Montclair, NJ - The Red Hawks return to the field for their 89th season kicking off the 2019 campaign at Southern Virginia University on Saturday.

Montclair State comes into the season with heightened expectations after last year's 8-2 overall mark, the Red Hawks first eight-win campaign since 2014. After being selected eighth in the NJAC Preseason Poll in 2018, Montclair went out and finished 7-2 in league play with both losses coming by a combined nine points. This year, the Red Hawks were selected third by the conference coaches and return a host of veterans including several named to the All-NJAC squad.

Southern Virginia also brings back plenty of veteran help as it begins a new era of football in Buena Vista. Leading that group is senior running back Avika Wedge, who rushed for 1,032 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. The Knights welcome back their top two pass catchers from 2018 in Josh Newman and Kevin Adams as well as its No. 1 and No. 2 tacklers in Albert Green and Neil Davis.

This will be the sixth meeting between the teams but the first as non-conference foes. After spending the last five years as a member of the NJAC, Southern Virginia begins play in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in 2019. Montclair State has won all five previous meetings including a 24-3 victory at Sprague Field last season. MSU has posted three shutouts in the series and won 24-0 in its last trip to Buena Vista in 2017.