Montclair, NJ (10/22/05)- Senior quarterback
ERIC FERRIOL threw three touchdowns and sophomore running back
RYAN MCCOACH rushed for 190 yards as Montclair State won itsthird straight with a 36-13 victory over Western Connecticut inNew Jersey Athletic Conference Football action at a rainy SpragueField on Saturday evening.
Senior tight end
ROB DOMKE pulled down a pair of short touchdown receptions as the Red Haws improved to 4-3 overall, 3-1 in the conference defeating the Colonials (4-3, 2-2 NJAC) for the sixth time in seven career meetings. Joe DiMeglio had a pair of touchdowns for Western Connecticut, which opened the game with an 80-yard drive, but managed just 63 the rest of the way.
The Colonials took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 11 plays as Jason Adamson ran for 38 of those yards, including a 21-yard run and a two-yard gain on a 4th-and-1 to keep the drive going. Four players later,DiMeglio hit Vin Sheperis for a 22-yard touchdown strikewith 9:21 left. But Montclair State answered back 37 seconds later with a 72-yard drive - all by McCoach, who ran twice for 24 yards before pulling in a screen pass and racing 48 yards, tying the game.
A personal foul penalty on the MSU touchdown helped give the Colonials good field possession,but after three incomplete passes, Vinny Cosentino punted a ball that put the Red Hawks on their heels at their own 1 yard line. Montclair State then responded with their longest recorded drive in school history – 99 yards in 14 plays. Ferriol hit
SHAUN PERRYMAN on 3rd-and-6 from the MSU 5 for 11 yards to keep the drive going. McCoach and Ferriol combined for 34 yards rushing before Ferriol hit Perryman again this time for 13 yards to midfield.A 14 yard run by McCoach and 14-yard gain by Ferriol got the bal lto WCSU 6 and after a short run by McCoach, Ferriol hit Domke in the middle of the end zone from two yards out putting MSU in front14-7 with 1:18 left in the opening period.
On the Colonials next possession,Western Connecticut tried a bit of trickery as James Jordan tried to hit DiMeglio on an option pass, but
SAL FAMA intercepted the pass at the WCSU 30 and returned it20 yards setting up a 1st-and-goal at the 10. It was Fama's fourth interception against Western Connecticut in the last two seasons.Three plays later, McCoach bulled in from the 1 giving the Red Hawks a 21-7 lead with 14:14 to play before half. A fumble by Montclair would help set up the Colonials' last score. Taking over at theMSU 25, DiMeglio hit Sheperis for six yards on first down and then connected with Jordan, who made a diving catch near the back corner of the end zone cutting the lead to 21-13. MSU would add another score before half as McCoach, who had 115 yards in the first half,had 23 yards in a 48-yard drive that resulted in a 22-yard field goal by Vin Doffont as Montclair took a 24-13 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, a shortfield led to Montclair's final TD as it went 34 yards capped off by another Ferriol-to-Domke TD connection from four yards out making the score, 31-13 midway through the period. The final MSU points came on a safety on the first play of the fourth quarter, and a27-yard field goal by Doffont, who moved into sole possession of third place on the all-time MSU list with the kick (24 in two-plus seasons).
Ferriol was an efficient 13-of-21for 165 yards. Freshman
JARED GREENBERG ran for 54 yards as Montclair rolled up a season-high 465 yards,including 300 on the ground (55 carries). Junior Derrell Sapp had five tackles and 2 ½ sacks.
MORGAN BURKLOW had six tackles.
DiMeglio, who entered the game averaging 248 yards per game, managed just 8-of-26 for 76 yards.Sheperis had three catches for 33 yards. Western Connecticut, which was held to 22 points below their season scoring average, had 67yards rushing and 143 total yards on 46 plays. Mark Evans led the WCSU defense with 11 tackles while John Hoke and Jason Alcin added eight tackles apiece.
