PATERSON, N.J. - Senior RB
Quasim Benson (Wilmington, Del.) rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown to lead the visiting Western Connecticut State University Wolves to a 27-17 win over the William Paterson University Pioneers in the football season opener for both teams this afternoon at Wightman Stadium. WestConn senior QB
Dylan Jackson (Monroe, Conn.) threw for 195 yards and a touchdown and senior S
Ryan Rondeau (Carmel, N.Y.) paced the Wolves defense with seven tackles. The Wolves will host No. 18-ranked Christopher Newport in their home opener next Saturday, September 12 at noon. William Paterson is off next week before visiting Salve Regina on September 19.
WestConn took an early 2-0 lead on a safety set up by a neatly-placed punt by sophomore
Gavin Damboise (Bristol, Conn.) that was downed at the Pioneer 10-yard line. The score stayed there until early in the second quarter when WestConn senior QB
Dylan Jackson (Monroe, Conn.) found junior WR
Jayden Leroy (Danbury, Conn.) open down the left sideline for a 44-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a 9-0 lead. Wolves sophomore DE Aidan Rohman (Levittown, N.Y.) made a big stop on 4th-and-3 for William Paterson in WestConn territory, and the Wolves offense took advantage two plays later when Benson broke free for a 70-yard run to paydirt. The first of three failed PAT's in a row for the Wolves made the score, 15-0, with 7:39 left in the first half. William Paterson pinned the Wolves deep in their own territory late in the second quarter but the Wolves defense held strong and forced the Pioneers to settle for a 30-yard field goal by Omar Rodriguez that accounted for a 15-3 score at the break.
The first two drives of the second half ended in punts, but junior LB
Jordan Tyler (Bay Shore, N.Y.) gave the Wolves a 21-3 lead with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown midway thru the third frame. William Paterson answered with an 88-yard drive and pulled to within two scores on a one-yard touchdown run by Michael Ollendorf. The Pioneers converted on a two-point PAT and trailed, 21-11, after three quarters. WestConn answered with an impressive drive of their own, going 65 yards in nine plays and taking a 27-11 lead on a two-yard scamper by sophomore RB
Donald Highsmith (Middletown, Conn.), his first career touchdown. Tyler had a sack and junior DB
Corey Rock-Blanco (Bronx, N.Y.) intercepted a pass to keep the Pioneers off the board until late in the fourth quarter. J.C. Landini threw a scoring pass to Blake Wypler with 1:28 on the scoreboard, but the Wolves ran out the clock.
The WestConn defense held the Pioneers to 36 rushing yards and 1.4 yards per carry, while Benson averaged 8.9 yards on his 14 carries. Landini threw for 203 yards and Wypler caught eight balls for 122 yards. Wolves seniors
Serge Lagardere (Stamford, Conn.) and
Thomas Schiavoni (Middletown, Del.) had four catches each for a total of 74 yards. Tyler finished with five tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble, and senior LB
Luis Jaquez (Holbrook, N.Y.) added four tackles, 1.5 for a loss and a sack. Joseph Pressley had eight tackles and a pass for William Paterson.
