UNION, N.J. – A 35-yard field goal as time expired was the difference as the William Paterson football team (1-2, 0-2 NJAC) lost at Kean (3-0, 2-0 NJAC), 27-24, Sept. 25.
Freshman quarterback Malik McNeill (Jersey City, N.J./Ferris) was 16-for-26 for 249 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and rushed 17 times for 45 yards. Junior running back Malcolm Robinson (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) caught four passes for 113 yards and a score, and added a 79-yard score on the ground.
Senior linebacker Dennis Goodman (Somerset, N.J./Bishop Ahr) had 11 tackles (six solo, 2.0 TFL) and a fumble recovery, while sophomore linebacker Jonathan Jackson (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) collected 10 stops (five solo, 1.5 TFL).
In a game that featured six lead changes and two ties, the Cougars struck first as junior quarterback Tyler Rodriguez connected with sophomore wide receiver Tahj Hammary for a 25-yard touchdown. The point-after kick was no good, and Kean owned a 6-0 edge 5:17 into the contest.
Robinson ripped off a 79-yard to find the end zone, and the PAT by freshman Nick DeAngelis (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) handed WP a 7-6 edge with 2:08 remaining in the opening period.
The Cougars missed a 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter, and DeAngelis' kick from 40 yards out was blocked with less than four minutes to play during the first half. Sophomore Steve Ferlisi connected from 34 yards as the clock hit 0:00, and Kean entered the locker room with a 9-7 edge.
Junior defensive back Juwan Flowers (Vineland, N.J./Vineland) forced a fumble that Goodman recovered at the Pioneers' 39-yard line, and following a McNeill completion of 23 yards to senior running back Darius Kersey (Dover, N.J./Dover), he found Robinson for a 35-yard score. DeAngelis kicked the PAT and William Paterson surged ahead by a 14-9 count with 9:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Kean answered with a 16-play, 86-yard scoring drive capped by a five-yard Damian Corredor run. After a successful pass for the two-point play, the Cougars owned a 17-14 lead five minutes later.
DeAngelis opened the fourth quarter with a 35-yard field goal, leveling the score at 17-17.
The two teams traded punts until sophomore quarterback Charles App threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Corredor, again pushing the Cougars ahead (24-17, 7:38).
A 43-yard McNeill-to-Robinson completion helped to move the Pioneers down the field, and on third-and-six McNeill connected with senior running back Matt Deiana (Somers, N.Y./Somers) for a seven-yard score. DeAngelis again tied the score with his extra point, 24-24 with 5:04 to play.
A pair of punts left Kean with the ball at its own 27 yard line with 2:13 on the clock, and a 13-yard completion on third-and-10 moved the Cougars into field-goal range. Ferlisi then kicked the game winner from 35 yards out as the final horn sounded.
Rodriguez was 13-for-20 for 117 yards and a touchdown, and App finished 12-for-18 for 148 yards and a score for Kean. Corredor carried 33 times for 117 yards and a touchdown, and Hammary caught seven passes for 69 yards and a TD. Junior defensive back LeRon Dillard posted eight tackles and a blocked kick to lead the Cougar defense.
William Paterson will visit Montclair State Saturday, Oct. 3, at 3:00 p.m.
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