WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson football team (3-6, 1-5 NJAC) fell to visiting Cortland (4-5, 4-3 NJAC) on Senior Day, 26-17, Nov. 8.
Freshman quarterback Austin Fellows (Pennington, N.J./Hopewell Valley Central) went 17-for-43 for 226 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while junior wide receiver Anthony DiMarsico (Stony Point, N.Y./Suffern) caught seven passes for 125 yards and two scores. Junior running back Matt Deiana (Somers, N.Y./Somers) carried 19 times for 64 yards.
Senior linebacker Ben Allen (Ventnor, N.J./Atlantic City) made a game-high 14 tackles (nine solo, 2.0 TFL), and junior linebacker Dennis Goodman (Somerset, N.J./Bishop Ahr) posted 12 stops (1.5 TFL) and a pass breakup. Senior defensive back Elijah DeGuzman (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) added 11 tackles.
The Red Dragons took advantage of the wind at their backs during the first quarter, jumping out to a 16-0 lead. A 55-yard pass play from junior quarterback John Grassi to classmate K.J. Zinermon on the first Cortland possession, along with a Shane Cronin PAT, made it a 7-0 score 2:21 into the contest, and a Pioneer defensive stand forced the Red Dragons to settle for a 20-yard Cronin field goal and a 10-0 lead with 6:10 on the clock. Grassi later faked a handoff and sprinted around the right end, scoring untouched from three yards out. Cronin missed the extra point, and Cortland led by a 16-0 count with 2:40 left in the opening period.
WP got on the scoreboard during its first possession of the second quarter when DiMarsico got behind the defense and Fellows found him for a 76-yard score. Senior place-kicker Robert Sinegra (Wharton, N.J./Morris Knolls) added the extra point, making it a 16-7 game with 11:08 to play in the first half, but a celebration penalty on the touchdown play forced Sinegra to kick off from the Pioneer 20-yard line. Junior Dylan Peebles received the kick at his own 16, then broke the return up the middle and out-sprinted the last defender down the left sideline for an 84-yard return and a 23-7 margin at the 10:55 mark .
Sinegra's 29-yard field goal made it a 23-10 score seconds before halftime.
The Pioneer defense forced a punt to start the second half, giving WP good field position at its own 44. William Paterson twice converted on third down to keep the drive going, and Fellows eventually connected with DiMarsico on a crossing pattern for an 11-yard touchdown and a one-possession game at 23-17 with 7:40 remaining.
Cortland drove to the Pioneer-2, but a rush for no gain and an incomplete pass forced a short field-goal attempt. Cronin connected from 19 yards, and the Red Dragons again had a two-score cushion at 26-17 with 5:16 left in the third quarter.
The teams exchanged punts until midway through the fourth quarter, when WP had advanced into the red zone, but sophomore defensive back Mark DelPrete ended the threat with an interception at the Cortland-17.
Grassi was 18-for-25 for 187 yards and a touchdown for the Red Dragons. Sophomore Bryan Providence rushed 18 times for 68 yards, and classmate Jon Mannix caught six passes for 63 yards. Senior defensive lineman Gabe Ostrow led the Cortland defense with 10 tackles (1.0 TFL).
Prior to the game, the Pioneers honored their 12 seniors -- Allen, linebacker Jose Bonilla (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken), defensive back Mike Butler (Staten Island, N.Y./Moore Catholic), DeGuzman, defensive lineman Al Kamara (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick Twp.), quarterback Logan McGuigan (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City), long snapper Anthony Morris (Sussex, N.J./High Point Regional), defensive lineman Trevor Sackawitch (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel), offensive lineman Ryan Sibole (Brick, N.J./Brick Twp.), Sinegra, offensive lineman Jake Stockton-Rossini (Ship Bottom, N.J./Southern Regional) and defensive lineman Pat Thomas (Lodi, N.J./Lodi).
William Paterson will finish the season Saturday, Nov. 15, at Southern Virginia at 12:00 p.m.
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