Glassboro, NJ (11/12/05)-  The Montclair State football team dropped their final game of the season on Saturday as the Red Hawks fell to Rowan University, 31-14 at John Page Stadium.

Montclair State, which will be among the teams in consideration for an ECAC bid, fell to 5-4 overall and finished 4-2 in the NJAC as its four-game winning streak was snapped.

 The Red Hawks jumped out to a 7-0 lead as they went 67 yards in nine plays on their second possession of the game. ERIC FERRIOL hit BRIAN REITMEYER for nine yards on a third-down play and three runs put the ball at the Rowan 9. Following a timeout, RYAN MCCOACH dashed around the left side for the touchdown, his sixth of the season with 6:51 remaining in the opening quarter.

But that would be it for the MSU offense until the latter part of the game. Meanwhile, after struggling early on, Rowan began to put things together and scored on five consecutive possessions bridging the second and third quarters.

An intercpetion by Todd Trout helped set up the Profs' first score, a four-yard run by Nadyr Albri midway through the second qaurter, tying the game. On Rowan's next possession, Joe Rankin hit Sakeen Wright from eight yards out as the Profs took a 14-7 halftime lead.

In the second half, Rowan used a gadget play to set up the next score as wide receiver Joe D'Imperio hit Phil Silva on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Matias Spahn extended the Rowan lead to 24-7 with 9:22 to play in the third as he connected on a 31-yard field goal. Rankin capped Rowan's scoring with a 17-yard pass to tight end Brian Jenkins with 5:04 remaining in the quarter.

Montclair State would get its final touchdown as Ferriol hit tight end ROB DOMKE from seven yards out with 6:27 to play in the game.

Ferriol finished 19-of-33 for 292 yards, but was pressured the entire game by the Rowan defense, which racked up 11 sacks in the game, including five by Randy Tosh. Freshman A.J. Lettizia had five receptions for 111 yards while RASHON WALKER added four catches for 72 yards.

McCoach had 64 yards on 27 carries as the MSU ground game. Montclair State had 297 yards of offense in the game, the same total as the Profs.

For the Red Hawk defense, seniors MORGAN BURKLOW and TROY BISHOP each had 11 tackles while sophomore linebacker SAL FAMA added 10, a sack and a forced fumble.