VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (1-2) got touchdowns from all three phases, pulling away from visiting McDaniel (0-3) for a 35-14 football victory Sept. 16 at Wightman Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Junior defensive back Jojo Kirby (Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen) ended McDaniel's first possession by forcing a fumble that senior defensive lineman Yubir Rojas-Herrera (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional) scooped up and rumbled 65 yards up the left sideline for his first career touchdown, putting WP on the scoreboard first. Freshman Robert Crehan (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset) kicked the PAT and the Pioneers owned a 7-0 advantage at the 13:16 mark of the first quarter.
• The Green Terror knotted the score at 7-7 with 2:39 remaining in the second period, but freshman Nafee Finney returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards to the end zone, and William Paterson carried the 14-7 lead into the break.
• Senior defensive lineman Ricky Colon (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) forced a fumble that was recovered by junior defensive lineman Nick Bianco (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) at the McDaniel-32, and on the very next play junior quarterback Christopher Leimberg (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) connected with senior wide receiver Taz Burton (Millville, N.J./Bridgeton), cashing in the turnover for another seven points and a 21-7 advantage (10:00, third).
• Sophomore Knasir Alston (Asbury Park, N.J./Academy Charter) ended McDaniel's punt return by jarring the ball loose, leading to a James Nevels (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy) recovery at the WP-14. Leimberg hit Burton with a quick out to the right side, and he turned it upfield and raced 86 yards for his second touchdown of the day and a 28-7 margin with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter.
•  McDaniel's 11-yard pass play cut the lead to 28-14 (7:51, fourth).
• Senior defensive back Devyn Blount's (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) 25-yard pick-six pushed WP ahead by a 35-14 count with 2:29 to play.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Leimberg finished 7-for-15 for 153 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
• Sophomore Isaac Cherry (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point) led the ground game with 23 yards on five attempts.
• Burton hauled in two passes for 118 yards and a pair of scores.
• Senior linebacker Alajuwon Bell (Paterson, N.J./Garrett Morgan Academy) paced the defense with a career-best 12 tackles (nine solo).
• Blount added five solo stops to his fumble recovery and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He's now had at least one interception during each of WP's three games this season.
• Nevels and senior defensive back RJ Massey (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) each picked off a pass, and Nevels tacked on a fumble recovery.
• Kirby forced a fumble and made nine tackles, including 2.0 sacks. Junior linebacker Samod Wingo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) also collected nine stops.
• The Pioneer defense forced eight turnovers (four fumbles, four interceptions).

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will enjoy a bye week before starting conference play Saturday, Sept. 30, at home against Kean at 1:00 p.m.

 
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