Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University football team travels up north for the first NJAC matchup against Vermont State Castleton on Saturday

GAME INFO
The game at Sprague Field is set for a 12:00 p.m. kickoff. Live coverage links and additional information on the event can be found at montclairathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Montclair was bested in their matchup last Saturday at home against #5/#5 Salisbury, 56-21. After both teams saw a turnover on downs inside each other's side of the field, the Sea Gulls used big gains of 27 and 13 to get down to the seven-yard line of the Red Hawks, where they punched in the game's first score. Salisbury's defense held strong and allowed big passes of 28 and 58 to score, and jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the quarter ended. Salisbury forced another punt and started just inside Montclair territory at the 49, where a run of 15 and a rushing touchdown of 34 yards gave Salisbury a commanding 28-0 lead Both defenses held each other out of the endzones for most of the second quarter. Montclair finally got itself on the board with 3:04 remaining in the quarter, when LUKE HENRICH uncorked a deep fade to GIANPAUL CORTES, who ran underneath it and outraced two defenders on his way to an 82-yard touchdown catch to cut the lead to 28-7 going into the halftime intermission. Montclair received the second-half opening kickoff, but went three-and-out. Salisbury used a seven-play, 52-yard drive to extend the lead to 35-7. The Red Hawks answered back through the air with Henrich finding KHALIL FORBES, ALEX RODRIGUEZ, and TJ KACHALA for 10+ yard gains throughout the drive. Henrich connected with Kachala on a one-yard score to put the Gulls' lead at 35-14. The Red Hawks ate into the lead with a drive that went from the end of the third and into the fourth. A six-play, 65-yard drive was finished off by another Kachala touchdown, this time from 13 yards out, and stamped the score at 35-21. Salisbury did not allow the game to get closer, generating two-straight touchdown drives and stopping Montclair on consecutive drives, including one that reached as far as the Sea Gulls 22 22-yard line. Montclair tried to put together one last-ditch effort to score, but a forced fumble and a scoop and score by the Sea Gulls ended the game at 56-21

2025 TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (2-4, 1-2 NJAC)
Passing Yards: LUKE HENRICH, 1,207
Passing Touchdowns: LUKE HENRICH, 7
Rushing Yards: DIANTE WILSON, 451
Rushing Touchdowns: DIANTE WILSON, 8
Receiving Yards: TJ KACHALA, 510
Receiving Touchdowns: TJ KACHALA, 4

Tackles: ALEX BUCHWALD, 54
Tackles for Loss: ALEX BUCHWALD, 9.5
Sacks: ALEX BUCHWALD, 2.0
Forced Fumbles: ALEX BUCHWALD, 2
Fumble Recoveries: Six Tied with 1
Interceptions: N/A
Pass Breakups: Two tied with 3


Field Goals Made: Roger Rubenetti, 4
PAT's Made: Roger Rubenetti, 14
Punting Yards Average: Roger Rubenetti, 35.61
 
CASTLETON (2-4, 0-3 NJAC)
Passing Yards: Jhai Vellon, 585
Passing Touchdowns: Jhai Vellon, 2
Rushing Yards: Mike Flores, 231
Rushing Touchdowns: Lou Guillotte, 3
Receiving Yards: Brody Tyburski, 194
Receiving Touchdowns: Five tied with 1

Tackles: Deacon Schneider, 54
Tackles for Loss: Tyler Buxton, 6.5
Sacks: Tyler Buxton, 2.0
Forced Fumbles: Tyler Buxton, 2
Fumble Recoveries: Four tied with 1
Interceptions: Three tied with 1
Pass Breakups: Two Tied with 4


Field Goals Made: Connor Chilson, 1
PAT's Made: Connor Chilson, 8
Punting Yards Average: Connor Chilson, 31.20

SCOUTING CASTLETON
The Spartans enter this game with a 2-4 overall record, but have yet to earn an NJAC win. In their last contest, they fell to TCNJ by a score of 48-7. In 2024, Castleton finished 3-7 and went 2-7 in their final season in the MASCAC. According to the 2025 NJAC Preseason Poll, the Spartans were picked to place eighth.   

SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Spartans will face each other for the first time in program history.

LAST MEETING
N/A
 
NEXT TIME OUT
Montclair State University will now head down south to Virginia for a matchup at nationally ranked #15/#15 Christopher Newport on Saturday, November 1. Kick off for the conference showdown is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.