Dover, DE (11/27/10) - Montclair State's run in the NCAA Division III Playoffs came to an end on Saturday as the Red Hawks fell to No. 1 overall seed and third-ranked Wesley College, 44-7 in the second round at Scott D. Miller Stadium.
The loss ended the Red Hawks' season at 10-2 as Montclair matched the single-season record for wins with its second straight and fifth 10-win season in program history.
Wesley, which now advances to the quarterfinals next week against Mary-Hardin Baylor, took advantage of three MSU turnovers as the Wolverines (11-0) turned those miscues in to 17 points, including one on the opening drive as Marcus Wilson returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown for a 7-0 lead 2:20 into the contest.
Junior
DAN KEEGAN scored the lone touchdown for Montclair as he pulled in a 25-yard pass from
JAMES MELODY in the fourth quarter. Defensively, senior linebacker
ED KIRSCHENBAUM had 15 tackles, including three for losses and a forced fumble. Senior safety
MARIO MCLEAN added 14 tackles while cornerback
GARY KNOEPPEL added 10 tackles.
MSU was making its 10th appearance overall and second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. The Red Hawks matched the single-season win mark set by the 1981 squad and equaled in 1985, 1986 and 2009. It is the second time that Montclair had posted back-to-back 10-win campaigns.
