Sep 09, 2022
MADISON, N.J. – Missed opportunities proved costly as the William Paterson football team's (1-1) comeback bid fell just short at FDU-Florham (2-0), 28-21, Sept. 9.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- A 38-yard run by freshman Nazir Dale helped get the Pioneers into the red zone during the game's opening drive, but WP was stymied on fourth down.
- The Devils found the end zone from one yard out, seizing a 7-0 lead at the 2:55 mark of the first period.
- A blocked punt gave FDU-Florham the ball inside the WP-20, and a 17-yard throw and catch pushed the advantage to 14-0 with 1:15 left in the first.
- It looked like the Pioneers had answered with a 73-yard scoring play, but a penalty negated the touchdown 22 seconds before the end of the opening quarter.
- The Devils turned another blocked punt into a one-yard touchdown midway through the second period (21-0, 7:15).
- Freshman Simon Condemi found junior Taz Burton up the right sideline, and Burton streaked away from the defense for an 89-yard touchdown 2:20 before halftime (21-7).
- Freshman Tyreek Rollins had his second punt return for a touchdown in as many weeks, this one a school-record 80-yarder to make it a one-possession game at 21-14 less than three minutes into the third quarter.
- Junior Devyn Blount ended the next Devil possession with an interception, giving WP the ball at the FDU-29. However, the Pioneers were unable to cash in and turned the ball over on downs.
- A William Paterson interception led to a 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive for the Devils, burning 6:10 off the clock and pushing FDU-Florham's advantage 28-14 with 12:08 to play in the fourth.
- A defensive stop gave the WP offense the ball at the FDU-13 with 6:43 left, but the Pioneers could get no closer to the end zone than the four-yard line.
- Junior RJ Massey handed William Paterson another chance when he pulled down an interception less than two minutes later at the Devils' 18-yard line, but the Pioneers were unable to convert the turnover into points.
- A 31-yard loss on fourth-and-14 by the WP defense gave the Pioneer offense the ball at the three-yard line, and Condemi immediately found sophomore Tye Brookins for the TD and a 28-21 margin with 44 seconds left.
- Sophomore Jorge Leones booted the onside kick and Brookins came away with the ball near midfield with 0:42 on the clock. That's when the field lights partially went out, resulting in a lengthy delay before play resumed. William Paterson moved the chains once during the ensuing possession, but a fourth-down interception in the end zone during the final seconds ended the Pioneers' comeback hopes.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Condemi went 9-for-26 for 174 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Junior Mele' Stallings was 4-for-10 for 81 yards and an interception.
- Dale carried 16 times for 58 yards. Burton caught eight passes for 187 yards and a score, and Brookins made three receptions for 43 yards and a TD.
- Junior linebacker Samod Wingo paced the Pioneers with nine stops (five solo, 2.0 TFL). Senior linebacker Key'maan Coleman had seven tackles.
- Rollins' 80-yard punt return broke the WP record of 70 yards, shared by Craig DePascale (1982) and Glen Mastrobattista (1986).
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson hosts Keystone Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1:00 p.m.
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