Doylestown, PA – Senior quarterback RYAN DAVIES threw for 258 yards and a pair of touchdowns while running back DENZEL NIEVES rushed for 107 yards and a score however Montclair State dropped its season opener to Delaware Valley, 27-24 at James Work Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Sophomore linebacker JOSHUA BETTS registered eight tackles and a pair of sacks but it wouldn't be enough as the Red Hawks (0-1) suffered their fourth consecutive season-opening loss and second straight against Delaware Valley.

A penalty on the opening kickoff backed MSU deep in its own territory and a short punt gave the Aggies the ball at the MSU 30 on the second possession of the game. Delaware Valley took advantage of the short field cashing in with a touchdown as Danny Farley ran in from three yards out. JOHN DISTEFANO blocked the extra point as the hosts led 6-0 with 11:26 left in the first quarter.

Montclair state answered later in the quarter with a 90-yard drive. Davies connected with Doug Pandolpho for 12 yards before finding AARON WILLIAMS on a 55-yard completion moving the ball to the DelVal 13 yardline. Nieves ripped off a 12-yard run and then plunged in from a yard out as the Red Hawks led 7-6.

It stayed that way until late in the second quarter when the Aggies came up with a huge momentum changer. With the Red Hawks driving late in the half, DelVal's Rashaad Lighty came up with sack on Davies forcing a fumble that was scooped up by Marc Isaac at midfield. Issac raced 50 yards for the touchdown as the Aggies jumped back in front 13-7 at halftime.

Momentum seemed to jump back to Montclair's favor early in the third as JOE FALATO and MICHAEL KLIMEK came up with a stop on a Farley keeper on 4^th-and-1 at the MSU 48. The Red Hawks used that change of possession to their advantage and marched down to the Aggies' 2. A third-down incompletion seemed to stall the drive however a penalty gave MSU new life with a first down at the one. Nieves scampered around the right side for what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown but the play was nullified for a holding call and Montclair would have to settle for a 25-yard field goal from FRANK SCHNEEBERGER cutting the lead to 13-10 with 5:57 remaining.

DelVal immediately answered with a 72-yard drive on the ensuing possession extending the lead to 20-10 however that was countered by Montclair with a 71-yard drive, 42 of which came on a Davies to Williams completion down to the Aggies 16. Davies hooked up with Pandolpho from five yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter bringing MSU within 20-17 with 14:53 to play.

The back and forth continued with Delaware Valley pulling out to a 27-17 lead after Tyler Bing raced 44-yards for a touchdown with just over 12 minutes left. Later in the quarter, Davies found ANTHONY DORSI for a two-yard score as MSU drew to 27-24 with 4:14 to go.

MSU would get an opportunity to tie or win the game with 2:58 to play. Williams pulled in a Davies pass to midfield but that would be about as far as Montclair would get as Davies 4^th-down pass was knocked away by Shawn Miller.

Davies finished 22-of-35 through the air with Williams pulling in seven catches for 142 yards. Freshman NICK SORAVILLA had four receptions for 46 yards in his collegiate debut. JOE FALATO led MSU with nine tackles while BILL SHIMKO and Betts had eight apiece. Cornerback RAHMEIN HERRON recorded seven tackles along with ERIC GARGIULO. Herron also broke up a pair of passes.

The Red Hawks outgained the Aggies 369-332.

Montclair State will have the week off and return to action on Saturday, September 19 when it faces Salisbury University in their home and New Jersey Athletic Conference opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm.