Montclair, NJ (09/18/04) - Senior quarterback Mike Passero threw three touchdown passes and sophomore kicker Vin Doffont kicked three field goals as Montclair State, ranked 10th in Division III, improved to 2-0 with a 29-14 victory over Frostburg State at Sprague Field on Saturday afternoon.
The win gave MSU head coach Rick Giancola his 150th career victory, making him just the second collegiate football coach in New Jersey State history to reach the plateau. Giancola, who is in his 22nd season joins The College of New Jersey's Eric Hamilton (166 wins) in that club. Giancola is 150-68-2.
Senior cornerback
SHAWN MURRAY had two interceptions and senior lineman
DARNELL WEBSTER recorded two sacks in helping MSU improve to 4-0 all-time against the Bobcats (1-1). Antoine Beale rushed for 74 yards and both Frostburg touchdowns.
Montclair State opened the scoring as it took the opening drive and moved to the Frostburg 29 before Doffont kicked a 37-yard field goal. Frostburg answered right back as it drove 70 yards in 10 plays capped off by a Beale seven yard run to make the score, 7-3. But the Red Hawks answered on their first play back on offense as Passero connected with
STEVE ARMSTRONG in stride for a 74-yard touchdown and a 9-7 Montclair advantage after one quarter.
Doffont's second 37-yarder extended the lead to 12-7 with 9:08 left before half and the Red Hawks made it 19-7 as Passero hit
ERIC FERRIOL on an 11-yard toss with just under six minutes before halftime. Frostburg would cut into the lead in the third with a 13-play, 64-yard drive that was aided by a roughing the kicker penalty on a punt.
Taking advantage, the Bobcats also converted on fourth-down inside the MSU, setting up Beale's second TD, a one-yard plunge with 2:11 left in the quarter. The Bobcats got the ball back, but Murray intercepted Jimmy Ward at the Frostburg 19 and the Red Hawks capitalized as Armstrong pulled in a five-yard pass from Passero to put Montclair up 26-14 with 12:55 to play. Doffont capped of MSU's scoring with a 29-yard field goal with 5:35 to play.
Armstrong had seven catches for 123 yards while Passero completed 9-of-20 for 153 yards.
AL HAWKINS was 4-of-7 for 51 yards.
EUGENE VICK led all ground gainers with 23 carries for 133 yards.
SAL FAMA had 10 tackles for MSU, which held Frostburg to 205 yards of total offense. Montclair State registered 342 yards, 295 coming in the first half.
Ward finished 11-of-24 for 95 yards while Gil Bolden (Middleburg, VA/Loudoun Valley) had four catches for 45 yards. Kevin Culbert (Purcellville, VA/Loudon Valley) collected 10 tackles for the Bobcats.
