Football | 9/17/2015 10:26:00 AM

Montclair, NJ - It's a series of first for the Red Hawks this afternoon as Montclair State hosts NJAC newcomer Salisbury University on Saturday. It is the first home game of the season for MSU and the first against the Sea Gulls in nine years. It will also be the first time the teams square off as conference foes with Salisbury being one of four new members into the NJAC this season.

Both teams are coming off tough road losses two weeks ago. Montclair State fell at Delaware Valley, 27-24 while the Sea Gulls suffered a 24-23 setback at Albright College.

Quarterback RYAN DAVIES threw for a career-best 258 yards and a pair of scores while DENZEL NIEVES rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Aggies. MSU battled back from a pair of 10-point deficits but came up short in its season opener for the fourth consecutive year. JOE FALATO led the defense with nine tackles while BILL SHIMKO and JOSHUA BETTS had eight apiece with Betts recording a pair of sacks.

The Sea Gulls led 23-3 entering the fourth quarter of their game in Reading, PA however host Albright reeled off the final 21 points to take the lead. Salisbury got a chance moving to the Albright 1 in the closing seconds however a potential game-winning field goal attempt went wide. Isaiah Taylor led the team with 129 receiving yards, while adding 23 yards rushing. Senior Nick Batastini led the defense with nine total tackles.

This will be the 10th meeting between the two schools however it is the first time they will square off since 2006. After losing the first meeting 13-7 in 1986, the Red Hawks have won the last straight including a 27-3 win at Sprague Field in the last meeting.