Upper Montclair, NJ (9/13/03) — Senior linebacker Jesse Baker (Rutland, VT/Rutland) intercepted three passes and keyed a Springfield defense that caused five turnovers as the Pride held off Montclair State, 22-14 at a soggy Sprague Field on Saturday afternoon.

Junior quarterback Ryan Sylvia (Marion, MA/Rochester Regional) rushed for 53 yards and threw for a pair of touchdowns as Springfield (2-0) defeated Montclair State for the second times in as many meetings. The Pride won the first meeting, 31-29, in the 2000 NCAA Division III Playoffs. Montclair also dropped a season opener for the second straight year after winning five in a row from 1997-2001.

In a game that featured nine turnovers in all, the Pride thwarted a Montclair State drive late in the fourth quarter as Baker, who added five tackles and a fumble in the contest, picked off MSU quarterback JOHN DIGIROLAMO (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) at the goal line with 2:11 to play. Baker tied a school record with the pick and became the sixth player in Pride history to intercept three players in the game.

Springfield, wasn't without its own mistakes as the Pride fumbled four times, the last coming with 2:10 to play in the third quarter as Sylvia lost the ball at his own five yard line and the ball was recovered by the Red Hawks' MIKE WALLIS (Lincoln Park, NJ/Boonton) at the three. On the following play, DiGirolamo connected with tight end RICH BELLINA (Little Falls, NJ/St. Peter's Prep) to cut the deficit to 22-14. Montclair had an opportunity midway through the fourth quarter as RAY MEYER (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) blocked a punt and MSU recovered at the Springfield 42. DiGirolamo then connected with STEVE ARMSTRONG (Paterson, NJ/St. Mary's) down to the Springfield 15, however on the following play, Montclair turned the ball over.

The Red Hawks would return the favor on the next play as freshman BRIAN DECARLO (Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) forced a fumble and Lennox recovered at the at the Springfield 21. Montclair then moved the ball to the 11 where Baker ended the drive with his third interception. MSU got the ball back one last time with 17 seconds and moved to the Pride 46. However, a mishandled snap was recovered by Jason MacDonald (Brewster MA, Nauset Regional) ending the game.

Montclair State struck first in the contest as they took advantage of a Springfield fumble at the SC 20. Three plays later, DiGirolamo connected with JASPER HANKINS (Union, NJ/Union) for a 15-yard score and a 6-0 Red Hawk advantage with 10:33 left in the opening period. The Pride responded on the ensuing drive, moving 14 plays and 67 yards capped off by a one yard run by Tim Luetgens (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich). Kevin Domurat (Forestdale, MA/Sandwich) set up the score with a 22-yard run as Springfield led 7-6 after one quarter. Springfield extended the lead to 14-6 early in the second as Sylvia hit Mike Grendal (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) on a 38-yard scoring strike with 12:31 left. Montclair State would get two points back with 5:59 remaining before half when an errant snap on a punt went out of the end zone making the score 14-8 at half.

In the third, Sylvai hooked up with Louis Conte (Agawam, MA/Agawam) on a 27-yard touchdown pass to make the score 22-8 with 7:11 left. The drive was eight plays and 54 yards and was setup by Baker's second interception.

Lutgens fiished with 66 yards on the ground and Sylvai had 53 as the Pride were held to just 173 yards on the ground (207 less than it had last week against Salve Regina) and 238 in the game. Sylvia was 2-of-4 for 65 passing while Domurat had 41 yards rushing. DiGirolamo was 15-of-33 for 158 yards for Montclair State, which was held to 58 yards on the ground. Sophomore EUGENE VICK (Newark, NJ/Hillside) had 35 yards. BRIAN REITMEYER (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) had four catches for 46 yards to lead MSU, which also had two field goals blocked in the game.

Linebacker Mark Bartelini (Montrose, NY/Hendrick Hudson) had nine tackles for Springfield while Mitch Dupuis (Merrimach, NH/Merrimack) added eight. Lennox, who was playing in his first game since tearing a knee ligament last September 28th at Iona, collected 12 tackles, nine unassisted. Sophomore linebacker MORGAN BURKLOW (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) had 10 tackles with senior nose tackle MATT CHAMPION (Maplewood, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) added nine.