Alfred State (0-0) at William Paterson (0-0)

Saturday Sept. 3, 2016 * Noon

Wayne, NJ - Whitman Stadium

2nd meeting: William Paterson leads 1-0

Last meeting: 2015 - WP 41 Alfred State 20

2015 Averages:         

ASC Offense: 11.6 points per game, 199.3 ypg (48 rushing & 151.3 passing)

ASC Defense: 47.1 points per game, 448.8 ypg (246.7 rushing & 202.1 passing)

WP Offense: 20.5 points per game, 346.5 ypg (156.7 rushing & 189.8 passing)

WP Defense: 38.8 points per game, 412.4 ypg (213.4 rushing & 199 passing) 

Players to watch:

Game Notes:

• The Alfred State Pioneers battle the William Paterson Pioneers in the season opener for the second consecutive season. William Paterson traveled to Alfred last year and earned a 41-20 victory. In that contest Alfred State led 20-7 early in the 2nd quarter before WP scored 13-unanswered to send the game into halftime tied. William Paterson took control of the contest with three touchdown drives in the 3rd quarter.
• The Alfred State offense has experience in the wide receiving core. Khris Greggs led the team with 44 catches and 461 yards last year and is joined by Josh Ashley (27 catches for 368 yards) and Dante Jordan (eight catches - 3 TD's - for 66 yards). Jason Gordon also returns after missing most of last season after a season ending injury in the opener last year. Newcomer Ricky Hagins, whose catch in preseason was featured all over the sports world, will also be key to the success of the offense. 
• Transfer Isaiah Diaz-Mays (Central Connecticut State) is slated to start at quarterback for William Paterson and he will look to connect with returning leading receiver Malcolm Robinson (30 catches, 688 yards, eight touchdowns).
• The preseason has featured a quarterback competition that has led to freshmen Dashon Turner earning the start in the opener. Fellow freshmen Hunter Evingham is listed as the backup for the opener. Turner or Evingham will rely on returning left tackle Jeffrey Andrews to lead the offensive line.
• Safety Steven Hubick and nose tackle John Lauretti return lead the defense. Hubick was 2nd on the team last year with 62 tackles while Lauretti was 4th with 46. The defense will look to add to their sack (15) and turnover numbers from last year (seven interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries).
• 2015 second leading tackler Charles Faulkner returns after posting 74 tackles last year. Pat Moran, a senior strong safety, also returns after recording 53 tackles last season.
• Improving on 3rd down conversions (23% in 2015) and getting off to faster starts will be key to the success of Alfred State in 2016 (outscored 180-37 in the 1st quarter).
• William Paterson struggled in the turnover battle last year. They had only three interceptions and nine fumble recoveries while throwing 12 interceptions and fumbling 15 times. 
• William Paterson has only two freshmen listed as their starters on their two-deep.
• The Alfred State coaching staff under the direction of second year head coach Jarod Dodson has six new members in 2016.
• The 2016 season will be the last season that Alfred State will be play a NCAA DIII independent schedule. The team begins play in the ECFC in 2017.

Tickets/Stats/Radio/Game Day Information:

• Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/wpunj/football/ 
• Audio: http://wpsc.wpunj.edu/

Up Next:

• Alfred State opens up the home portion of the season with a 6 p.m. contest vs. Brockport. The game will feature the recognition of the 2016 Hall of Fame class. The class is headlined by recently retired track & field and cross country coach Gary Moore.
• William Paterson returns to action on Sept. 16th when they travel to Rowan.