Montclair, NJ (10/28/06) – Junior running back RYAN MCCOACH (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) scored from three yards on the Montclair State's first possession in overtime and linebacker CORNELL HUNT (North Brunswick, NJ/North Bruswick) intercepted a pass on Rowan's third-play from scrimmage in the period as the Red Hawks scored the final 17 points and shocked the No. 7 Profs, 27-20 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference football matchup at Sprague Field on Saturday afternoon.

Senior placekicker Vin Doffont (North Arlington, NJ/St. Mary's) connected from 43 yards out with nine seconds left to force the extra period as Montclair State snapped its two-game losing streak and improved to 5-3 overall, 3-2 in the NJAC. Junior MIKE AJADI (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) blocked two extra points and a punt for MSU, which defeated Rowan for just the third time in the last seven meetings and first time at home since 2000.

Senior quarterback Mike Orihel (Trenton, NJ/Central Bucks West) threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns for Rowan, which fell to 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the NJAC. The Profs also fell to 21-25 against Montclair State all time.

In the overtime, Rowan won the toss and elected to play defense giving the Red Hawks the first possession. MICHAEL JUMP (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) hit FRED CARTER (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) for 11 yards to the Rowan 16 and McCoach converted a 3rd-and-1, and then added 11 more and another first down as MSU moved the ball to the three. After an incompletion, McCoach drove through the nation's No. rushing defense for the touchdown and a 27-20 lead.

Rowan took possession and Vincent Graff (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) tried an end-around option pass that was thwarted by lineman ANDREW ACKERMAN (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield)  for a sack. Orihel then hit Will Barnes (Bridgeton, NJ/Salem) for a three-yard gain, but on the next play Hunt stepped in front of pass over the middle to clinch the game and send the MSU sideline into a frenzy.

The Profs had a chance to increase the lead late in the fourth quarter, however Rowan could not capitalize on an opportunity after Montclair State fumbled away a punt return with 4:18 to play. With the ball at the MSU 45, Orihel converted a third down with an 11-yard completion and John Impagliazzo (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland) rushed 19 yards to the MSU 10. The drive stalled and Matias Spahn (Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) came on to attempt a 36-yard field goal. However, the Profs gambled on a fake and holder Sal Calacirua (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township) was taken down for a 12-yard loss giving the ball back to Montclair.

The Red Hawks then moved 43 yards aided by two Rowan pass interference penalties. In between the flags, Jump hit A.J. Leittizia (Dumont, NJ/Dumont) on a 10-yard completion. After the second foul, Jump found Carter for 14 yards to the Rowan 26 and with the clock ticking inside 20 seconds, Montclair got up to the line and spiked the ball with 15 left. Doffont then came on and connected on his 43-yarder into a slight wind to tie the game at 20-20.

Rowan took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter as Orihel hit Jim Migliore (Jackson, NJ/Jackson) on a 41-yard touchdown toss with 11:25 to play. Ajadi would block the extra point as the Profs held on to the six-point lead into the second. Montclair State would take the lead with 10:39 left as Jump connected with Carter on a 78-yard catch and run for a 7-6 MSU advantage. Rowan then responded with their 80-yard drive capped off by Orihel's second TD pass – a 54-yard one to Migliore down the sideline. The Red Hawks cut the lead back to 14-10 before the half as McCoach accounted for 34 yards on the ground to set up Doffont's 41-yard field goal with 1:11 before halftime.

In the second half, the Profs took the opening kickoff and went 65 yards to build a 20-10 lead as Orihel found Emory Lester (Browns Mills, NJ/Pemberton) down the right sideline for a 45-yard touchdown with 12:31 to play in the third. Ajadi would again come through, getting a piece of the extra point attempt that sailed wide keeping the margin at 10. Late in the period, the Red Hawks were backed up to their own 9, but went on a 91-yard drive to trim the lead to 20-17. Jump hit Carter for 16-yards on 3rd-and-9 to keep the drive going and a 19 yard catch by JEFF PAPCUN (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) brought the ball to the Rowan 40. Two plays later, Jump found BRANDON FRONJIAN (Palisades Park, NJ/Palisades Park) for a 32-yard strike to the Rowan 8. Two plays later, Jump found a slanting Carter on the right side for the touchdown.

McCoach finished with 80 yards on 29 carries for the Red Hawks while Carter had five receptions for 127 yards. Jump completed 14-of-33 passes, including 8-of-his-last 11. Hunt, the NJAC's leading tackler, finished with 14 while Russ Comune (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock) had six tackles and a breakup.

Oirhel was 13-of-31 for 178 yards for Rowan, including five catches for 119 yards by Migliore. Impagliazzo carried 16 times for 40 yards. Calaciura and Randy Tosh (Columbia, NJ/North Warren) each had six tackles with Tosh getting 1.5 sacks as the Profs collected five on the afternoon.  

Montclair State outgained the Profs, 292-237 in the game in total offense.

Both teams return to action next week as Montclair State makes the short nine-mile trip to Wayne, NJ to take on backyard rival William Paterson.