Montclair, NJ – Junior quarterback Ryan Jones totaled 313 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns as Salisbury University rolled past Montclair State, 46-14 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams at Sprague Field.

Jerome Johnson rushed for 96 yards and a scored the Sea Gulls (1-1, 1-0 NJAC) scored the first 29 points of the game to snap an eight-game losing streak against Montclair State beating the Red Hawks for the first time since 1986.

Senior quarterback RYAN DAVIES threw for 248 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Red Hawks (0-1 NJAC), who are off to an 0-2 start for the second time in four years and the 16^th time in program history.

The teams traded the first four possessions, including a Salisbury stop of MSU deep in Sea Gull territory in the opening quarter. Austin Howard came up with a two-yard tackle for loss on a 4^th-and-1 at the Salisbury 24.

After Montclair pinned the Sea Gulls at their own seven, Johnson rushed for seven yards before Jones connected with Aaron Moore on a n 86-yard catch and run giving Salisbury a 7-0 lead with 5:57 to play which grew to 10-0 early in the second as Zak Osborne connected from 35 yards out with 12:55 remaining.

Salisbury added to the lead on its next possession driving 70 yards on four plays. Jones began the drive with a 39-yard run and capped it off scampering 10 yards for the touchdown extending the lead to 16-0 with 6:46 left. Jones, who was 6-of-11 through the air in the game, used his arm on the next series hitting Isaiah Taylor for 39 yards to the MSU 9. Two plays later, Johnson raced in from three yards out making the score 23-0 which the Sea Gulls took into halftime.

On the first drive of the second half, Howard picked off a tipped ball setting up Salisbury at the MSU 19. Three plays into the drive Jones connected with Johnson on a nine yard pass for a score as the teams traded touchdowns on the final five possessions of the period.

The Red Hawks got on the board on as Davies hit JULANEE PRINCE for 78 yards with 11:01 left however Dandre Dennis answered for the Sea Gulls with a five-yard rushing score for a 36-7 lead with 8:45. Montclair countered with a 75-yard drive that included a 43-yard reception by NICK SORAVILLA down to the Salisbury 22. Soravilla went for 19 more yards to the 1 before Davies found Zach Ligouri, who made a one-handed catch along the end zone sideline for the touchdown as MSU made the score 36-14 with 6:48 left.
Jones kept the ping-ponging of touchdowns going on the next drive with a 30-yard run as Salisbury pushed further back in front 43-14. Osborne added the final points on a 28-yard field goal with 6:05 to go in the fourth.

Jones rushed 14 times in the game as Salisbury rolled up 382 yards on the ground and 544 yards total. Dennis had 59 yards with Moore posting 156 all-purpose yards on – 50 on the ground and 106 receiving. Christian Wilson led the defense with eight tackles while Howard had seven.

Davies completed 20-of-36 passes in the game with DAQUAN BLAND-BENNETT pulling in a team-best six for 59 yards. Soravilla had five receptions for 81 yards. JOSHUA BETTS had nine tackles to lead the Red Hawks while BILL SHIMKO and MICHAEL KLIMEK added eight apiece.

Both teams return to action next Saturday. Salisbury is home for the first time hosting Southern Virginia while Montclair State goes on the road to Glassboro, NJ for a 7:00 pm match up with Rowan University.