Upper Montclair, NJ - Senior running back DAVE MADDI (Binghamton/Seton Catholic) scored three touchdowns and collected over 200 all-purpose yards as Ithaca College knocked off Montclair State, 35-23 in first round action of the 2001 NCAA Division III Football Playoffs at Sprague Field before a crowd of 3,693 this afternoon.

Maddi rushed for 133 yards as the Bombers (10-1) advance to the second round where they will meet #1 seed Rensselear Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, November 24 in Troy. It was also Ithaca's third win against Montclair in the NCAA Playoffs. The Bombers also recorded wins in 1985 & 1986. The Red Hawks, which began the year at 9-0 suffered their second straight loss and second straight NCAA opening round defeat. The appearance in the playoffs was the 13th for Ithaca and seventh for MSU.

The Bombers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on two long drives. Maddi capped off a 14-play, 68-yard drive on the opening possession to give Ithaca a 7-0 lead. On the drive, MSU (9-2) committed three penalties, including one on a fourth down and two from the MSU 35. On the Bombers next possession, another costly MSU penalty put the ball down at the Montclair 23. Two plays later, BRIAN YOUNG (Almond, NY/Hornell) hit Maddi on a 14-yard TD pass with 3:51 to play. Young would later leave the game with a concussion.

Montclair would get on the board with four seconds left in the opening period as BRENT GRABLACHOFF booted a 38-yard field goal. Ithaca then restored the lead to 21-3 on their next possession as KYLE TEDESCHI (Fairport, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) scored from a yard out. The Red Hawks then cut the lead to 21-10 as ED COLLINS found NICK SERPICO on a 20-yard scoring strike with 8:58 to play in the half. The teams then traded TD's as Maddi scored on 54-yard run with 3:43 to play in the half. MSU responded as Collins found ERIC MAGRINI (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) on a 10 pass with 2:08 to go. Ithaca then capped off the half with a seven play-67 yard drive just before the half. Backup quarterback GREG SHEELER (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) found CONOR MULKEEN (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Mendon) on a 34-yard reception down to the MSU 11. Two plays later, Sheeler hit CORY CORRADO (Seton Catholic/Plattsburgh Academy (ME) on a two-yard score for a 35-17 Ithaca halftime lead.

Montclair would get within 35-23 late in the third as Collins hit JASPER HANKINS on a 20-yard TD toss. But that would be as close as the Red Hawks would get.

Sheeler finished 13-of-23 for 129 yards while Maddi, Mulkeen and MIKE MARKS (Pine City, NY/New Milford) each had four catches. The Ithaca defense held Montclair State to minus-34 yards rushing and recorded five sacks.

Collins completed 26-of-57 passes for 399 yards in his final game. The senior finished with over 8,000 yards and threw 62 touchdown passes (2nd all-time).JAMEL DORSEY led the Red Hawks with eight catches for 109 yards while Magrini set the MSU single-season mark for receptions with 71 and yards with 1,178. Magrini also tied the single-season mark with 12 TD catches. OMAR LUCAS finished with 12 tackles to lead the Red Hawk defense.

Ithaca outgained MSU, 415-365.