BOX SCORE

WILKES-BARRE, PA. – Senior defensive lineman Damian DiIorio (Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) recovered a fumble for a touchdown and junior tailback Dawys German (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington) scampered 32 yards for a score as William Paterson (1-0) opened its season with a 13-6 victory at King's (0-1) Sept. 3.

A bad snap on the Monarchs' third play of the game sailed into the end zone and DiIorio grabbed the loose ball for his second career touchdown. The PAT was no good, but William Paterson owned a 6-0 lead just 1:27 into the contest.

King's got the ball back, and after a nine-yard run, quarterback Joe Kirchon was sacked and fumbled. Once again it was DiIorio who was the man on the spot, and his recovery gave WP its first possession of the afternoon at the King's 27-yard line. An illegal procedure penalty backed the Pioneers up five years, but it mattered little to German, who was handled the ball and immediately raced 32 yards for the score. Sophomore Cory Mundt's (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) extra point was good, and WP had a 13-0 advantage with 12:36 remaining during the opening period.

The two teams combined for just one more first down, a six-yard completion from junior Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) to classmate Joseph Cordato (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), as the defenses dominated the first quarter.

A botched punt play by the Pioneers gave King's the ball at the Pioneer 12-yard line, but the defense held, as the Monarchs managed just a two-yard run and a pair on incomplete passes in the red zone. Mike Lloyd's 33-yard field goal eventually got King's on the scoreboard, 13-3, with 10:03 to play before halftime.

Two Monarch drives later, facing a third-and-10 at the WP-27, Kirchon fumbled and Pioneer junior free safety German Decena (Union City, N.J./Emerson) recovered to end the scoring threat.

The two teams traded punts until late in the third, when Lloyd's second field goal of the day split the uprights from 37 yards out, making it a 13-6 contest with 1:50 on the clock.

William Paterson nearly added to its total when a 55-yard pass play from quarterback Connor O'Leary (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) to Cordato gave them a new set of downs at the Monarchs' 12-yard line early in the fourth quarter. German picked up two yards on a carry, but a false start and two incomplete passes led to a Mundt miss right from 32 yards away.

Gresik was 5-for-9 for 23 yards before being forced to leave the game with an injury. O'Leary was 4-for-13 for 75 yards under center. German rushed 22 times for 89 yards and a touchdown, Cordato caught three passes for 62 yards, and sophomore Ray VanPeenen (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) had three receptions for 22 yards.

Senior bandit Doug Dudek (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) led the defense with 11 tackles (eight solo), including 3.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks. Sophomore nose tackle Webb Geer (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) had seven stops (six solo, 1.0 sack), and senior linebacker Jim Hamill (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) and junior bandit Stephen Bovo, Jr. (Dunellen, N.J./Dunellen) each added six stops.

William Paterson won the turnover battle, 3-0, and outgained the Monarchs, 173-70, on offense. Junior Javon Hodges (Parlin, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) added a 30-yard kickoff return on special teams for the Pioneers.

Kirchon was 13-for-29 for 102 yards through the air while being sacked seven times by the WP defense. Eric Ofcharsky rushed 14 times for 38 yards, and Glenn Ford caught three passes for 27 yards. Jake Ksiaziewicz, Chris Shuster and Ryan Kelly each made eight tackles for King's.

William Paterson will open its home slate Saturday, Sept. 10, against The College of New Jersey at 1:00 p.m.