A 21-yard field goal by William Paterson University kicker Ricky Krautman (Franklin Lakes, N.J) as time expired lifted the Pioneers (4-4, 2-3 NJAC) to a 30-27 victory against visiting Kean University (3-5, 1-4 NJAC) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference clash on Saturday afternoon at Wightman Stadium. The kick capped a wild second half that saw the two teams combine for 37 points, including 24 in the fourth quarter alone.

For the Cougars, senior quarterback A.J. Roque (Matawan, N.J.) 17-of-25 for 257 yards and three touchdowns.

Pioneer junior Shaun Puluse (Haledon, N.J.) had two rushing touchdowns after halftime, as the pair of scores accounted for 24 of his game-high 146 yards on the ground.

The Pioneers took the opening drive and marched 63 yards to the end zone, a series that ended with an Ira Guilford (Jersey City, N.J.) one-yard touchdown plunge, for a 7-0 WPU lead just 3:13 into the contest.

The two sides traded punts until the 8:44 mark of the second quarter, when Kean rookie Chris DiMicco (Lanoka Harbor, N.J.) punched across the goal line from one yard out. Following a poor snap and a missed extra-point kick, the Pioneers held the slight 7-6 edge.

Kean's Ryan Staton (Mays Landing, N.J.) came up with an interception in the end zone to thwart the following William Paterson drive, but the Pioneers' Mike Lamego (North Arlington, N.J.) got the ball right back on the very next play, intercepting Roque at the Kean 28-yard line. During the ensuing drive, WPU went for it on fourth-and-nine from the 27, but an incomplete pass ended the possession for the Pioneers.

The Cougars answered with an eight-play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard TD pass from Roque to junior wide receiver James Felton (Plainfield, N.J.) as the clock struck 00:00, giving Kean a 13-7 lead at the intermission.

William Paterson's first drive of the second half resulted in a punt, but as the Pioneers chased down the ball to down it, an unaware Andre Dozier (Newark, N.J.) of Kean allowed the ball to hit his foot, and WPU pounced on it to regain possession for the Pioneers. Six plays later, Puluse muscled his way into the end zone from two yards out, regaining the lead for WPU at 14-13 with 9:02 to play in the third quarter.

Two minutes later, Pioneer senior Kareen Moon (Staten Island, N.Y.) weaved his way through the punt coverage, racing up the left sideline 38 yards for his third career punt return touchdown, making it a 20-13 score after a failed PAT.

Roque found Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, N.J.) for a 25-yard touchdown 11 seconds into the fourth quarter, evening the score at 20-20.

The next time the Cougars had the ball, WPU's Brian Burd (Roxbury, N.J.) jarred it loose from Kean's DiMicco, and Burke recovered the fumble at the Cougar-36-yard line. Puluse later ripped off a 22-yard burst between the tackles, scoring his second touchdown of the day and again giving his team a seven-point lead (27-20, 8:12).

Roque connected with Brian Williams (Pleasantville, N.J.) for a three-yard score, deadlocking the two teams one final time at 27-27 with 5:50 to play.

William Paterson began its final possession at its own 45-yard line, and after 13 plays (including a controversial pass interference penalty against Kean on third-and-20), Krautman drilled the 21-yard field goal as regulation ended, giving William Paterson its second straight win and first against Kean

For the Cougars, Williams caught passes for 99 yards and one TD. Junior Markal Ginyard (Cape May Courthouse, N.J.) and Jordan Cagle (Mount Holly, N.J.) each had 11 tackles for Kean, while sophomore defensive end John Parker (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) had eight tackles, including two sacks for a loss of nine yards.

WPU sophomore John Woodson (Bloomfield, N.J.) completed 10 of 19 passes for 129 yards, while senior Mike Vicci (Clark, N.J.) caught four passes for 58 yards for the Pioneers.

Sophomore Jared Burke (Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.) led the Pioneer defense with nine tackles (four solo) and a fumble recovery.

The Cougars will stay on the road and head to Connecticut next week to face Western Connecticut State University on Saturday, November 3rd.