Montclair, NJ (9/23/06) – Junior running back RYAN MCCOACH (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) rushed for 176 yards and scored two touchdowns while quarterback MICHAEL JUMP (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) was an efficient 17-of-22 for 145 yards and two scores as Montclair State scored 27 unanswered points in a 27-3 victory over Salisbury University in NCAA Division III football action at Sprague Field on Saturday afternoon.

Fullback Vin Varcadipane ( Totowa , NJ / Passaic Valley ) pulled in a career-high eight passes for the Red Hawks (2-1), who defeated the Sea Gulls for the eighth time in nine meetings. Quarterback Ronnie Curley ( Ellicott City , MD /Howard)  had 93 yards rushing for Salisbury (1-3), which has dropped three straight following a 32-14 season-opening win over Washington and Jefferson.

Salisbury struck first with just under six minutes remaining in the first quarter as Brendan Kincaid ( Cambridge , MD / Cambridge ) connected from 28 yards out to cap a 12-play, 69-yard drive. Curley had the big play in the drive with a 34-yard run to move the ball down to the Montclair 21.

But the Red Hawks answered right back taking the ensuing kickoff 78 yards in a drive that bridged the first and second quarters. Jump hit A.J. LETIZIA ( Dumont , NJ / Dumont ) on a 3-for-4 to keep the drive alive and McCoach accounted for 54 yards, including a 13-yard scamper on 3 rd-and-2 that brought the ball to the Salisbury 4. Two plays later, McCoach bulled in from a yard out to give MSU a 7-3 lead it would take into halftime.

Montclair State started the second half by taking the opening kickoff and marching 81 yards in nine plays to boost its lead to 13-3. Jump scrambled 10 yards for a first down and then hit Varcadpiane for six yards for another first down. McCoach then busted loose for a 38-yard run to bring the ball to the Salisbury , 21. Varcadipane then pulled in another pass for 12 yards down to the Salisbury 7. Two plays later, Jump hit Letizia near the left boundary line of the end zone for the touchdown.

McCoach would score his second touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 20-3. Jump hit RASHON WALKER ( Belmar , NJ /Manasquan) for 11 yards on the drive and a pass interference penalty on 3 rd down helped keep the drive going. McCoach, who ran the ball a career-high 34 times, finished off the drive running the final 28 yards, including a nine yard run with 12:31 to play.

A short field set up MSU's final score as the Red Hawks went 48 yards in seven plays. McCoach had 16 yards to start the drive and Jump's eighth connection with Varcadipane moved the ball to the Salisbury 25. After McCoach added two more runs for seven yards, Jump found Walker down the seam and in the end zone for a touchdown and the final 27-3 margin.

Walker (39 yards) and Letizia (39 yards) each had three receptions for Montclair State , which amassed 346 yards of offense in the game. The Red Hawks also held a huge time of possession advantage as it had the ball for 36:27 in the game, 19:59 of the second half. Montclair was also 7-of-11 in the game on third downs.

For Salisbury , which accounted for 230 yards, Curley ran 12 times while backup Justyn Lankford (Lusby, MD/Patuxent) had 34 yards rushing.

Defensively for the Red Hawks, linebacker CORNELL HUNT ( North Brunswick , NJ / North Brunswick ) finished with 10 tackles, including a sack while defensive back DERRICK SIMMONS (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) also had 10 tackles to go along with two pass breakups. Ryan Hesnan ( Brick Township , NJ / Brick Township ) and Jarrell Chandler ( Salisbury , MD /Wicomico) each had six tackles with Chandler registering the lone Sea Gulls sack.

Montclair State returns to action next week as they open New Jersey Athletic Conference on Saturday, September 30. The Red Hawks will host The College of New Jersey in the renewal of the oldest active collegiate football rivalry in New Jersey at 6:00 pm.