Wayne, NJ – Senior ZAHIR WILDER hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass with 51 seconds remaining as Montclair State scored 10 points over the final 3:26 to stun William Paterson, 23-22 on Saturday afternoon.

Quarterback JA'QUILL BURCH threw two touchdown passes and the Red Hawks returned a blocked punt for a score as they escaped with the victory to improve to 3-6 overall, 2-3 in the NJAC. Montclair also claimed its fifth straight victory against their local rival and upped their record to 47-3-1 in the all-time series with wins in 27 of the last 28 contests.

A 54-yard interception return by the Pioneers' JoJo Kirby in the third quarter gave William Paterson a 22-13 lead with nearly two full quarters to play. The Red Hawks had chances to close the gap, but could not convert a pair of fourth downs deep inside WPU territory.

With under six minutes to go, Montclair forced the Pioneers to punt from their own 15 with a short kick giving the Red Hawks the ball at the WPU 15. Burch hit JAMIE HAMILTON for 10 yards and later found Hamilton again for 12 yards on a third-and-10 to push the ball to the WPU 13 with 3:39 left. The drive would stall, however Montclair closed the gap as ANDREW MYERSON connected from 30 yards out to make the score 22-16 with 3:26 to go.

The Pioneers would put themselves at their own 10-yard line after the ensuing kickoff and were back up to their six when they were forced to punt with 1:46 to go. Another short punt set MSU up at the William Paterson 36.

On the first play, the Red Hawks were pushed back for a penalty, however Burch made up for that with a 14-yard completion to MAKAI MICKENS back to the WPU 32. Burch kept the possession going scrambling for eight yards on 3^rd-and-6 down to the WPU 24. The MSU signal caller would find CLARENCE WILKINS on a scramble in the end zone for what appeared to be the go-ahead score, but that was called back for an ineligible player down field backing the ball up to the WPU 29.

Burch was forced to throw the ball away on the next snap, setting up a 2^nd-and-15 at the 29. Burch rolled to his left before firing a thrown down the left side into the end zone where Wilder out-jumped Kirby for the ball and the touchdown. Myerson's extra-point sent MSU into the lead for the first time since the second quarter.

William Paterson would get one last chance, however safety BRENNAN RAY picked off Spencer Lee with 32 seconds remaining to seal the win for Montclair State.

Ray would set up Montclair's first score as he blocked a punt scooped up by TRAVIS SQUIRE and returned for a touchdown with 12:57 left in the second quarter. The Pioneers answered immediately as Lee found William Frese for an 80-yard touchdown 20 seconds later knotting the game at 7-7.

Lee connected with Matt Clarke on a 30-yard score with 7:03 to go before halftime putting the hosts in front 13-7. Montclair tied it with 47 seconds remaining on a Burch-to-Wilkins 44-yard touchdown strike. The Red Hawks were ready to take the lead with the extra point, but Nazier Wright blocked the attempt and returned it 90 yards for a two-point defensive conversion as William Paterson led 15-13 at halftime.

Burch finished with 157 yards with in addition to his two TDs. Mickens led the ground game with 41 yards with ZACH LEWIS getting three receptions for 32 yards. DIMITRI PALI posted nine total tackles, including 3.5 for loss and two sacks. Ray made seven unassisted stops.
 
Montclair State closes out its season next Saturday, November 13 on the road in Union, NJ against Kean University.