WAYNE, N.J. – Senior wide receiver Malcolm Robinson (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) scored three touchdowns and freshman linebacker Taheem Jackson (East Orange, N.J./East Orange Campus) made 10 tackles as the William Paterson football team (1-0) rolled to a 43-13 season-opening victory against Alfred State (0-1) Sept. 3.
WP took its opening drive 91 yards, capped when junior quarterback James Waldron (Edison, N.J./Edison) found Robinson on a shallow route to the right pylon for a six-yard touchdown. Sophomore Nick DeAngelis (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey) kicked the extra point for a 7-0 score less than 10 minutes into the contest.
The William Paterson defense stopped Alfred State on fourth-and-two, and on the very next play Robinson beat his man down the seam and Waldron lofted a ball over the top, a 45-yard score for a 14-0 advantage with 2:32 remaining in the first quarter.
Freshman defensive back Ra'Keem Bennett (Linden, N.J./Carteret) got his hands on a pass over the middle, but the ball deflected into the arms of ASC receiver Jason Gordon and he streaked to the WP-one for an 80-yard gain. Two plays later, freshman quarterback Dashon Turner connected with Gordon for a three-yard touchdown to bring the margin back to one possession at 14-7 with 14:55 to play in the second quarter.
Senior wide receiver Anthony DiMarsico (Stony Point, N.Y./Suffern) secured a fade on the left sideline, an 11-yard TD from Waldron, and sophomore Stephen Lahoe (Whippany, N.J./Morris Catholic) converted the two-point attempt on the ground for a 22-7 score with 5:08 on the clock.
Robinson's 71-yard punt return made it first-and-goal on the ASC-4, and Robinson got the call again for a three-yard carry off right tackle and a 29-7 lead 39 seconds before halftime.
A sack by junior defensive lineman Omar Mahmoud (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro) jarred the ball loose and Jackson scooped it up and scampered across the goal line, a 40-yard fumble return that extended the William Paterson advantage to 36-7 with 12 seconds left in the first half.
Junior running back Jacob Wims' 33-yard run put six points on the scoreboard for Alfred State, but the kick was wide right, leaving it a 36-13 margin at the 12:39 mark of the third quarter.
Junior quarterback Isaiah Diaz-Mays (Hoboken, N.J./Union City) rushed for 42 of WP's 52 yards on its next drive, including a 26-touchdown, and William Paterson owned a 43-13 edge with 10:15 left in the third period.
Waldron was 10-for-14 for 130 yards and three touchdowns under center, while Diaz-Mays was 2-for-6 for 18 yards through the air, and had 76 yards and a score on 11 carries. Robinson caught eight passes for 110 yards and two TDs, and added a three-yard touchdown on the ground. DiMarsico finished with three receptions for 34 yards and a TD.
Jackson led WP with 10 tackles (four solo) and a 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Tyler Gross (Pomona, N.Y./North Rockland) added eight stops (four solo, 2.5 sacks) and a pass breakup, and senior linebacker Nick Freeman (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) chipped in seven tackles (five solo). Sophomore defensive back Haneef Jennings (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) posted five stops and an interception. DeAngelis was a perfect 5-for-5 on PATs, and senior Pat Moran (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) averaged 35.6 yards on five punts.
Turner finished 12-for-21 for 130 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Wims rushed eight times for 54 yards and a score, while Gordon caught two passes for 83 yards and a TD.
Sophomore defensive back Owen Davis led all players with 14 tackles (four solo, 0.5 sack), and senior strong safety Steven Hubick added 11 stops.