Upper Montclair, NJ - Senior running back
ELIJAH FREER rushed for 116 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as seventh-ranked Montclair State recorded the final 14 points to down Buffalo State, 38-27, in NCAA Division III Football action at Sprague Field this afternoon.
The Red Hawks (7-0) overcame four first-half turnovers as the remained unbeaten and matched their best start ever under head coach Rick Giancola.
ED COLLINS threw for touchdowns for MSU, while MIKE POTTER (Salamanea, NY/Salamanea) intercepted three passes, including one for a touchdown for the Bengals (1-6).
The Bengals took a 27-24 lead into the fourth quarter as FELIX JOYNER (Rochester, NY/Hilton) scored on a three-yard run as time expired in the third, but Montclair State came back to take the lead on the ensuing possession.
MARK HALL returned the kickoff 25 yards to the MSU 40 and Collins connected with
MIKE ORLANDO for 16 yards on the first play. The Red Hawks moved to the Buffalo State 19 yard line before Jamarl Buie ripped off a 16-yard run to put the ball at the 3. Two plays later, Freer went in from a yard out giving MSU the lead.
On the next possession,
ADAM CERMINARO gave Montclair the ball back as he intercepted a RODNEY RANDALL (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley) pass. After the drive stalled,
BRENT GRABLACHOFF came on to attempts a 44-yard field goal. But the Red Hawks executed a fake as holder Orlando hit
ALEJANDRO MERCADO for 20 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Buie ran in from four yards out to complete the scoring.
In a turnover-plagued first half (8 turnovers), MSU took a 17-14 lead.
Randall scored from nine yards to give Buffalo State a 7-0 lead in the first period. Montclair tied the game early in the second as Collins connected with
JAMEL DORSEY on a 15-yard scoring toss. Potter returned an interception 26 yards to put the Bengals in front 14-7, but again Montclair responded as
RON BROKING recovered a fumble and returned it 30 yards to the Buffalo State 41. Three plays later, Collins hit
JASON DEVIRGILIO from eight yards out with DeVirgilio making a one-handed diving catch in the back corner of the end zone.
Broking then gave the Red Hawks the ball back on the next possession with an interception and the Red Hawks capitalized as Grablachoff booted a 29-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the half. Collins finished 25-of-38 for 296 yards, while Randall was 13-of-21 for 249 yards. Orlando and
ERIC MAGRINI each caught six passes for MSU.
The Red Hawks outgained the Bengals, 500-348. Freer recorded the first 100-yard game by an MSU runner since JOE D'IORIO (West Keansburg, NJ/Raritan) had 191 ironically against Buffalo State in the 1999 NCAA Playoffs, a string of 18 games.
