DANBURY, Conn. - Graduate Kile Jackson (Danbury, Conn.) blocked a PAT with 10 seconds left to preserve the victory, as the Western Connecticut State University Wolves outlasted the visiting William Paterson University Pioneers in the football season opener for both teams this evening at Westside Staidum. WestConn, which received a pair of rushing touchdowns from senior RB Kamryn Holmes (Branford, Conn.), took a 14-0 lead early and broke a 14-all tie on Holmes' second score in the fourth quarter.  The Pioneers scored with 10 seconds left on a 28-yard scramble to paydrirt by Nigel Jennings, but were whistled for a 15-yard penalty assessed on the PAT that Jackson denied with his elbow.  The Wolves will host Gettysburg next on Saturday, September 20 at 1 p.m. and William Paterson hosts Salve Regina on the same day at the same time.

WestConn took advantage of a William Paterson turnover to score first, as Jackson recovered a fumble forced by junior LB Eamon Moran (Stratford, Conn.) and Holmes scampered into the end zone from 12 yards away with 8:34 left in the first quarter.  The Wolves took a 14-0 lead when they finished off a 15-play, 90-yard drive with an eight-yard scoring pass from junior QB Dylan Jackson (Monroe, Conn.) to classmate Markus Faucett (Bronx, N.Y.) with 7:44 remaining in the first half.  Faucett caught three passes for 45 yards during the drive.  Jackson was picked off twice in the final 4:20 of the second quarter, however, and the second by William Paterson's Terrill Yankston gave the Pioneers the ball on the WestConn 27-yard line.  Jennings made the score, 14-7, with a four-yard touchdown run with under a minute left before the break.

Jennings scored again in the the third frame, running the ball in from 11 yards away with 3:41 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 14-apiece.  WestConn answered early in the fourth frame on Holmes' second score after Jackson found rookie WR Tamarion LaFortune (West Haven, Conn.) on a 29-yard pass to the Pioneer four-yard line to set up the score.  WestConn senior CB Michael DeFelice (New Windsor, N.Y.) intercepted Jennings inside the final minute and the Wolves appeared set to run out the clock but a penalty stopped the clock and allowed William Paterson to force a punt.  The Pioneers used a 23-yard punt return by Nolan Epps and Jenning's 28-yard score to cut its deficit to 21-20.  The 15-yard penalty made the PAT a 33-yard try and Jackson blocked the low kick to secure WestConn its first season-opening win since 2021 (24-21 over William Paterson).

WestConn's defense held William Paterson to just 200 total yards and 66 passing yards and had 11 tackles for loss and five sacks.  Sophomore S Tafari Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.) had a team-high eight tackles, while junior LB Jandiel Jimenez (Yonkers, N.Y.) totaled seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup for the Wolves.  William Paterson's Gavin Rembert led all tacklers with 12 and added an interception.  Joe Pressley had 3.5 tackles for loss for the Pioneers.  Jackson finished with five tackles, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick, and senior DL Jahsir Gayle (Inwood, N.Y.) added a pair of sacks.  Offensively, Jackson finished 24-for-39 passing for 233 yards, while Jennings was 9-for-23 for just 66 yards.  Jennings led rushers with 74 yards on 19 carries and three touchdowns. Faucett led all receivers with 66 yards on five catches and junior teammate Serge Lagardere (Stamford, Conn.) caught seven balls for 56 yards.