Junior quarterback Ryan Gresik threw for 369 yards and three touchdowns to lead visiting William Paterson University to a 31-6 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) victory Saturday afternoon over host Morrisville State College in Morrisville.
The Pioneers improve to 3-4 overall, 1-4 in conference play, while the Mustangs drop to 1-6 overall, 1-4 in NJAC action.
Gresik completed 22-of-31 passes, four to Alex Price for 94 yards and two touchdown scores. Isaac Jlaka led the Pioneers in yards on the ground, recording 45 on 11 carries, as William Paterson posted 462 yards total offense on the day.
Ben Allen, David Zurla, and Stephen Bovo each tallied six total tackles in the defensive game for the Pioneers.
Morrisville State registered just 287 total yards on the day, including 143 from quarterback Jory Tanner (Adams, N.Y.) on 15-of-31 completions. Earl Sneed (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) led all ball carriers with 14 carries for 77 yards and the lone Mustangs score, while AJ Latta (Middletown, N.Y.) caught five for 35 yards.
Austin Erlwein (Jeffersonville, N.Y.) led the Morrisville State defensive efforts, tallying 10 total tackles, including five solo stops, while forcing and recovering a fumble. Jack Glen (Syracuse, N.Y.) added 10, clogging the middle and limiting the Pioneers in the running game.
William Paterson struck early, reaching the end zone on the first drive of the game on a 38-yard pass play from Gresik to Price, and posted three more scores by the half for a commanding 24-0 lead at the break, including a 65 yard scoring pass play from Gresik to Howard Davis.
Robert Singrea added a 37-yard field goal midway through the second quarter and on the ensuing Mustang drive, Andre Snead intercepted Tanner for a 33-yard scoring return.
Morrisville State was finally able to put points on the board with 5:10 to go in the third quarter, as Snead capped off the Mustangs longest drive of the game with a two yard rushing score.
William Paterson added a final touchdown early in the fourth to collect the conference victory, as Gresik hit Price a final time for the 41-yard scoring pass play.
Morrisville State returns to the field next week, traveling to Rowan University on Saturday.