William Paterson football faced off against Moravian University in a game that never seemed out of reach for either team. This contest, filled with twists and turns, would end heartbreakingly for one of these programs.
Moravian threw the first punch, as Jonathan Levine made a field goal from 39 yards out on the first drive of the game, capping off a nine-play, 35-yard drive for the Greyhounds to take a 3-0 lead.
William Paterson responded, going three-and-out on the ensuing drive. On the following drive, Mason Geis threw a pass for 15 yards on second and 13 to wide receiver Josh Ludlow. However, the drive would end in zero points as the Greyhounds went for it on 4th-and-1, handing the ball off to running back Dorian Thomas. William Paterson star defensive end Joseph Pressley, however, met Thomas in the backfield for a loss of three yards on the play, forcing a turnover on downs.
The defensive play gave the Pioneers a jolt of momentum, and they would immediately take advantage. William Paterson went on a six-play, 58-yard touchdown drive on the ensuing drive. Pioneers quarterback J.C. Landicini would deliver the score on a three-yard touchdown run; however, the Pioneers missed the extra point, leaving William Paterson with only a 6-3 lead.
On the following kickoff, Ramir Bellazzin forced Moravian’s kick returner Aidan Lane to fumble the ball. It would end up being recovered by Joe Belbol, giving the Pioneers the ball on the Greyhounds’ 39-yard line.
Fortunately for Moravian, the Pioneers could not capitalize on the good field position set up by the special teams as they would go three-and-out on the drive following Lane’s fumble. The Greyhounds, however, also went three-and-out the next drive.
William Paterson started the second quarter with possession and went on to have a five-play, 20-yard drive. The drive ended with a failed 4th-and-1 pass attempt by Landicini intended for wide receiver Donovan Jackson.
Moravian would end up taking the lead back in bizarre fashion. On 4th-and-4, the Pioneers attempted to punt the ball but botched the snap as it went over their punter’s head. This led to the ball rolling into the end zone, which Jake Maurer fell on for a touchdown, giving Moravian a 10-6 lead.
On the next drive, Landicini would try to scramble but had the ball knocked out by Tanner Clancy. Sahmad Bailey recovered the fumble, allowing the Greyhounds offense to take up shop at William Paterson’s 49-yard line.
Moravian failed to take advantage of Landicini’s fumble, as they went three-and-out on the drive following that play. Going into halftime, Moravian still maintained their 10-6 lead.
William Paterson received the ball first to open the second half, and they answered with a 28-yard field goal from Omar Rodriguez to cut the Greyhounds’ lead down to 10-9. Moravian responded emphatically and would do so through the air.
On their next drive, Geis completed passes of 15 and 21 yards to separate receivers. Moravian’s quarterback ended this drive with his arm, as Geis delivered a strike up the seam to an open Avery Koser for a 22-yard touchdown. Pressley blocked the Greyhounds’ extra point attempt to keep Moravian’s lead at 16-9.
After a failed fourth-down attempt by Moravian on 4th-and-8, the Pioneers would respond. They took over after the fourth down on the Greyhounds ‘ 35-yard line. William Paterson got back in the game with the legs of Ethan McNair. On this drive, the senior running back had a 22-yard run and a 13-yard touchdown run.
Rodriguez wouldn’t miss the extra point this time, tying the game at 16-16. Both teams would start the fourth quarter trading drives that eventually ended in punts.
Then on their second drive of this quarter on 3rd-and-3, McNair ran for 11 yards, but Bailey forced him to fumble. McNair’s mistake was recovered by Lane, allowing the Greyhounds offense to set up at William Paterson’s 43-yard line.
Moravian got all the way down to the Pioneers’ five-yard line before a holding penalty by Maurer set them back ten yards. Following the penalty, linebacker Terrill Yankson perfectly anticipated the slant route Geis was looking to target wide receiver Chris Brown on. This resulted in Yankson intercepting the pass and running for a 40-yard return to the Greyhounds 45-yard line. William Paterson would drive down to Moravian’s 13-yard line and seemingly was primed to make the game-winning field goal attempt.
But on the walk-off attempt, Pioneers holder/backup quarterback Michael Ollendorf failed to control the snap. Ollendorf ended up running for a loss of seven yards, effectively taking this game into overtime.
In overtime, William Paterson received first possession, where they had a chance to make up for messing up the potential walk-off attempt in regulation; however, they failed to do anything with it after back-to-back two-yard runs by McNair and an incomplete pass by Landicini intended for Hilton Aguilar on 3rd-and-6.
The Pioneers went for it on 4th-and-6 on Moravian’s 21-yard line, but Landicini overthrew it to wide receiver Blake Wypler up the seam, forcing a turnover on downs, and now it was the Greyhounds’ turn to win the game.
On a 3rd-and-10, the Pioneers would sack Geis, setting up a potential 4th and 11, but Kaiden Rex committed a facemask penalty, giving Moravian a new set of downs. After a couple of runs, the Greyhounds got to William Paterson’s ten-yard line.
Levine converted the 27-yard field goal, and Moravian won by the skin of their teeth, 19-16. William Paterson remains winless, dropping to 0-3 in their first season under head coach Edwyn Edwards.
