Montclair, NJ – The abbreviated Montclair State football season comes to a close as the Red Hawks host local rival William Paterson under the lights of Sprague Field.

ON THE AIR:
YouTube - Red Hawk Sports Network (Jack Barteck)

THE TEAMS:
Montclair State is looking to bounce back from its 20-13 loss to Wesley at Sprague Field two weeks ago. Montclair fell behind 14-0, but closed to within a touchdown as quarterback JA'QUILL BURCH scampered nine yards early in the fourth quarter. MSU created a turnover on the next possession but couldn't come up with the tying score. JALEN HARRIS, who was named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, finished with 11 tackles as did ZACK ZACCONE. MICHAEL STEFKOVICH posted 10 tackles.
 
After having their first two contests of the abbreviated spring canceled the Pioneers  will take to the field for the first time since their 2019 season finale. William Paterson returns its top two rushers from a year ago in Terrique Riddick  and Marcel Mason who combined for 1100 yards and 14 touchdowns. Also back is wide receiver Siraj Abdul-Malik (35 catches 389 yds.). Defensively, linebacker Sean Maldonato (52 tackles) and cornerback Devyn Blount (four interceptions) return.
 

THE COACHES:
Dustin Johnson (3^rd Season): 2-18
Rick Giancola (38^th season): 254-128-2


KEY PLAYERS:

Montclair State
JA'QUILL BURCH (Sr., QB, Elizabeth, NJ)
29-53, 499 YDS., 2 TD, 3 INT

ABELLANY MENDEZ (So., RB, Rutherford, NJ)
27 ATT, 76 YDS., 1 TD

MICHAEL STEFKOVICH (So., LB, Vernon, NJ)
17 TKLS, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery

JALEN HARRIS (Sr., DB, Carteret, NJ)
13 TKLS, 2 Pass Breakups


William Paterson ('19 Statistics)
Terrique Riddick (So., RB, Bridgeville, DE)
145 ATT, 754 YDS 8 TDs, 75.4 YDS/G

Siraj Abdul-Malik (Jr., WR, Hillside, NJ)
35 REC., 389 YDS, 1 TD

Sean Maldonato (Jr., LB, Haskell, NJ)
52 TKLS, 2 FUMB. REC.

Devyn Blount (Fr., DB, 5-10, Long Branch, NJ)
41 TKLS, 4 INT, 7 Pass Breakups


TEAM STATS

Montclair State
Total Offense/Defense: 334.5 / 283.5
Scoring Offense/Defense: 27.0 / 16.0
Rushing Offense/Defense: 82.5 /110.5
Passing Offense/Defense: 252.0 / 173.0

William Paterson ('19)
Total Offense/Defense: 235.8 / 322.7
Scoring Offense/Defense: 13.6 / 26.7
Rushing Offense/Defense: 115.5 / 126.4
Passing Offense/Defense: 120.3 / 196.3


ALL-TIME SERIES: (Montclair State Leads 45-3-1)
Separated by nine miles, the series between the Red Hawks and Pioneers has been dominated by MSU, which has captured 45 of the 49 previous meetings. The first contest came in October 1971 with Montclair State posting a 35-6 victory at Sprague Field. In fact, MSU won 19 of the first 20 meetings with the teams playing to a 7-7 tie in 1979. William Paterson picked up its first victory in 1991 with a 27-12 victory in Wayne and added another in 1993 knocking off the Red Hawks, 26-23. Following that Pioneer victory, Montclair State recorded 22 consecutive wins that was ended in 2016 with an 18-13 loss. The Red Hawks registered a 36-6 victory the last time the teams met in 2019.

LAST 5 MEETINGS
11/9/19: MSU 36, WPU 6 (at MSU)
11/10/18: MSU 24, WPU 0 (at WPU)
11/11/17: MSU, WPU 20 (at MSU)
10/1/16: WPU 18, MSU 13 (at WPU)
10/3/15: MSU 64, WPU 7 (at MSU)