Montclair, NJ– The Montclair State football team (2-1) picked up their 500^th win in program history today when they earned a 17-15 victory on homecoming night against Union (1-3) on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• 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 tired 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 teams 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

 
INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Tonight, was a special night for the program as they reached win 500 in front of a homecoming crowd.
•  Arnold was a big part of the offense tonight, carrying the ball times for 79 yards and a touchdown. He also had a team-high four catches on the night.
• NICHOLAS BURGESS collected his 14^th career double-digit tackle performance with 11 on the day and a tackle for loss.  

 
 

UP NEXT

Montclair State University opens NJAC play on the road when they take on The College of New Jersey on Saturday, Ocotber 5. Kick off that game is set for 3:00pm