WAYNE, N.J. – The College of New Jersey football team picked up its first win of the season with a 17-14 victory over William Paterson on Saturday. TCNJ improved to 1-3 on the year including 1-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while William Paterson fell to 2-2 and 0-1 in the NJAC.

The Lions' defense sealed the victory with a stop in the final minute. With less than 60 seconds to play, the Pioneers had the ball on the TCNJ 42 yard line. Nick Celli broke through the line, and got a piece of the William Paterson running back. He stayed on his feet, yet stumbled and fumbled the ball. Xavier Santos pounced on the loose ball to seal the win.

TCNJ scored first only a minute and a half into the game on the opening drive. Andrew Donoghue threw a 58 yard touchdown pass to Ean Craig to put TCNJ ahead 6-0 early. The touchdown catch marked the first of Craig's career.

The Pioneers drew even by way of a Marcel Mason 10 yard rushing touchdown with 4:41 left to play in the opening quarter. They grabbed a 14-7 lead with after scoring on a fumble recovery that was brought back for a touchdown with 3:47 to go in the first quarter.

At the start of the second quarter, the Pioneers had the ball on the TCNJ 14 yard line. Xavier Santos came up with a big interception for the Lions' defense. He brought the ball from the two yard line to the 17 yard line before he was forced out of bounds. Neither side was able to score again in the first half, and William Paterson took a 14-7 lead into the locker room.

Santos registered another interception on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. He picked off Pioneer quarterback George Crespo at the William Paterson 16 yard line, and brought it back to the 10 to set the Lions up with prime field position. TCNJ settled for a 25 yard field goal from Bobby Wortman to make it a 14-10 ballgame.

On the ensuing Pioneer possession, Anthony Cortazzo picked up a sack on first down. He followed that up with another stop to make it 3^rd and 11. The Pioneers would convert, and drive to the TCNJ 44 yard line. On a 4^th and 1, Tyler Ludwikowski stuffed the ball carrier for a loss of four yards to turn it back over to the Lions.

With 6:39 to go in the third, Erik Graham picked up a fumble recovery at the William Paterson 40 yard line. Mark Pacini picked up a six yard rush to get down to the 34 yard line. On 2^nd and 4, Donoghue completed a 14 yard pass to Vince Ratamess.  Donoghue then connected with Vinny Guckin on a 3^rd and 5 which resulted in an 11 yard pickup to get to the four yard line. Donoghue ran it in from four yards out for a touchdown, and Wortman's extra point put TCNJ ahead 17-14.

The TCNJ defense stifled the Pioneer offense in the second half, and did not allow them to sustain drives. With only 1:53 left in the game, William Paterson began a drive on the 41 yard line. Crespo completed a pass for six yards on 2^nd and 4 to pick up a first down. Jared Lyles came up with a tackle after a five yard rush on the next play. On 2^nd and 5, Mason was met behind the line of scrimmage by Celli. He bounced off of the tackle yet was stumbling, and lost control of the football. Santos jumped on the loose ball to seal the win.

Donoghue picked up 181 yards on 18-27 passing, including the rushing and passing touchdowns. Jack Clevenger led TCNJ with 59 receiving yards on six catches. Guckin tallied seven catches for 29 yards, and Craig posted 58 yards on the long touchdown catch.

Bryant Sanchez and Santos led TCNJ with five tackles each. Santos had a nose for the football, as he tallied two interceptions and the key fumble recovery. Gavin Liepe and Celli each posted four tackles on the afternoon.

The Lions return to action on Oct. 12, when they will host Montclair State University. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m.