Upper Montclair, NJ - Senior quarterback ED COLLINS threw four touchdown passes as No. 5 Montclair State remained unbeaten with 31-7 victory over New Jersey City University in New Jersey Athletic Conference action at Sprague Field this afternoon.

The Montclair State defense, ranked 11th in the nation caused six turnovers as the Red Hawks (9-0, 5-0 NJAC), won their 16th consecutive conference game. The win sets up a showdown next Saturday in Glassboro between MSU and Rowan for the NJAC title. Montclair has won the last two NJAC crowns, defeating the Profs both times (28-24 in 1999 and 17-13 in 2000). The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs which begin on Saturday, November 17.

Collins tied the single-season mark of 27 TD passes set by Walter Briggs (12 games) in 1986. The senior signal caller completed 15-of-30 for 244 yards and was intercepted twice. His touchdowns were thrown to four different receivers, including freshman JASPER HANKINS, who hauled in his first career TD reception in the third quarter to give Montclair a 21-7 lead.

Montclair State jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 6:21 in the first quarter as Collins connected with NICK SERPICO on a 49-yard score. The Red Hawks extended the lead to 14-0 with 9:20 left in the second as Collins completed a 12-yard TD pass to SCOTT WISNIEWSKI. New Jersey City would cut the deficit to seven just before the half as DUANE DATES (Summit, NJ/Summit) intercepted a pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

The Red Hawk defense set up the next score as ROB CANNIZZARO forced a fumble that was recovered by BILL HEANEY at the NJCU 11 yard line. Three plays later, Collins lofted a pass into the end zone that Hankins dove and pulled in for a 21-7 lead with 11:14 to play. ERIC MAGRINI (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) added an 11-yard TD catch with 5:24 left to make the score 28-7. BRENT GRABLACHOFF capped off the scoring with a 24-yard field goal.

FRANKIE SINCLAIR (Newark, NJ/Lincoln (Brooklyn)) finished with 95 yards on 26 carries for the Gothic Knights (1-7, 1-4 NJAC). Dates finished with nine tackles for the NJCU defense, which forced five turnovers. ELIJAH FREER had 87 yards on 16 carries for MSU, which rushed for 203 in the contest. ROS LEE had seven tackles, an interception and three pass breakups.

Montclair outgained NJCU, 447-207.