VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – Two punt returns for touchdowns keyed William Paterson's (1-0) 28-7 season-opening football victory against Western Connecticut (0-1) Sept. 3 at Wightman Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A 57-yard punt return by junior defensive back RJ Massey (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) put the Pioneers into the end zone with 5:04 remaining in the first quarter. Sophomore Jorge Leones (South Plainfield N.J./South Plainfield) kicked the extra point and WP owned a 7-0 advantage.
• Junior defensive back Devyn Blount (Neptune, N.J./Long Branch) picked off a pass at the WCSU-45 and nearly took it to the house, going out of bounds at the two-yard line. Freshman Nazir Dale (Camden, N.J./Brimm Medical Arts) cashed in on the next play with a two-yard run, and Leones' PAT made it a 14-0 score with 6:44 on the clock in the second period.
• Three Dale runs on the next possession set up a 17-yard pass to the right edge of the end zone by junior quarterback Mele' Stallings (Newark, Del./Newark) to sophomore Tye Brookins (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Twp.) (1:46, second), allowing the Pioneers to take a 21-0 lead into the locker room.
• Freshman Tyreek Rollins (Ewing, N.J./Ewing) returned a punt 53 yards for a touchdown, pushing WP ahead by a 28-0 count with 11:15 left.
• The Wolves broke up the shutout with a 14-yard pass play with 2:41 on the clock in the fourth quarter.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Stallings was 4-for-6 for 38 yards and a touchdown under center. Dale carried 16 times for 99 yards and a score during his debut. Brookins caught two passes for 27 yards and a TD.
• Junior linebacker Samod Wingo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) led all players with 11 tackles (1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack). Senior linebacker Key'maan Coleman (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) added seven stops, and Blount and freshman James Nevels (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy) each had an interception.
• Massey's 57-yard punt return was the fourth-longest in WP history, and Rollins' 53-yard return was the fifth-longest by a Pioneer.
• Shaun Williams earned the victory during his first game as the Pioneers' head coach.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson plays at FDU-Florham Friday, Sept. 9, at 7:00 p.m.

 
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