THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – Off to its best start to a season in a dozen years, the William Paterson football team (3-1) came out on top of a defensive battle, 14-3, Sept. 24 at Maritime (1-3).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After the Pioneers fumbled the opening kickoff, WP junior linebacker Samod Wingo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) forced a fumble on second-and-goal and senior defensive lineman David Pierre (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) recovered it on the four-yard line, keeping the Privateers off the scoreboard.
• Freshman running back Nazir Dale (Camden, N.J./Brimm Medical Arts) capped off a 15-play, 83-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown. Sophomore Jorge Leones (South Plainfield N.J./South Plainfield) kicked the PAT and William Paterson owned a 7-0 lead with 10:21 remaining in the second quarter.
• Maritime's touchdown was wiped out by a holding call, and two plays later it kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 7-3 score (4:56, second).
• Facing fourth-and-goal at the WP-7, a fumble ended another Maritime scoring threat early in the third quarter.
• WP found the end zone with 5:31 remaining in the contest thanks to a 10-yard carry by freshman Amier Alford (New Brunswick, N.J./New Brunswick), making it a 14-3 Pioneer advantage.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• The 3-1 record is William Paterson's best start since 2010, when the Pioneers won four of their first five games en route to a 4-6 record.
• Freshman quarterback Simon Condemi (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly) finished 3-for-8 for 31 yards and two interceptions.
• Dale carried 29 times for 173 yards and a touchdown, while Alford had 14 attempts for 99 yards and a score.
• Junior Matt Clarke (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) caught two passes for 19 yards.
• Junior linebacker Alajuwon Bell (Paterson, N.J./Garrett Morgan Academy) notched a career-best 11 tackles (2.0 TFL).
• Senior linebacker Nazier Wright (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) made eight stops (3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks), and senior linebacker Key'maan Coleman (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) had eight tackles

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson starts conference play Saturday, Oct. 1, at Kean at 1:00 p.m.

 
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