards to the Prof-39.

On third-and-10 from the Rowan-39, a nine-yard loss on a Salame sack was negated by Rowan offside and personal foul penalties, giving WP new life with a first-and-10 at the 19 yard line.  Salame's 10-yard completion to Joe Muraglia, Jr. (Belleville, N.J./Queen of Peace) was followed by a three-yard run by junior tailback Dawys German (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington). Salame covered the final yard, finding space outside the left tackle, to knot the score at 20-20.  Muraglia handled a low snap well to allow Sinegra to kick the extra point, and William Paterson suddenly owned a 21-20 advantage with 8:07 to play.

Jahseer Bronson's 24-yard kickoff return set up the Profs at their own 32 yard line, and a 38-yard pass from Bianchini to Eddie Eisenhart later made it first-and-10 inside the Pioneers' 30 yard line.  Steve Hevalow picked up 14 yards on the ground for a first down at the six yard line, then side-stepped a WP defender on the next play, cutting to the left and falling forward into the end zone when he was tackled from behind.  Bianchini's pass was caught by Dan Reed on the goal line for the two-point conversion, and Rowan staked itself to a 28-21 lead with 6:26 on the clock.

Facing a fourth-and-one on the Profs' 47 yard line, German was stopped for no gain, giving the ball back to Rowan with 3:26 left.  A potential first down was wiped out by a Rowan holding call, and the Profs were eventually forced to punt, a ball that Muraglia signaled for a fair catch and hauled in at his own five yard line with 1:14 to play.

Two incomplete passes led to a Salame-to-Muraglia completion and apparent first down, but the Pioneers were flagged for holding in the end zone, a safety that ended William Paterson's comeback hopes with 57.8 seconds remaining.

Seeing his first college action, Salame was 10-for-19 for 186 yards and two touchdowns.  German picked up 37 yards on 18 carries, and Paye caught three passes for 109 yards and a pair of scores.

Hamill led the WP defense with 12 tackles (two solo, 0.5 for loss) and a fumble recovery.  Dudek made nine stops (four solo, 1.0 for loss) and forced a fumble, while junior free safety German Decena (Union City, N.J./Emerson) and junior linebacker Clifton Glaze (Palmyra, N.J./Palmyra) each added eight tackles.

Each team punted to end its first offensive possession, but a block of sophomore Cory Mundt's (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) kick by Joe Marchiani was recovered by Rowan's Chris Popper and gave the Profs first-and-goal at the Pioneer six yard line.  William Paterson's defense kept Rowan out of the end zone, stuffing two rushes for short gains and pressuring quarterback Bianchini into an incomplete pass.  The Profs were forced to settle for a field goal, a 20-yarder by Tom Wilczynski, for a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Wilczynski was wide right from 28 yards out four minutes later, but the Profs took advantage of a Josh Popper interception of Salame to get the ball back at the WP-42.  Three plays later, Hevalow was initially stopped at the line of scrimmage, but bouncing out to his left and scampered in for a one-yard touchdown and a 10-0 score with 2:05 remaining in the first quarter.

Sinegra hit the left upright with a 21-yard field goal attempt six minutes into the second period, and William Paterson could not capitalize later when senior Damian DiIorio's (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) sack forced a Bianchini fumble that was recovered by Mike Morano (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) at midfield.

Wilczynski snuck a 41-yard field goal over the crossbar 20.4 seconds before halftime, handing Rowan a 13-0 edge.  The Profs made it 20-0 7:55 into the second half on an eight-yard TD catch by Kevin DelleDonne.

Bianchini was 10-for-19 for 187 yards and a touchdown under center.  Hevalow carried 27 times for 156 yards and two scores, while Eisenhart caught three passes for 98 yards.

Dean Hammel led the Prof defense with 11 tackles (four solo) and a pass breakup.  Geno Raman made eight stops (two solo, 1.5 TFL), and Patrick Ruley had 1.0 sack as part of his seven-tackle effort.

William Paterson will visit No. 7 Montclair State Saturday, Oct. 15, at 6:00 p.m.