New Rochelle, NY (9/28/02) — The Montclair State football team fell to 1-2 on the season as they came up short against Division I-AA Iona College, 23-19, at Mazzella Field on Saturday afternoon.
Iona quarterback BILLY BRIEDEN threw three touchdown passes as the Gaels (3-1) converted several key third downs to defeat the Red Hawks for the second time in three meetings. Iona also avenged a 46-20 loss to MSU at Sprague Field last season.
The Red Hawks drew first blood as they took the opening kickoff and moved 72 yards in nine plays as Jemarl Buie scored from a yard out. However, the extra point was blocked and Iona nearly returned it for two points, but the return was flagged for an illegal forward pass.
The Gaels took the lead with 7:05 left in the opening period as Brieden connected with MARK PALMIOTTO on a 55-yard scoring strike on a third-and-13 play. After a short punt gave Iona the ball at the MSU 16, Brieden connected with BRIAN MULROY on a eight-yard pass to give the Gaels a 13-6 lead at halftime.
Iona extended the lead to 16-6 with 7:49 left in the third as SPENCER CALLAHAN kicked a 28-yard field goal, but Montclair cut the deficit to 16-13 in the fourth as quarterback
JOHN DIGIROLAMO raced in off a scramble from seven yards out.
But Iona responded as Brieden hit BOBBY WATSON on a short pass in the flat on 3rd-and-7. Watson broke free of two tacklers and raced 53 yards to make the score 23-13 with 8:07 left. MSU battled back and moved 63 yards in 12 plays, keyed by a 33-yard completion from DiGirolamo to
BRIAN REITMEYER on fourth down to give the Red Hawks the ball at the Iona 9. A pass interference penalty on third down gave Montclair a fresh set of downs and the Red Hawks capitalized as DiGirolamo hit
JASPER HANKINS from six-yards out to pull MSU within 23-19 with 4:42 remaining.
However, the rally would end there as Iona ran out the rest of the clock. Briden, who finished 12-of-19 for 230 yards, hit Mulroy on an 18-yard completion on 3rd-and-6 to seal the game.
DirGiralomo finished 21-of-39 for 311 yards and two interceptions to go along with his two touchdowns.
ERIC MAGRINI finished with seven catches for 78 yards while Hankins had six for 95 yards.
KEITH MIGLIORINO had 14 tackles in the loss for the Red Hawks.
MORGAN BURKLOW had 11 in a reserve role.
Iona outgained MSU, 354-324, including a 124-13 advantage on the ground.
