(BOX SCORE)
WAYNE, NJ—William Paterson (3-5/2-5) scored 25 consecutive points to open the second half to pull away from visiting Buffalo State (0-8/0-7), before cruising to a 51-24 victory in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game today at Wightman Stadium.
William Paterson racked up 448 yards of total offense, compared to 227 by the Bengals. Pioneers quarterback Matt Marshall 18 of 29 for 296 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Joel Rivera was his favorite target, catching 10 balls for 161 yards and a score. Shaun Paluse led the ground attack, carrying the ball 24 times for 94 yards.
Kenny Murphy (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) was just 16 of 30 for 151 yards with two interceptions.
Greg Meyer (Lancaster/Lancaster) was the Bengals leading receiver with eight catches for 79 yards.
Matt Pacana (N. Tonawanda, NY/N. Tonawanda) led the defense again, matching last week's career-high with 16 tackles and added a forced fumble and an interception.
Scott Forster (E. Otto/Cattaraugus-Little Valley) added 12 tackles.
Pacana intercepted a pass on the Pioneers first possession and returned it 27 yards to the William Paterson 1-yard line. Buffalo State opened the scoring three plays later with a 1-yard plunge on the quarterback keeper by Murphy.
William Paterson got on the board on final play of the first quarter with a 5-yard pass from Marshall to Rivera, but the Pioneers missed the extra point.
Buffalo State extended its lead to 14-6 with 3:22 remaining in the first half with on a 2-yard scoring run by #E. Todd Hurlbut# (Phoenix/John C. Birdlebough).
Marshall tossed a second touchdown pass with just 44 seconds remaining in the first half, connecting with Victor Soares on a 23-yard scoring strike. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, however, the Bengals raced into field goal position and
Josh Richbart (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) booted a 37-yard field goal as time expired to push the lead to 17-12.
After making halftime adjustments, however, the Pioneers exploded out of the intermission, scoring 39 second half points, including two more Marshall touchdown passes, and a 50-yard fumble recovery and return by Dyon Moore.
After the Pioneers went up 37-17,
Sammy Smith (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) scored the Bengals' lone second-half touchdown on a 7-yard run.
William Paterson answered immediately with a long scoring drive and added the final touchdown, capitalizing on the Bengals' fourth turnover of the day.
Buffalo State will wrap up its home schedule next Saturday with a noon kickoff against Morrisville State.
