Montclair, NJ – Quarterback Brandon Lewis rushed for 157 yards and scored a touchdown as Salisbury University picked up its fifth straight victory, knocking off Montclair State 28-10 at Sprague Field on Saturday.

Senior Malique Pratt ran for 90 yards and scored three times as the Sea Gulls (5-1), remained perfect in the NJAC at 5-0. Salisbury also collected its third straight win over the Red Hawks cutting the series deficit to 8-4.

Senior TAJ HUGGINS had 10 catches for 81 yards for Montclair State, which fell back to the .500 mark at 3-3 overall, 3-2 in the conference as its two-game winning streak came to an end.

Salisbury won the toss and elected to receive, a move that immediately paid dividends as the Sea Gulls drove 75 yards in eight plays to grab a 7-0 lead. Lewis rushed for 30 yards on the first play and added another 22 on the ground before Pratt bulled in fron a yard out with 11 minutes to play in the opening period.

Montclair State answered that with field goal six minutes later. ANTHONY TRAVISANO ripped off a 60 yards run down to the Sea Gull 15. After the drive stalled, junior HUNTER DALY connected from 25 yards out making the score 7-3 with 2:49 remaining.

A 10-play, 63-yard drive bridging the first and second quarters upped the Salisbury advantage to 14-3. Ryan Kolb's 27-yard run got the ball down to the MSU 27 and a 7-yard run by Lewis converted a third-down. Five plays later Lewis dove in from a yard out putting the Sea Gulls in front with 12:46 left in the first half.

Montclair State would draw closer late in the second half with a touchdown drive trimming the lead to 14-10. JOHN APICELLA hit KASON CAMPBELL for 10 yards to open the drive and then found Huggins for 16 more down to the Salisbury 34. Facing a 3^rd-and-4 at the 28, JULANEE PRINCE came down with 15-yard reception to the 13. Two play later Apicella connected with Prince on a short route with the latter making a series of moves before diving across the goal line with 1:07 left.

Salisbury used its first drive of the new half to extend the lead back to 11 points. The Sea Gulls marched 81 yards in 8 plays with Pratt accounting for the final 36, including a 2-yard rumble into the end zone for a 21-10 advantage with 7:24 to play.

Down 21-10 in the fourth, Montclair State gambled at its own 32 yardline on a 4^th-and-1 as Apicella's pass to BRIAN KOWALCZYK fell incomplete. The Sea Gulls needed just four plays to tack on to its lead. Pratt finished off the drive with his third score giving the visitors a 28-1 advantage with 13:28 to go.

Kolb finished with 81 yards rushing for Salisbury which gained 390 of its 399 offensive yards on the ground. John Steele had seven tackles and an interception. Dakari Ellis and Shane Gaines also had picks in the game.

Apicella finished 23-of-45 for 215 yards for Montclair State. Campbell and Prince had five receptions apiece for 63 and 46 yards respectively. Linebacker MAURO ALTAMURA led the defense with 15 tackles while NICK CATALANO and SHAON STEPHENSON recorded 10 each.

Montclair State goes out on the road next Saturday, October 21 for its next contest. The Red Hawks head to Maryland to face No. 18 Frostburg State at Bobcat Stadium. Kickoff of the NJAC contest is slated for 1:00 pm.