Wayne, NJ – Montclair State scored the first points and the last points, but in between William Paterson scored enough points as the Pioneers upended the Red Hawks 18-13 on Saturday afternoon.
Montclair fell to 2-2 on the year 1-2 in the NJAC as their 22-game winning streak against WPU came to an end. MSU last fell to the Pioneers on October 16, 1993 at Wightman Stadium 26-23 and it lost to its local rival for just the third time in 46 all-time meetings (42-3-1).
A Pioneer fumble on a backwards pass resulted in a JOSHUA BETTS recovery and 25-yard touchdown run. The extra point hit the right upright, and Montclair State owned a 6-0 edge with 10:10 remaining in the first quarter.
Junior running back Aqeel Daniels-Lundy ripped off a 20-yard run through a huge hole on the left side on fourth-and-three at the MSU 29-yard line. Three plays later on the first snap of the second period, Isaiah Diaz-Mays lofted a pass towards the back-left corner of the end zone and Anthony DiMarsico was able to get one foot down in bounds, a seven-yard score. DiMarsico then ran a quick draw to the right side for the two-point conversion, and the Pioneers owned an 8-6 edge.
Senior defensive back Pat Moranintercepted MSU freshman quarterback RYAN ADZIMA along the WP sideline, and on the very next play Diaz-Mays threw over the top of the coverage to DiMarsico for a 47-yard TD. Sophomore Nick DeAngelis kicked the extra point to expand the Pioneers' lead to 15-6 with 6:44 to play before halftime.
A William Paterson fumble gave the Red Hawks the ball near midfield early in the third quarter, but the WP defense forced a three-and-out. The two teams traded punts until a Montclair State fumble of a punt return was recovered by junior defensive lineman Omar Mahmoud at the MSU-7. Four plays later, DeAngelis connected on a 26-yard field goal and the Pioneers owned an 18-6 edge 70 seconds before the end of the third period.
Another William Paterson fumble gave the Red Hawks the ball on the WP-47 with 3:37 left in the game. Montclair State advanced the ball to the WP-11, where Adzima found junior wide receiver JULANEE PRINCE for a touchdown. The PAT was successful, and MSU trailed 18-13 with 3:23 to play.
A successful on-side kick gave the Red Hawks hope for a final scoring drive, but two incompletions and a Mahmoud sack for -8 yards left it fourth-and-18 at the WP-44. A 10-yard pass completion turned the ball over to the Pioneers on downs, and they took a knee three times in victory formation to run the final 1:54 off the clock.
Diaz-Mays went 10-for-21 for 129 yards and two touchdowns, while Daniels-Lundy carried 25 times for 82 yards. DiMarsico caught six passes for 104 yards and two scores.
Tyler Gross finished with 12 tackles, including 4.0 for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Senior linebacker Nick Freeman made 10 stops (1.5 TFL), and senior defensive back Craig Kimbrough added seven tackles (four solo) and a pass break-up. Moran posted six stops and an interception.
Adzima went 9-for-27 for 143 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Senior running back JOHN DISTEFANO had 16 attempts for 44 yards, and Prince hauled in three passes for 52 yards and a TD.
Junior defensive lineman VINCENT CORDASCO collected 12 tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) for the Red Hawks. Sophomore defensive lineman JAKE WEBER added 11 stops and a forced fumble.
