Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University football team hits the road for its final contest of 2025 when it takes on rival William Paterson on Saturday.

GAME INFO
Kickoff from Wightman is set for 1:00 p.m. Live coverage links and additional information on the event can be found at montclairathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
A last-minute field goal propelled Montclair to a 30-27 win against TCNJ at home on Senior Night. Montclair received the first possession and started the day with a 26-yard run by CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD. JAMEIL CHALMERS also broke a big run of 15 to help get them deep inside Montclair territory. TCNJ held Montclair out of the endzone, and they had to settle for three. After forcing a three-and-out, the Red Hawks drove down the field again. TJ KACHALA highlighted the drive with 35 yards of all-purpose yards. Arnold punched in a four-yard score, but a missed two-point conversion kept the game at 9-0. A 55-yard kickoff return sparked the Lions' first scoring drive of the day. They got inside the red zone and broke off a 14-yard touchdown scamper to cut the lead to 9-7.  In a drive that went into the second quarter, Montclair benefited from two personal foul penalties that helped them get inside the 10. A fumbled snap on third and goal halted another touchdown drive, and they once again had to kick a field goal, and took a 12-9 edge. TCNJ responded quickly with a 69-yard touchdown throw right over the middle of the field and took a 13-12 lead with 12:46 remaining in the second quarter. The Red Hawks answered right back with an 11-play, 69-yard drive that was capped off by DIANTE WILSON, who ran it in from a yard out, pushing Montclair back out in front, 19-13, a lead they took into the halftime intermission. Both offenses stalled on the first drives in the third quarter. TCNJ then finished off a nine-play, 59-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run to take a 20-19 lead into the fourth quarter. The Lions extended the lead to 27-19 on a 10-play, 66-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run. The Red Hawks did not falter and put together their longest drive of the game of 11 plays. Highlighted by three third-down conversions, Montclair got down to the one-yard line of TCNJ, where Wilson leaped over the pile for the score. They went for two for the tie, and Henrich threw to the right flat for Kachala, and he dove for the pylon and scored to tied the game 27-27. A botched snap on a third down for TCNJ forced them to punt deep in their own end, but a 55-yard punt pushed the ball to the Montclair 31. The connection between Henrich and Kachala hit for gains of 13 and 12, and the run game of Wilson got the ball down to the 20-yard line. Rubinetti lined up from his season high of 37 yards with 53 seconds remaining. He came through and gave Montclair the lead, 30-27. The pass rush of the Red Hawks came through on the final drive of the game. A sack by Isiah Gurley helped run out a lot of clock. On the final play of the game, JONTAE WALTERS generated a strip sack that was recovered by JAMAL WILLIAMS for the win. 
 

2025 TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (4-5, 3-3 NJAC)
Passing Yards: LUKE HENRICH, 1,773
Passing Touchdowns: LUKE HENRICH, 9
Rushing Yards: DIANTE WILSON, 754
Rushing Touchdowns: DIANTE WILSON, 15
Receiving Yards: TJ KACHALA, 879
Receiving Touchdowns: TJ KACHALA, 5

Tackles: ALEX BUCHWALD, 71
Tackles for Loss: ALEX BUCHWALD, 11.0
Sacks: Four Tied with 2.0
Forced Fumbles: Three Tied with 2
Fumble Recoveries: JAHMIR BEAL, 2
Interceptions: Two Tied with 1
Pass Breakups: ALEX BUCHWALD, 4

Field Goals Made: Roger Rubenetti, 9
PAT's Made: Roger Rubenetti, 23
Punting Yards Average: Roger Rubenetti, 35.88
 
WILLIAM PATERSON (6-2, 3-2 NJAC)
Passing Yards: Nigel Jennings, 890
Passing Touchdowns: Nigel Jennings, 5
Rushing Yards: Nigel Jennings, 335
Rushing Touchdowns: Nigel Jennings, 5
Receiving Yards: Brion Dorsey, 316
Receiving Touchdowns: Hassan Moore, 3

Tackles: Two Tied with 60
Tackles for Loss: Joseph Pressley, 15.5
Sacks: Joseph Pressley, 3.5
Forced Fumbles: Three Tied with 2
Fumble Recoveries: Six Tied with 1
Interceptions: Two Tied with 4
Pass Breakups: Three Tied with 3

Field Goals Made: Matt Davidson, 4
PAT's Made: Matt Davidson, 15
Punting Yards Average: Markos Hantsoulis, 35.70

SCOUTING WILLIAM PATERSON
The Pioneers enter the final week of the season at 2-7 and 1-5 in NJAC play after being bested by Kean, 17-7 on Saturday. In 2024, WPU finished 1-9 and failed to win a conference game with a 0-6 record in the NJAC. According to the 2025 NJAC Preseason Poll, the Pioneers were projected to place seventh in the conference this season.  

SERIES HISTORY
The storied rivalry between William Paterson and Montclair enters contest number 55. The Red Hawks have dominated this series with a 49-4-1 record against William Paterson and have won eight of the last nine contests.

LAST MEETING
These two programs met last season at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, NJ, on October 26, where Montclair routed William Paterson by a score of 39-6.