WAYNE, N.J. – Sophomore wide receiver Matt Clarke (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) broke two school records and freshman quarterback Spencer Lee (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) matched another during a resounding 48-28 William Paterson (3-3, 1-1 NJAC) Homecoming football victory Oct. 9 against Christopher Newport (2-4, 0-2 NJAC).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Sophomore running back Terrique Riddick (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) finished off a seven-play, 70-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good, but the Pioneers owned a 6-0 lead with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter.
• A 64-yard pass play as the opening period expired pushed the Captains ahead by a 7-6 count, and CNU added a 21-yard score at the 12:41 mark of the second quarter for a 14-6 edge.
• A short punt and 17-yard Clarke return set WP on the CNU-20, and a third-down facemask penalty kept the Pioneer drive alive. Two plays later, Lee found Clarke at the left pylon for a four-yard touchdown, and freshman Ronald Alvarez (Union City, N.J./Union City) kicked the PAT to pull William Paterson within one, 14-13, 4:28 before halftime.
• Junior defensive lineman Matt Gore (Washington, D.C./Crossland) forced a fourth-down fumble to end a Captain drive at the WP 36-yard line. A 44-yard completion by Lee to Clarke put the Pioneers in the red zone, and three plays later Lee rolled right and found senior tight end William Frese (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) for a three-yard TD and a 20-14 lead with 33 seconds on the clock.
• The second offensive play of the second half saw Clarke haul in a Lee pass at the 50 and race into the end zone, a play that spanned 62 yards and extended the margin to 27-14 just 37 seconds into the third period.
• Christopher Newport made it a one-score game with a 34-yard touchdown through the air, cutting the advantage to 27-21 at the 7:17 mark of the third quarter.
• On the Pioneers' very next offensive snap, Clarke wrestled away a pass from the defender at his own 40 and pulled away from the chasing defenders, an 80-yard TD to quickly push the lead to 34-21 (6:54, third).
• Riddick burst through a hole on the left side and found the end zone from 18 yards out, and Lee connected with Frese on the right side for the two-point conversion, making WP's advantage 42-21 with 15 seconds remaining in the third period.
• A one-yard quarterback sneak put CNU on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter (42-28, 11:22).
• Lee found Clarke on a crossing route for a 12-yard touchdown and the day's final score, 48-28, with 4:44 left.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Clarke hauled in 11 passes, four for touchdowns. His 318 receiving yards broke the WP single-game record of 226 established by Hall of Famer Joel Rivera (9/27/08, at Rowan). His 335 all-purpose yards also were a new top mark at William Paterson, besting the total of 275 by Hall of Famer Altarik White (10/16/93, vs. Montclair State).
• Lee was 20-for-23 for 387 yards. He tied the Pioneer record of five touchdown passes held by Dan Lamego (9/15/07, at U.S. Merchant Marine) and Ryan Gresik (10/5/13, vs. Morrisville State), who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame tomorrow.
• Riddick rushed 18 times for 58 yards and two scores. Frese caught five passes for 37 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
• Sophomore defensive back Richard Massey (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) led all players with 10 tackles. Sophomore defensive back Devyn Blount (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) posted seven stops, including 1.0 sack.
• Senior defensive back Keshaun Henry (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) added a fumble recovery to his six tackles, and junior linebacker Nazier Wright (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) contributed 1.0 sack as part of his six stops.
• Gore, junior linebacker Key'maan Coleman (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) and senior linebacker Jared Salgado (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) each forced a fumble.
• Freshman Jack Wisniewski's (Wilmington, Del./Conrad School of Science) 72-yard punt matched the second-best effort in WP history, one yard less than a 73-yard boot by William Oertel, Jr. (2018).

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will enjoy a bye week before traveling to Rowan Saturday, Oct. 23, at 1:00 p.m.

 
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