GLASSBORO, N.J. – Despite a few untimely miscues, the William Paterson football team (0-2, 0-1 NJAC) stayed within two possessions for most of the night before dropping a 22-6 decision during its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener Sept. 15 at Rowan (3-0, 2-0 NJAC).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Profs opened the scoring at the 4:23 mark of the first quarter with a 13-yard pass play, and after a Pioneer defensive stand in the red zone, added a 31-yard field goal for a 10-0 edge with 4:44 left in the second period.
• Rowan turned a fumble recovery into three more points after two WP stops inside the five-yard line, kicking a 20-yarder with 63 seconds remaining in the first half.
• An interception led to a 16-0 score on a 27-yard Rowan field goal less than five minutes into the third quarter, and an eight-yard rushing play pushed the Profs ahead by a 22-0 count with 8:30 on the clock in the fourth.
• Sophomore defensive back Ra'Keem Bennett (Linden, N.J./Carteret) ended the next Rowan possession with an interception at the WP-20, and junior quarterback Tracy Fudge, Jr. (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown throw on fourth down to sophomore tight end William Frese (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) (22-6, 3:07).

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• A dropped potential pick-six, as well as a touchdown called back on a penalty, kept WP off the scoreboard during the first half.
• Fudge, Jr. finished 22-for-40 for 227 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
• Sophomore running back Marcel Mason (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) and senior running back Kyle Fanning (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) each rushed for 16 yards.
• Junior wide receiver RaeQuawn Bridgeman (West Orange, N.J./Orange) hauled in six passes for 86 yards.
• Freshman linebacker Mahkye Boswell (Orange, N.J./Orange) led four Pioneers in double figures with 14 tackles (eight solo, 2.0 TFL). Senior safety Matt Olivo (Clark, N.J./St. Joseph's Metuchen) had 11 stops (seven solo), and junior linebacker Corey Anthony (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) and senior linebacker Charles Faulkner (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) each registered 10.
• Rowan sophomore quarterback Riley Giles finished 33-for-40 for 227 yards , a TD and an interception. Senior running back John Mannion rushed 16 times for 39 yards and a score, and sophomore Messiah Divine and junior tight end Cody Madden each caught eight passes for 72 yards. Senior linebacker Chris Henchy recovered a fumble and tallied eight tackles.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson travels to No. 7 Wesley Saturday, Sept. 22, for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.

 
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