Montclair State University Athletics

Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University football team (4-2, 2-1 NJAC) battled #10/#13 Christopher Newport (6-0, 3-0 NJAC) to the end but ultimately fell short with a 21-14 defeat on Saturday afternoon.   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Captains started the game hot, forcing an interception on the first play of the Red Hawks' opening drive and scoring on its first play with a 42-yard catch-and-run to take a 7-0 lead.
• After forcing a punt, CNU put together a solid drive that started from their own 18 and got all the way down to the MSU 5. However, they couldn't get points, as a chip-shot field goal went wide and Montclair held out.
• JAHMIR BEAL ended the first quarter with a strong play, intercepting a pass over the middle at the Red Hawk 20 and taking it out to the Montclair 47. A late hit out of bounds set Montclair up with excellent field position at the CNU 37 heading into the second quarter.
• Montclair was forced into a 48-yard field goal on the drive and was unable to hit it. Christopher Newport took the next possession 69 yards on seven plays and punched in another score for a 14-0 lead.
• With 9:53 left in the half, Montclair needed a big play to keep within striking distance. They got the play they needed when LUKE HENRICH aired out a ball to KHALIL FORBES, who tracked the deep pass and scored a 62-yard reception touchdown to cut the lead to 14-7.
• Beal nabbed his second interception of the day on the next drive, but the offense was unable to capitalize. With 4:35 remaining in the second half, CNU leaned on the ground game and used it to go all the way down to the four-yard line, where they scored a four-yard rushing touchdown to take a 21-7 lead into the half.
• Defenses held each other to punts to begin the second half. Montclair regained possession at the 4:25 mark in the third. They started with the ball at the CNU 42. BERNIE TINORD paced the Red Hawks drive, gaining 36 yards on the ground, including a score from 10 yards out to cut the lead to 21-14.
• The Red Hawks had several good chances to put together the equalizing score in the fourth. Following another turnover forced on an interception, CNU traveled all the way to the MSU 16 to set up a 36-yard field goal to take a two-possession lead, but the kick was off target. Montclair was forced to punt again, and another methodical drive got the Captains down to the three-yard line. Just as they were about to ice the game with another rushing score, TOM CADER punched the ball out of the running back's arms, and Beal fell on it to give Montclair one more chance. The Red Hawks went 72 yards on 11 plays, but an interception erased the comeback bid, and Montclair suffered its first NJAC defeat of the season.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• The Red Hawks' rushing attack leaned on Tinord today, and he delivered a career-high 105 yards on 20 attempts and scored his first collegiate touchdown.
• In the receiving game, Forbes led the yardage with 75 on two catches. ALI LEE JR. and ANTHONY ROIGE each hauled in five catches for 44 and 43 yards, respectively.
• Montclair's defense held Christopher Newport to zero points in the second half for the first time this season. The defense was led by SHAUN SMITH II, who totaled a career-high 10 tackles (five solo) with a sack. WILLIAM CANAVAN also forced 10 tackles in the game.
• Along with being the receiving end of two interceptions and a fumble recovery, Beal also recorded seven tackles (five solo).

 
FROM THE FIELD

• "I am really proud of the way we fought today. We went toe-to-toe with the reigning conference champion and the No. 10 team in the country. We are getting close as a program, but we still made too many mistakes to overcome. Losses like this suck because all I want to do is get back to work. Looking forward to the next challenge next week." Head Coach Mike Palazzo

UP NEXT

• Montclair hits the road and will take on another nationally ranked foe in Salisbury on Saturday, October 24. The showdown is set for a 1:00 p.m. start.