Frostburg, MD (09/21/03) - Sophomore quarterback JOHN DIGIROLAMO (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) threw two touchdown passes and the Montclair State defense forced seven turnovers as the Red Hawks evened their record with a 27-3 rout of Frostburg State on Sunday afternoon. The game was pushed back to Sunday after rains from Hurricane Isbael left Bobcat Stadium to wet to play on Saturday.

The Red Hawks (1-1) forced four fumbles and picked off three passes as they defeated Frostburg (1-1) for the third time in as many meetings. Last year, MSU held off a late Bobcat rally for a 30-27 victory. In that game, Montclair forced five turnovers. Senior linebacker RAY MEYER (Hasrbouck Heights, NJ/Hasbrouck Heights) had seven tackles and two sacks as Montclair State limited Frostburg to only 220 yards of offense in the game and also recorded six sacks. In two games this season, the Red Hawk defense has forced 11 turnovers.

The turnover theme was set on the opening kickoff as DOUG ROTHACKER (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff to give Montclair the ball at the Frostburg 25 yardline. But the Red Hawks couldn't capitalize as a 43-yard field goal attempt went wide. Still, Montclair took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter as it took possession at its own 23 and moved 77 yards. DiGirolamo connected with BRIAN REITMEYER (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) on passes of 19 and 40 yards, the latter putting the ball at the FSU 1. On the next play EUGENE VICK (Newark, NJ/Hillside) went in for the touchdown.

Montclair nearly allowed Frostburg to get back into the game early in the second quarter as a Red Hawk fumble gave the Bobcats the ball at the MSU 34. Frostburg moved to the 21-yard line, but the drive stalled as linebacker BRIAN DECARLO (Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) intercepted a pass at the six. Three plays later, MSU extended the lead to 13-0 at DiGirolamo hit STEVE ARMSTRONG (Paterson, NJ/St. Mary's) on an 85-yard touchdown catch and run. It was the longest pass reception by a Montclair receiver since 2000 when Ed Collins connected with Jamel Dorsey on an 83-yard TD against The College of New Jersey.

Frostburg got on the board with 3:14 left before halftime as Nick Quisgard booted a 42-yard field goal. That came after an interception, one of four by Montclair in the first half. In fact, the Bobcats had a chance to pull closer right before half as Anthony Graham scooped up a fumble and brought it back to the MSU 18 with 18 seconds left. But again, the Montclair defense held and VIN IACHETTA (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) blocked Quisgard's 23 yard attempts to keep the score 13-3 in favor of Montclair at the break.

In the third quarter, JOHN LENNOX (Carteret, NJ/Carteret), who returned two interceptions for TD's against Frostburg last season, forced and recovered a fumble at the Frostburg 14. On the next pay DiGirolamo tossed a screen pass to SCOTT WISNIEWSKI (Elmwood Park, NJ/Elmwood Park), who then raced 14 yards for the touchdown and a 20-3 lead.

Junior cornerback Derrick Morrison (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) capped off the scoring as he turned the seventh FSU miscue into a 60-yard interception return for a 27-3 lead with 5:57 to play.
Montclair State struggled offensively in the game and managed just 25 yards rushing in the contest but did outgain the Bobcats 239-220. DiGirolamo was 11-of-28 for 214 yards and also threw two interceptions. Amrstrong finished with three catches (92 yards) as did Reitmeyer (81 yards). Grant Burrough, who threw four interceptions at MSU last year, was 22-of-43 for 163 yards and three INT's. Mike Kitchen was the leading rusher in the game with 71 yards on 15 carries.

MORGAN BURKLOW (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) had 10 tackles, while safeties PAUL GOLDEN (Seaside Park, NJ/Central Regional) and TROY BISHOP (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) and Lennox had nine tackles apiece.