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Montclair State University Athletics

OFFICIAL SITE OF RED HAWKS ATHLETICS
Alex Buchwald
15
Montclair St. MSU 0-1
29
Winner Merchant Marine USMMA 1-0
Montclair St. MSU
0-1
15
Final
29
Merchant Marine USMMA
1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MSU Montclair St. 6 2 7 0 15
USMMA Merchant Marine 6 9 7 7 29

Game Recap: Football |

Buchwald Breaks Football Single-Game Tackles for Loss Record in 29-15 Defeat at Merchant Marine

King's Point, NY – Montclair State University football (0-1) fifth-year linebacker ALEX BUCHWALD broke the single-game school record for tackles for loss with six, but the Red Hawks fell in their season opener to Merchant Marine, 29-15, on Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Montclair received the opening kickoff, but an interception on its first drive gave USMMA excellent field position at the Montclair 10. The Mariners drove down to the one-yard line, but key stops by JOSHUA TURNER and JAQUIL BOYD on third and fourth down kept the game scoreless. After a Red Hawk punt, Merchant Marine struck first with a touchdown. RYAN VISALLI blocked the extra point, holding the score at 6-0.
  • The Red Hawks answered with a nine-play, 65-yard drive. DIANTE WILSON highlighted the possession with 32 total yards before punching in a two-yard touchdown. USMMA blocked the extra point in return, leaving the game tied at 6-6.
  • Both defenses held firm until late in the second quarter, when Merchant Marine's defense came up with a pick-six at the 3:25 mark to go ahead 12-6. After Montclair was forced to punt, Visalli blocked a USMMA punt that rolled out of the end zone for a safety, cutting the deficit to 12-8.
  • On the ensuing kickoff, Merchant Marine successfully recovered an onside kick and capped the drive with a 31-yard field goal, taking a 15-8 lead into halftime.
  • The teams traded punts to start the second half before the Mariners extended their lead with a nine-play, 68-yard drive, ending in a 12-yard rushing touchdown that made it 22-8.
  • Montclair answered quickly, aided by back-to-back pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against USMMA. Wilson capped the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the night, trimming the deficit to 22-15.
  • The Red Hawks couldn't generate momentum late, and the Mariners sealed the win with a 41-yard touchdown run at the 4:44 mark of the fourth quarter, closing it out 29-15.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
  • Buchwald's 6.0 tackles for loss broke the previous single-game record of 4.5, shared by Dimitri Pali (2021), Joshua Betts (2017), and Mauro Altamura (2018). He finished with a career-best 13 total tackles, including 12 solo stops.
  • Boyd nearly reached double digits in tackles, finishing with nine (seven solo, two assisted).
  • Wilson shone in his Montclair debut, rushing for 41 yards and scoring both of the Red Hawks' touchdowns.
FROM THE FIELD
  • "USMMA played mistake-free football, and we made too many to overcome. Looking forward to learning from this and moving on to Lycoming." – Head Coach Mike Palazzo
UP NEXT
  • Montclair State will look to bounce back in its home opener on Saturday, September 13, against Lycoming. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m.
 
 
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