WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson football team (0-2) dropped a 43-17 decision to FDU-Florham (1-1) during the Pioneers' home opener Sept. 11.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Devils opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run at the 9:29 mark of the first quarter. The extra-point kick hit the left upright, leaving it a 6-0 score.
• Freshman Ronald Alvarez (Union City, N.J./Union City) connected on a 25-yard field goal to get the Pioneers on the scoreboard, 6-3, with 12:32 left in first half.
• A 42-yard pass play made it 13-3 margin (8:00), but WP answered with an 85-yard catch and run up the left sideline from freshman quarterback Spencer Lee (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) to sophomore wide receiver Matt  Clarke for a 13-10 game 1:31 before halftime.
• A seven-yard touchdown run and a 16-yard fumble return for a score pushed FDU-Florham's advantage to 26-10 during the final 32 seconds of the second quarter.
• The Devils added a one-yard touchdown run (33-10, 5:31 third), a three-yard ground score (40-10, 11:38 fourth) and a 20-yard field goal (43-10, 5:34 fourth).
• Junior linebacker Alajuwon Bell (Paterson, N.J./Garrett Morgan Academy) forced a fumble and freshman defensive back Jojo Kirby (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) scooped and scored from 16 yards out, making the final margin 43-17 with 1:21 on the clock.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Lee finished 15-for-23 for 202 yards with a touchdown. Senior running back Da'Avian Ellington (Carteret, N.J./Woodbridge) carried five times for 23 yards, and Clarke caught five balls for 139 yards and a score.
• Senior linebacker Sean Maldonato (Haskell, N.J./Lakeland Regional) collected a game-high 14 tackles (eight solo), and senior linebacker Jared Salgado (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) had 13 stops (six solo).
• Kirby, Bell and junior linebacker Nazier Wright (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) each tallied six tackles.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will visit Keystone Saturday, Sept. 18. Kickoff will be at 1:00 p.m.

 
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