WAYNE, N.J. – A late rally fell just short for William Paterson (2-8, 1-6 NJAC), as the Pioneers finished their football season with a 24-21 Senior Day loss to Montclair State (5-5, 4-3 NJAC) Nov. 15.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A five-yard quarterback keeper gave the Red Hawks a 7-0 edge midway through the first quarter.
• MSU doubled its lead with an 18-yard pass play with 11:42 on the clock during the second period.
• Senior linebacker Jayce Harmon's (Milford, Del./Sussex Tech) interception gave the Pioneers the ball at the Montclair-21, and after two carries by sophomore quarterback Nigel Jennings (Garfield, N.J./Eastside), junior running back Ethan MacNair (Beacon, N.Y./Somerville) covered the final two yards, taking a direct snap and bouncing outside to his left to find the end zone. Senior Matt Davidson (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) added the extra point, and WP trailed 14-7 with 2:10 remaining before halftime.
• Montclair State turned an interception into a five-yard rushing touchdown at the 4:25 mark of the third (21-7).
• A 44-yard completion from Jennings to senior wide receiver Duke McDuffie (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J./Saint Joseph Metuchen) helped the Pioneers add three points with a Davidson 26-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 21-10 at the end of the third quarter.
• A bad snap on a Red Hawk punt attempt once again gave WP a short field, starting a drive at the MSU-17. Davidson's 29-yard field goal later made it a one-possession game, 21-13, with 12:19 to play.
• MSU capped an eight-play, 33-yard drive with a 34-yard field goal, pushing its advantage to 24-13 with 3:40 on the clock.
• On fourth-and-nine from the Montclair-27, Jennings' pass was hauled in by junior wide receiver Brion Dorsey (Bronx, N.Y./Equality Charter) along the left side of the end zone for a Pioneer touchdown. MacNair came on in the wildcat formation for the two-point attempt, and his toss over top of the linemen to freshman tight end AJ Piechota (Mine Hill, N.J./Dover) made it a 24-21 game with 1:43 remaining.
• Davidson's on-side kick was a good one, but the Red Hawks secured the bouncing football at their own 45-yard line. MSU was able to run out the remaining time to seal the win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Jennings went 12-for-22 for 168 yards, a touchdown and an interception through the air. He also was credited with 19 rushing attempts for a team-best 40 yards.
• MacNair carried six times for 31 yards and a score, and threw a successful two-point conversion.
• McDuffie caught two passes for 76 yards, and Dorsey had two receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown.
• Harmon made seven tackles (four solo, 0.5 TFL) and tallied an interception.
• Junior defensive back Kymani Maitland (East Orange, N.J./East Orange Campus) notched six stops (five solo, 1.5 TFL), while junior linebacker Gavin Rembert (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) and senior defensive back James Nevels (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy) each had five tackles.
• Prior to the game, the Pioneers celebrated their 10 seniors -- Knasir Alston (Asbury Park, N.J./Academy Charter), Isaac Cherry (Baltimore, Md./Sparrows Point), Davidson, Harmon, Anthony Macera (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills), McDuffie, Darrell Mims (Newton, N.J./Newton), Nevels, Bishop Nichols (Jersey City, N.J./William L. Dickinson) and Caleb Rippey (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson Twp.).

 
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