Upper Montclair, NJ - Senior quarterback ED COLLINS threw for three touchdowns and the Montclair State defense limited the Wilkes University offense to just 73 total yards as the Red Hawks blanked the Colonels, 28-0 before a crowd of 1,783 at Sprague Field this afternoon.

Wide receiver JAMEL DORSEY caught six passes for 97 yards and linebacker KEITH MIGLIORINO added 2.5 sacks for Montclair (1-0), which recorded a shutout in a season opener for the first time since a 21-0 blanking of the University at Buffalo in 1990.

The Red Hawks got on the board on their first possession as Collins completed a nine-yard pass to MIKE ORLANDO on first down. On next play, MSU executed a perfect flea-flicker as Collins took the pitch back from LAQUAN MAJETTE and lofted a 30-yard scoring strike to a wide-open Dorsey for a 7-0 lead with 12:37 left in the opening period. MSU extended the lead to 14-0 into the second quarter as MARK HALL returned a punt 25 yards to the Wilkes 10 yard-line. Two plays later, Collins scrambled seven yards for the score. Eight minutes later, the lead grew to 21-0 as Collins connected with ERIC MAGRINI on a 30-yard completion.

That proved more than enough for the MSU defense, which surrendered just 25 yards in the opening half, including minus-33 on the ground. Last season, the Red Hawks finished fourth in Division III against the run (56.7 ypg). MSU finished the game allowing minus-28 yards rushing.

Tight end JASON DEVIRGILIO capped off the Red Hawks scoring with 4:12 in the third quarter as he hauled in an eight-yard pass from Collins. DeVirgilio finished with three catches for 34 yards, surpassing his season totals from last year when he had two receptions for 21 yards. Collins completed 26-of-47 passes for 281 yards and was intercepted twice.

Wilkes signal caller JEFF MARSHMAN (Berwick, PA/Berwick) was 10-of-29 for 101 yards, but was sacked six times, including two by linebacker RON BROKING (New Milford, NJ/New Milford). Montclair State outgained the Colonels (0-1) 409-73, and had 19 first downs compared to just six by Wilkes. DEMETRI TZOVOLOS (Neshanic Station, NJ/Hillsborough) had 11 tackles and recovered a fumble for the Colonels.