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WAYNE, N.J. – Sophomore running back Isaac Jlaka (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) rushed 23 times for a career-best 198 yards and two scores as host William Paterson (4-5, 2-5 NJAC) pulled away for a 37-16 Senior Day victory against Western Connecticut (1-8, 1-7 NJAC) Nov. 10 at Wightman Stadium.

The Colonials staked themselves to an early lead when sophomore quarterback Will Arndt avoided a sack and connected with freshman wide receiver Connor Falaguerra at the left-front pylon, a 21-yard touchdown.  Freshman Hunter Leili kicked the extra point for a 7-0 score at the 5:48 mark of the first quarter.

WP answered right back on its next possession when junior quarterback Ryan Gresik (Newton, N.J./Newton) hit senior wide receiver Alex Price (Newton, N.J./Newton) on the slant, an 11-yard score four minutes later.  Sophomore Robert Sinegra (Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls) tied the score at 7-7 with his PAT.

The Pioneers got the ball back early in the second quarter thanks to a Webb Geer's (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) sack on fourth-and-eight, and Gresik engineered a 10-play, 63-yard scoring drive thanks to his 6-for-6 effort through the air.  An 11-yard strike to Price put the ball inside the WCSU-1, and Gresik broke the plane on the next snap on a quarterback sneak.  Sinegra's kick was wide right, but WP owned a 13-7 advantage with 4:55 remaining in the first half.

Junior Octavias McKoy erased that lead when he found his way into the end zone with a 21-yard run off right tackle, and the Leili extra point nudged Western Connecticut ahead, 14-13, with 1:45 to play in the second quarter.

William Paterson opened the second half with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Gresik to junior Brian Winfield (Newton, N.J./Newton), taking a lead it would not relinquish at 21-14 less than four minutes in to the period.  A bad snap over Gresik's head resulted in a safety on WP's next drive (21-16, 7:48), but the Pioneers limited the damage on the ensuing free kick and WestConn drive when they forced a Marquies Highsmith fumble on the William Paterson three-yard line .  Senior free safety Javon Hodges (Parlin, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) scooped up the loose ball and returned it 43 yards to near midfield.

Jlaka finished a six-play, 58-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run (27-16, 10:51, fourth quarter), and Jlaka's 37-yard scamper extended the margin to 34-16 with 7:17 remaining in the contest.  Hodges again had a big return of a turnover, this time a 68-yard interception runback with less than six minutes remaining, and Sinegra later turned it into three points with a 32-yard field goal (37-16, 2:27).

Gresik was 20-for-28 for 220 yards and two touchdowns.  Senior tight end Joseph Cordato (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) caught five passes for 78 yards, Winfield gained 54 yards and scored once thanks to his four receptions, and Price hauled in three catches for 30 yards and a TD.

Sophomore linebacker Ben Allen (Ventnor, N.J./Atlantic City) paced the WP defense with 13 tackles (1.5 for loss), and senior linebacker Clifton Glaze (Palmyra, N.J./Palmyra) contributed 11 stops.

Arndt finished 14-for-29 for 160 yards and a touchdown for the Colonials.  McKoy carried 17 times for 71 yards and a TD, and Highsmith gained 65 yards on seven receptions.

Junior linebacker Mike Lacaria made 13 tackles to lead the WestConn defense.  Junior cornerback Tom Lacey and freshman cornerback Maliik Tinney each made nine stops.

Prior to the game, the Pioneers honored their 15 seniors -- Stephen Bovo, Jr. (Dunellen, N.J./Dunellen), Cordato, Adam Curry (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial), German Decena (Union City, N.J./Emerson), Dawys German (North Arlington, N.J./North Arlington), Glaze, James Grande (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea), Mike Gregory (Harrison, N.J./Harrison), Hodges, John Matthews (Pennsauken, N.J./Roman Catholic), Kyle McCourt (West Milford, N.J./West Milford), Mike Morano (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea), Price, Vinny Proscia (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) and Eric Yuneman (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield).   

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