Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University football team opens up their 2024 NJAC schedule with a road trip to Trenton, NJ for a faceoff with The College of New Jersey on Saturday.

GAME INFO
The game is slated for a 3:00pm start on Lion Stadium in Trenton, NJ. Live coverage links can be found at montclairathletics.com.

LAST TIME OUT
Montclair State hosted Union College for their homecoming game and came out on top with a 17-15 win, collecting the programs 500^th win. After a three-and-out to start off the game from Garnet Chargers, the Red Hawks put together a 12-play, 68-yard drive that got them into field goal range. The team tried to catch Union off guard with a field goal fake run, but could not convert and the ball was turned over on downs. The two teams were stingy on defense and did not allow any ground into the second quarter. First blood was drawn by the Red Hawks on their drive in the second drive of the second quarter that started at the 10:10 timestamp. After pinning the Chargers deep and forcing a three-and-out, the Red Hawks started at their drive at the Union 48. After a few methodical plays that drove them to the 29-yard line, AIDAN MCLAUGHLIN hit a wide-open JADEN PEART down the left sideline and he waltzed in for the score and the point after gave Montclair State University a 7-0 lead. Both teams exchanged punts before Union finally struck gold with a nine-play, 46-yard drive that was capped off by a six-yard touchdown throw and a successful two-point conversion that gave the Garnet Chargers an 8-7 edge. The Red Hawks had 52 seconds to make something happen before half and they did just that. Starting on the Union 26, a facemask penalty on a rush by CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD drove the team over midfield. That penalty was followed up by a 27-yard completion to AHMIRR ROBINSON to the 22 where GREG CASIMIR eventually kicked in a 36-yard field goal to give Montclair a 10-8 lead going into the second half On each team's first drives of the second half, they both faced 4^th down and short situations and both teams were stuffed at the line of scrimmage to force turnovers on downs. Both defenses held up again and forced punts again before the next scoring drive was put together by the Red Hawks. They once again took advantage of great field position, starting at the Union 41. Montclair converted three big third-down conversions on the drive. McLaughin found Arnold on a 10-yard dump off on 3^rd and 8, REILLY NELSON caught a reception good for 21 yards on 3^rd and 12 and a third and goal from the 10 saw Arnold take handoff, hit the edge and dive for the pylon for the score. A tacked on extra point made the game 17-8 with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter. The next drive for the Chargers came next drive where they started on their own 45 and got to the MSU 34. Faced with a 4^th and 9, they could not covert and turned the ball over on downs. The drive for the Red Hawks was a good one, starting on their own 34, they got all the way to the Union 30 and attempted a career-long field goal for Casmir that hooked left. Union took full advantage of that miss to put together a 10-play, 70-yard drive that cultivated with a seven-yard touchdown reception and it cut the lead to 17-15. The best opportunity of the game came on the final drive for Union, who converted several times with their backs against the wall, but on 4^th and 15, the wide receiver was not able to complete the conversion catch and the ball was turnover on downs for the Red Hawks to knee it out for the win
 


TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (2-1)
Passing Yards: Aidan McLaughin, 570
Passing Touchdowns: Aidan McLaughin, 3
Rushing Yards: CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD, 96
Rushing Touchdowns: HENRY LEWIS, 2
Receiving Yards: AHMIRR ROBINSON, 131
Receiving Touchdowns: Three Tied for 1
Tackles: NICHOLAS BURGESS, 29
Tackles for Loss: ARNOLD YOUNG, 4.0
Sacks: Two Tied for 1.0
Forced Fumbles: Two Tied for 1
Fumble Recoveries: N/A
Interceptions: Two Tied for 1
Pass Breakups: JALIL TERRELL, 6


Field Goals Made: GREG CASIMIR, 3
PAT's Made: ROGER RUBINETTI, 2
Punting Yards Average: MICHAEL FITZPATRICK, 37.47
 
TCNJ (2-1)
Passing Yards: Trevor Bopp, 1139
Passing Touchdowns: Trevor Bopp, 7
Rushing Yards: Jayson Schmidt, 381
Rushing Touchdowns: Jayson Schmidt, 3
Receiving Yards: Malin Jasinski, 541
Receiving Touchdowns: Malin Jasinski, 4
Tackles: Justin Kurc, 21
Tackles for Loss: Brandon Kuse, 3.5
Sacks: Brandon Kuse, 2.5
Forced Fumbles: Two Tied for 2
Fumble Recoveries: Five Tied for 1
Interceptions: Four Tied for 1
Pass Breakups: Jack Young, 6


Field Goals Made: Tim Willever, 2
PAT's Made: Tim Willever, 13
Punting Yards Average: Dominic Passero, 38.89

SCOUTING TCNJ
The Lions head into this matchup with a 2-1 record. They suffered their first loss of the season against receiving votes Muhlenberg in a shootout, 59-56. In 2023, TCNJ posted a .500 record at 5-5. In the 2024 NJAC Preseason poll, the Lions were projected to finish third.

SERIES HISTORY
An in-state and conference rivalry that has dated back to 1929, they will compete for the 90^th time in program history. The Red Hawks hold the all-time record at 56-32-2.  

LAST MEETING
Last season, Montclair rolled past The College of New Jersey, 42-7 on September 30, 2023.

UP NEXT
Montclair State is back at home on Saturday, October 12 when they host Kean for a 6:00pm slate.