Madison, N.J. (September 7)- The FDU-Florham football team (1-0) opened up their 2024 and 50^th anniversary season under the lights against William Paterson (0-1), where the Devils routed the Pioneers, 37-9 on Friday night  
Offensively, Ryon Thomas (Mattapoisett, Mass) had a night to remember, completing 16-of-20 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns as well as adding 65 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Kwanir Edwards (Trenton, N.J.) led the team in rushing with 87 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Thomas's top weapon was Michael DeSantis (South River, N.J.) who eclipsed the century mark in receiving with 107 yards on six receptions and a touchdown while Aidan Clowry (Pawling, N.Y.) also hauled in a touchdown to go along with four catches for 44 yards.
Defensively, The Devils were a well-rounded unit that saw 12 guys reach multiple tackles in the game. Isaiah Massey (New Rochelle, N.J.) collected four tackles and two sacks while Ginika Ozurumba (Union, N.J.) led the team in tackles for loss with three.
 
After forcing the Pioneers to punt on their first drive of the game, the Devils got the offense in rhythm fast with a nine-pay, 65-yard touchdown drive. The Thomas to DeSantis connection started early when the two connected for gains of 15 and 22 on the drive. Edwards ripped of an 18-yard run that put them WPU territory and the first touchdown of the season was scored when Thomas pulled the ball on the option on the goal line and ran it in to take a 7-0 lead.
 
Though FDU forced another punt, a muffed punt gave them the ball back in FDU territory where they eventually drove the ball down to the Devils 17-yard line and settled for three to cut the lead to 7-3.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson answered Wiliam Paterson's field goal drive with one of their own that started at their own 35 and finished at the WP 15. It was this drive where Thomas showed off the wheels when he ran for gains of 5, 8 and 12. The offense did not get where they wanted to but where still able to get kicker Chris Maida (Red Bank, N.J.) in range to drill a 31-yard field goal to extend the lead.
 
The Devils defense held again to force another punt and the following drive saw the Devils scored for the third straight possession. Edwards collected a 14-yard play in the drive and after Clowry catches of 18 and 12, Thomas showed off the legs and scrambled to the front left endzone pylon and scored to help the Devils command a 17-3 lead.
 
The defensive unit of FDU continued to impress and give the offense good field position at their own 48-yard line. The offense went right down the field again for their fourth straight scoring drive that was capped off by Thomas hitting Clowry near the front pylon and Clowry diving in for the exclamation point touchdown for FDU just before halftime and gave the Devils a 24-3 lead going into the second half.
 
Fairleigh Dickinson opened the second half with the pedal on the floor. The highlights of the drive came from DeSantis who caught receptions of 19 and 48 yards down to the three-yard line, where Edwards waltzed into the endzone to give FDU-Florham the commanding 30-3 lead after the extra point was blocked.
 
The Pioneers put together an impressive offensive drive to start their second half on offense but were not able to score as a 10-play drive ended with a turnover on downs at the FDU 22. The Devils, however, were able to score on their sixth consecutive drive. The offense was surgical in their execution on a 13-play, 78-yard drive that was capped of by Thomas hitting DeSantis for his fourth total touchdown of the game and widening the gap to 37-3.
 
WPU finally found their first touchdown in the middle of the fourth quarter to make the score 37-9. That drive was a seven -play, 61-yard drive that was capped off on a passing touchdown from Issac Cherry who punched it in from 10 yards out. The game remained at a standstill and the Devils were victorious in their home-opener
 
FDU-Florham will return to Robert T. Shields Field next Saturday, Sept 14 for a 12:00 pm kickoff as they play host to MAC foe Albright
 
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