WAYNE, N.J. – Senior wide receiver Anthony DiMarsico (Stony Point, N.Y./Suffern) caught two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Isaiah Diaz-Mays (Hoboken, N.J./Union City) and sophomore linebacker Tyler Gross (Pomona, N.Y./North Rockland) led the defense with 12 tackles as the William Paterson football team (2-2, 1-2 NJAC) earned an 18-13 Homecoming victory against Rt. 46 rival Montclair State (2-2, 1-2 NJAC) Oct. 1.
The WP victory snapped a 22-game Red Hawk win streak in the series, dating back to a 26-23 Pioneer win Oct. 16, 1993, in Wayne,
A Pioneer fumble on a backwards pass resulted in a Joshua Betts recovery and 25-yard touchdown run. The extra point hit the right upright, and Montclair State owned a 6-0 edge with 10:10 remaining in the first quarter.
Junior running back Aqeel Daniels-Lundy (Edison, N.J./Edison) ripped off a 20-yard run through a huge hole on the left side on fourth-and-three at the MSU 29-yard line. Three plays later on the first snap of the second period, Diaz-Mays lofted a pass towards the back-left corner of the end zone and DiMarsico was able to get one foot down in bounds, a seven-yard score. DiMarsico then ran a quick draw to the right side for the two-point conversion, and the Pioneers owned an 8-6 edge.
Senior defensive back Pat Moran (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) intercepted MSU freshman quarterback Ryan Adzima along the WP sideline, and on the very next play Diaz-Mays threw over the top of the coverage to DiMarsico for a 47-yard TD. Sophomore Nick DeAngelis (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) kicked the extra point to expand the Pioneers' lead to 15-6 with 6:44 to play before halftime.
A William Paterson fumble gave the Red Hawks the ball near midfield early in the third quarter, but the WP defense forced a three-and-out. The two teams traded punts until a Montclair State fumble of a punt return was recovered by junior defensive lineman Omar Mahmoud (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro) at the MSU-7. Four plays later, DeAngelis connected on a 26-yard field goal and the Pioneers owned an 18-6 edge 70 seconds before the end of the third period.
Another William Paterson fumble gave the Red Hawks the ball on the WP-47 with 3:37 left in the game. A controversial no-call for offensive pass interference allowed Montclair State to advance the ball to the WP-11, where Adzima found junior wide receiver Julanee Prince for a touchdown. The PAT was successful, and MSU trailed 18-13 with 3:23 to play.
A successful on-side kick gave the Red Hawks hope for a final scoring drive, but two incompletions and a Mahmoud sack for -8 yards left it fourth-and-18 at the WP-44. A 10-yard pass completion turned the ball over to the Pioneers on downs, and they took a knee three times in victory formation to run the final 1:54 off the clock.
Diaz-Mays went 10-for-21 for 129 yards and two touchdowns, while Daniels-Lundy carried 25 times for 82 yards. DiMarsico caught six passes for 104 yards and two scores.
Gross finished with 12 tackles, including 4.0 for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Senior linebacker Nick Freeman (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) made 10 stops (1.5 TFL), and senior defensive back Craig Kimbrough (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Catholic) added seven tackles (four solo) and a pass break-up. Moran posted six stops and an interception.
Adzima went 9-for-27 for 143 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Senior running back John DiStefano had 16 attempts for 44 yards, and Prince hauled in three passes for 52 yards and a TD.
Junior defensive lineman Vincent Cordasco collected 12 tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) for the Red Hawks. Sophomore defensive lineman Jake Weber added 11 stops and a forced fumble.
The Pioneers will play at Frostburg State Saturday, Oct. 8, at 1:00 p.m.
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com and http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia.