Newport, RI – Junior quarterback JA'QUILL BURCH threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns as Montclair State used big plays to earn its first victory in a 28-11 win at Salve Regina University on Saturday afternoon.

Running back CRAIG MERKLE rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown as the Red Hawks (1-1) limited the Seahawks (0-2) to just 217 total yards in winning for the fifth time in seven all-time meetings.

The Red Hawks put points on the board on their first possession of the game. Three runs by Merkle pushed the ball out to the Salve Regina 48. Faced with a 3^rd-and-9 from the Seahawks' 47, Burch found CARSEN JOHNSON for a touchdown as MSU led 7-0 with 11:49 left in the opening quarter.

Montclair forced a punt on the Salve Regina's first touch with a punt going into the end zone for a touchback. On the first play, Burch connected with MIKE MANZO-LEWIS for an 80-yard touchdown extending the lead to 14-0 with just under nine minutes left in the first.

A short punt from deep in its own territory by Montclair late in the period helped lead to the Seahawks' first score. Taking over at the MSU 31, Salve Regina moved to the Montclair 12 before the drive stalled .Angelo DiSanto connected from 29 yards out making the score 14-3 six seconds into the second quarter.

Sophomore defensive back MATT ZACCONE would set up Montclair State's next score midway through the second. Zaccone intercepted Tyler McGovern and retuned the pick to the Salve 49. Three plays later, Burch hit KASON CAMPBELL for a 44-yard score extending the Red Hawks' advantage to 21-3 with 7:02 to go before halftime.  Salve's Brian Velez helped get two points back for the Seahawks with three minutes remaining Velez blocked a Red Hawk punt that was recovered by Montclair in the end zone for a safety and a 21-5 lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, Salve pulled closer in the fourth as Mike Nestor hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jack Maguire with 14:44 left in the final quarter. The Seahawks attempted to go for two, however ISAIAH JAMES intercepted the two-point pass as Montclair led 21-11.

Montclair State put the game away with three minutes left as Merkle raced for a career-best 71-yard touchdowns run.

Burch completed 12-of-22 passes in the game with Johnson grabbing four for 117 yards. ZACK ZACCONE led the MSU defense with nine tackles in addition to picking off a pass. ADENS GEORGES totaled seven with BRENNAN RAY, Rodney DiPrenda and BRANDON BURDGE collecting six apice. JALEN HARRIS also intercepted a pass.

Montclair State will have the week off and return to action on Saturday, September 28 when it travels to Geneva, NY to face Hobart College at 1:00 pm.