Game box

Ewing, NJ ….. The College of New Jersey saw its bid to open the 2010 season with a win come up just short as visiting William Paterson stopped the Lions offense deep in its own territory in the final minute to hold on for a 15-7 win at Lions' Stadium on Friday night. 

The game was the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both squads with the Pioneers jumping out to a 1-0 mark, while the Lions are 0-1.

After a blocked punt by TCNJ's Brett Ressler (Maywood, NJ/Hackensack) set the hosts up with good field position, the Lions marched deep into WPU territory. The Pioneers forced TCNJ into a fourth-and five from the 16 with 57 seconds remaining, but Nicholas Tyson's (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) pass intended for Michael Yetka (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) fell incomplete turning the ball back to WPU, who ran out the clock.

Tyson proved to be a spark for the Lions as the sophomore quarterback scored his first collegiate touchdown on a five-yard run with 10:41 left in the game. Tyler Olsson (Kendall Park, NJ/South Brunswick) added the extra point as TCNJ closed the margin to 15-7. Tyson finished the game with a team-leading 52 yards on 13 carries.

After leading 9-0 at the break, WPU added its only score of the second half with 6:34 left in the third frame as Joe Muraglia (Belleville, NJ/Queen of Peace) made a diving grab between a pair of Lion defenders on a 14-yard pass from Ryan Gresik (Newton, NJ/Newton).

In the opening half, TCNJ thwarted a Pioneer drive as the Lion defense held on a fourth-and-one at the goal-line as John Kinzel (Howell, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) and Shawn Brown (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) made the initial hits turning the ball over to the offense.

William Paterson countered with a big defensive play of its own on the next snap tackling TCNJ's ball carrier in the end zone for a safety. Making the tackle for the Pioneers were Brandon McNeil (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) and Jimmie Ray Ragland (Somerset, NJ/Franklin).

The Pioneers added a touchdown with 1:33 left in the half as Dawys German (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) scampered 42 yards for his first score of the season. A successful point after bumped the visitor's advantage to 9-0.

That lead held late in the second half before TCNJ linebacker Kevin Allgood (Chatham, NJ/Chatham) forced a fumble that teammate Matt Kreider (Delran, NJ/Delran) pounced on.

TCNJ's defense forced four turnovers with three of them being fumbles and a fourth on an interception by Allgood. They also had two stops on fourth downs turning back the Pioneers when they were in scoring position.

Krieder led the way for the Lions with 13 tackles (7 solo and 6 assists), while Greg Burns (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) added 12 (4-8) and Allgood had 10 (2-8).

German led all players with 106 yards on the ground on 18 attempts, while Gresnik accounted for 185 yards through the air.

Sophomore Kevin Brown (Atlantic City, Atlantic City) added to TCNJ's ground game with 46 yards on only seven rushes.

The Lions have next weekend off and return to the field on Friday, September 17 under the lights at Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham. Game time is 7 p.m. The Pioneers also have a bye next week as they prepare for their home opener on September 18 against King's College.