Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State football team closes out its 2021 season on Saturday as the Red Hawks head to Union to face Kean University at 1:00 pm.
The Red Hawks (3-5, 2-3 NJAC) are looking to build on the momentum of the past two weeks after capturing wins over Rowan and William Paterson. Last week, MSU stunned the host Pioneers scoring 10 points in the final 3:26 of the game for a 23-22 victory.
ZAHIR WILDER pulled in a 29-yard pass from
JA'QUILL BURCH with 51 seconds left for the deciding score. Burch threw for two TDs, and the Red Hawks returned a blocked punt for a score as
TRAVIS SQUIRE scooped up the ball and brought it back 15 yards for Montclair's first touchdown.
CLARENCE WILKINS added a 44-yard scoring grab.
DIMITRI PALI posted nine total tackles, including 3.5 for loss and two sacks for the Red Hawk defense.
BRENNAN RAY made seven unassisted stops, blocked the aforementioned punt and sealed the game late with an interception.
Kean (3-5, 2-2 NJAC) has been off since dropping a 20-6 decision to the same William Paterson team back on October 30. Kicker Logan Matthews accounted for all of Kean's points as he connected on 22 and 48-yard field goals. Dante Capozzoli led the defensive unit with 12 tackles, 1.5 for a loss and half-sack and a quarterback hurry. Kyeon Taylor added four tackles, a hurry and an interception.
Saturday's game marks the 47
th meeting between the Red Hawks and Cougars that date back to 1975, a 20-6 MSU victory at Sprague Field. Montclair State has had the upper-hand mostly winning 37 of the 46 previously played contests. That includes a 41-12 win in Union, NJ back in March during the abbreviated Spring 2021 campaign. That game was highlighted by a 93-yard return by Wilder on the opening kickoff setting the tone for the Red Hawks' fourth straight win in the series.
