Newport News, VA – The Montclair State University football team (3-5, 2-3 NJAC) fought hard and had nationally-ranked #13/#14 Christopher Newport (8-0, 5-0 NJAC) on the ropes, but ultimately dropped the contest by a score of 49-42 on Saturday afternoon.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a three-and-out on the Red Hawks' opening possession, they used a short punt that set them up at the MSU 43 to drive down and punch in the game's opening touchdown and took a 7-0 lead.
• After defensive stops from both teams, Montclair started a drive with 5:08 left in the opening quarter on its own 32. Chunk plays through the air to TJ KACHALA and runs from DIANTE WILSON pushed the ball up to the CNU 31, where CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD ripped off a breakaway run for the score. They went from two, and Arnold threw a competition in the endzone to Nick Bachman to take an 8-7 lead.
• Christopher Newport answered back on a seven-play, 54-yard drive that was finished off on a three-yard touchdown run to regain the lead. They then forced another three-and-out and used the next drive to connect on a 54-yard touchdown throw to jump out in front 21-8 with 9:51 remaining in the second quarter.
• After the kickoff went out of bounds, the Red Hawks started the next drive at their 40-yard line. LUKE HENRICH connected on big plays of 14 and 30 to Kachala that highlighted a nice drive. Wilson stamped the drive off with a touchdown run from nine yards out, but a failed two-point conversion kept the game at 21-14.
• Montclair caught CNU off guard on the next kickoff, and JAHMIR BEAL recovered a muffed ball to help the Red Hawks retain possession. They got inside the 10-yard line of the Captains, but had to settle for three and cut the lead to 21-17.
• Christopher Newport was putting together a nice drive before the half, but was halted when a deep shot was intercepted by RYAN VISALLI and flipping the momentum in their favor. Montclair saw another drive get into a goal-to-go situation, but the CNU defense held strong again, and Montclair took another ROGER RUBINETTI field goal and put the score at 21-20 CNU going into the second half.
• The Captains, on the first possession of the second half, used a seven-play, 64-yard drive to score another touchdown, this time on a five-yard pass to go up 28-20.
• The Red Hawks responded quickly when a connection from Henrich to KHALIL FORBES broke free over the middle for a 70-yard touchdown and tied the game right back up, 28-28.  
• A forced fumble on the next drive that was forced by UMAR DAVIS and recovered by JONTAE WALTERS set Montclair up with another big opportunity to take a lead. The one-two punch of Arnold and Wilson trotted Montclair down the field and was capped off by Arnold on the ground from 10 yards out and gave the Red Hawks a 35-28 advantage.
• CNU did not falter and used another methodical drive that was finished off by a 17-yard touchdown throw that tied the game 35-35.
• The difference makers in the game came at the end of the third and into the fourth quarter. Montclair saw three interceptions on three consecutive drives, one leading to a touchdown run from a yard out and one being a 50-yard pick six that pushed Christopher Newport out in front 49-35.
• With 5:51 remaining in the game, the Red Hawks did not fold. They generated an eight-play, 61-yard drive for a touchdown. Wilson finished off the drive on the ground from two yards out to cut the lead to 49-42.
• With 2:58 remaining in the game, Christopher Newport was able to run out the rest of the clock and escape with a win.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Montclair's offense was exceptional today, putting together 483 yards of total offense. It was the most surrendered by Christopher Newport this season and is the sixth-best mark in single-game program history.
• Kachala led the way with 11 catches for 180 yards, with his 180 yards ranking fourth best in single-game program history. Forbes followed behind him with five catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.
• On the ground, Wilson carried the ball 18 times for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while Arnold averaged seven yards per carry with 10 carries for 70 yards and a score.
• Defensively, it was a well-rounded performance for most of the players. UMAR DAVIS led the day in tackles with nine (six solo) and forced a fumble.
• Jaiquil Boyd and JAMAL WILLIAMS each recorded a sack, and Visalli notched his first interception of the season.

 
FROM THE FIELD

• "Really proud of the guys today. They gave the #14 team in the country everything they could handle for 60 minutes. Effort and attitude was outstanding. We are starting to turn the corner as a program, even in this loss you can see really good growth." Head coach Mike Palazzo 

 
UP NEXT

• Montclair State University will honor its senior class before its final home game of the season against TCNJ on Saturday, November 8. Kickoff is set for a 5:00 p.m. start.