Dover, DE (9/22/07)  – Sophomore JEFF BLISS (New Milford, NJ / New Milford) returned the second half kickoff 89 yards for what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown as No. 24 Montclair State ended No. 6 Wesley's 23-game home winning streak with 27-26 victory at Wolverine Stadium on Saturday.

The game was delayed over three hours as the teams awaited the arrival of the game officials, who were delayed in the heavy traffic around the Dover area due to the NASCAR event at nearby Dover Downs Racetrack along with a pop-up thunderstorm.

The victory put Montclair State at 3-0, the 19th time that MSU has opened the season with three consecutive wins and the first since 2001. MSU also improved to 2-1 against the Wolverines in the first meeting between the teams since 1998.

Slated for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff, the much anticipated match-up between the 7th- ranked Wolverines and the newly ranked 24th Red Hawks was shelved to 4 p.m. due to lack of an officiating crew.  The much disappointed crowd sent packing for their cars were suddenly forced to run for cover as a strong line of thunderstorms spawned out of nowhere which would have most likely forced a postponement due to lightning.  

Once the officiating crew was settled in and the kickoff in the air, Wesley marched down the field on their opening possession using 10 plays to cover 50 yards finishing with an 11-yard touchdown run by Mike Pennewell.  Pennewell, who rushed for 181-yards in the second half vs. Widener finished today with 213 yards and two scores.  Wesley kicker Collin Blugis added the extra point giving Wesley the 7-0 advantage at 10:43 of the first quarter. Showing some special teams moxie of their own, the Red Hawks returned the ensuing kickoff to the 50-yardline.  With that momentum, MSU used its own 10-play drive to knot the score at 7-7.  Quarterback MICHAEL JUMP (Toms River, NJ / Toms River South) pushed the ball across the line with a sneak and kicker MARCO CAPOZZOLI (Bloomfield, NJ / St. Joseph's (Montvale)) added the extra point.

Wesley then took their next possession down to the Red Hawks 3-yardline when the MSU defense stiffened and forced a 20-yard Collin Blugis field goal putting Wesley on top 10-7 with 1:39 left in the first quarter.MSU jumped back into the lead only 6 seconds into the second quarter on a 43-yard strike from Jump to wide out BRANDON FRONJIAN (Palisades Park, NJ / Palisades Park), however the extra point attempt was blocked by the Wolverines All-American defensive end Bryan Robinson leaving the Red Hawks with a 13-10 advantage.  With another change in the lead, it looked like a shootout was on for the rest of the game.

Much to the disheartening of the MSU faithful, Mike Pennewell tore the lead back from the Red Hawks on the first play of Wesley's next possession galloping 62-yards for the score.  Blugis added the extra point to put Wesley out front again 17-13, and heads were starting to spin.

The Red Hawks inched closer on their next possession on a 22-yard Capozzoli field goal at 11:20 of the second.  Wesley however, extended their lead to 24-16 on another big play by standout receiver Larry Beavers.  Beavers simply ran by his covering corner and caught the offering in stride from Jason Schatz.  Beavers ended the game with 3 catches for 77 yards and the score.  The Wesley defense stood its ground on the next possession forcing and MSU punt, but it was muffed by Blair Newman on the Wolverine 18-yard line and recovered by the Red Hawks.  Much to their credit, the Wesley defense withstood the change in the momentum forcing a 36-yard field goal attempt by Capozzoli which found its way through the uprights.  At the sound of the half time gun, Wesley led the visiting Red Hawks 24-19.

Used to starting off the second half with a bang, the Wolverines were stunned when Bliss slashed and weaved his way through the Wesley coverage on his way to an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.  Wesley has opened two second halves with kickoff returns for scores this season, but the Wolverines had the tables turned on them as Bliss posted the longest kickoff return for an MSU player since Mark hall in 1999 and the first return for a touchdown since 2003.  Capitalizing on the confusion, MSU quickly and successfully passed for the two point conversion as Jump hit OMAR SEVILLA (North Bergen, NJ / North Bergen) to put Montclair on top at 27-24.

At this point the Red Hawks defense stepped up its resolve and refused to let the explosive Wesley offense into the endzone.  In fact Wesley had many opportunities and excellent starting field position in the second half but was unable to put together successful scoring drives.  With the score still standing in MSU's favor, the Wolverines embarked on a long 13-play drive in the final 3 minutes of the game.  Wesley earned their way to the Red Hawks 14-yardline, but Schatz was intercepted on the goal line by CORNELL HUNT (North Brunswick, NJ / North Brunswick), who stepped in front of a pass intended for Jon Lanouette.  Schatz finished the day 17 of 37 with 204 yards one score and three INT's.  Hunt returned the ball to the MSU 20-yard line and it looked like the game was over.  

However, due to some miscommunication and well called timeouts on Wesley's behalf, the Red Hawks were forced to punt with 7 seconds remaining in the game.  In an effort to run out the clock, the MSU punter MICHAEL LAJTERMAN (Ramsey, NJ / Ramsey) ran back into the end zone for safety, but there still remained 1 second on the clock.  Now down 27-26, Wesley still had one chance left to come out on top.  MSU kicked the ball from their own 20-yard line after the safety, but Lajterman booted it to the right and out of bounds with out running the last second off the clock.  

Wesley elected to take the ball at the out of bounds spot, giving them yet one more shot at the end zone from their own 46-yard line.  However, Schatz's pass was knocked down at the goal line and MSU celebrated a well-earned victory at 27-26.

Running back RYAN MCCOACH (Rockaway, NJ / Morris Hills) finished with 32 carries for 127 yards for MSU, which was outgained in the game, 451-232. Jump was 13-of-24 for 131 yards as Sevilla and Jeff Pacun (Hazlet, NJ / Raritan) each had three receptions. Bliss had three returns totaling 142 yards. Defensively, Hunt had another solid game with 11 tackles, his third double-digit effort this season. Cornerback DOMINIQUE DIXON (Wharton, NJ / Morris Hills) had nine tackles while safety MIKE AJADI (Bloomfield, NJ . Bloomfield) added seven. Linebacker Russ Comune (Pompton Plains, NJ / Pequannock) added five tackles, a sack, forced fumble and interception in the win as Montclair forced five turnovers.