Ewing, NJ (10/29/05) -  Montclair State University's sophomore running back RYAN MCCOACH had two scores in leading the Red Hawks past The College of New Jersey, 21-14 on Saturday in Lions' Stadium.

MSU improves to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the NJAC keeping their conference title hopes alive with the victory. After a bye week, the Red Hawks face Rowan in their season finale on November 12 and a win force a three-way tie for first place between MSU, Rowan and Cortland. A tie-breaking criteria would then be used to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

 TCNJ drops to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the NJAC.

 The series history between TCNJ and MSU is the oldest active collegiate rivalry in the state of New Jersey. With the win in 2005, MSU now owns a 45-26-2 lead in the series, which commenced in 1929.

 McCoach finished with 75 rushing yards on 29 carries. He put the Red Hawks on the scoreboard first with a 25 yard run at 12:41 in the first quarter and added what would be the game-winning score on a one yard run in the third quarter with 9:49 left.

 MSU led 14-0 before TCNJ capitalized on a muffed punt and was able to recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. TCNJ's freshman Justin Laurence  recovered the ball in the endzone to put TCNJ on the scoreboard with 13:19 left in the third quarter.

 MSU would add an insurance score on the following series to cap a six-play, 48 yards drive off a Lion turnover as McCoach ran the ball one yard for the score.

 The Lions would rally late in the game and threaten in the fourth quarter as sophomore quarterback Jeff Struble got the Lions to the Red Hawk 21 yard line before he was intercepted by senior defensive back FRED DEFINIS with 0:42 left to play, only to have MSU fumble the ball on the return and recover the ball on the Red Hawk 23 yards line with 16 seconds left to play. Struble would throw another interception and end the Lions' hopes to tie the game.

 MSU's senior quarterback ERIC FERRIOL  finished with a 10-19 effort with 125 yards on the game. He added a 31 yard touchdown pass in the first quarter (0:46) to junior receiver FRED CARTER. Carter finished with 37 yards on the day, while senior BRIAN REITMEYER led the team with 59 yards on the day.

 For TCNJ, Struble finished with a 18-for-35 effort for 190 passing yards was sacked six times. Senior Alan Kotteles  had five catches for 79 yards, while junior Ryan Ross had seven catches for 74 yards.

 MSU's sophomore linebacker SAL FAMA  had eight tackles with a fumble recovery and two breakups, while senior DeFinis had eight tackles and a 12-yard interception return. DERRICK SIMMONS had five tackles and five pass breakups giving him 19 for the season, breaking SHAWN MURRAY's single-season mark of 17 set two years ago.

MSU held the Lions to just nine net rushing yards, while TCNJ held the Red Hawks had nine net rushing yards as well as TCNJ's defense gave up just 134 total yards in the game.