Danbury, NJ (10/23/04) - Senior quarterback Mike Passero completed 21 of 35 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns as Montclair State University defeated Western Connecticut State University, 27-7 before a Homecoming crowd of 1,566 at Westside Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon.

Passero threw touchdowns of 18, five and 13 yards, respectively as the Red Hawks improved to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. WestConn, 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the league, have now lost three straight games for the first time since 1997.

Freshman linebacker SAL FAMA picked off three passes as he tied the Montclair State single-game record for interceptions last done by Ron Broking against Rowan in November 2000.

Jason Adamson put the Colonials up 7-0 when he scored on a 17-yard touchdown run with just 2:01 elapsed in the game. That would be the only points WestConn would put up on the scoreboard on the afternoon. The Colonials would turn the ball over on four of their six succeeding possessions including two of Joe Dimeglio's three interceptions and fumbles by Adamson and Dave Cournoyer. They would punt the ball once and turn the ball over on downs on their other two possessions before intermission.

Passero found ERIC FERRIOL for an 18-yard touchdown reception with 36 seconds remaining in the first quarter to end a 14-play 62-yard drive that ate up 4:53 on the game clock. Midway through the second quarter Passero connected with CHRIS BECKER with a five-yard TD toss and the Red Hawks pulled ahead, 14-7.

BILL CHRISTOPHER, who normally has been relegated to the kick-off duties for the Red Hawks, kicked his first of two field goals on the day, his first from 31 yards with 2:15 remaining before intermission. STEVE ARMSTRONG, who pulled in a game-high seven catches for 110 yards, gave Montclair State a 17-7 advantage with a 13-yard scoring catch with 3:47 remaining in the third stanza. Exactly two minutes later Christopher dialed in his second field goal, this one from 21 yards away.

EUGENE VICK guided the Red Hawks ground attack, finishing the day with 69 yards on 33 carries.

Adamson led all runners with 102 yards on 15 carries. Dimeglio completed just 18 of 37 passes for 176 yards on the day. His top two receivers, Adamis Gonzalez and Vincent Sheperis were held at bay with five catches for 24 yards and two receptions for 20 yards, respectively. Cournoyer led the Colonials receiving corps with six catches for 100 yards. WestConn turned the ball over six times with two of three fumbles lost, Dimeglio's three picks and an interception on Sean Murray's only pass attempt.

FRED DEFINIS and MORGAN BURKLOW each had six tackles for Montclair State, which forced six turnovers in the contest. Derrick Morrison, who had the other MSU pick, and SHAWN MURRAY each had five tackles.