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Montclair State

Scoreboard

Montclair State University Athletics

OFFICIAL SITE OF RED HAWKS ATHLETICS
Diante Wilson
35
Winner Montclair St. MSU 8-2 , 6-1
28
Rowan ROW 7-3 , 5-2
Winner
Montclair St. MSU
8-2 , 6-1
35
Final
28
Rowan ROW
7-3 , 5-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MSU Montclair St. 7 10 0 18 35
ROW Rowan 7 0 14 7 28

Game Recap: Football |

Football Takes Down #24 Rowan, 35-28; Wins Third Annual Breakfast Bowl

Glassboro, NJ – The Montclair State University football team (8-2, 6-1 NJAC) ended the regular season in a battle down at #24 Rowan (7-3, 5-2 NJAC) for the third annual Breakfast Bowl. The Red Hawks took care of business and won the Breakfast Bowl for the first time since its inception in 2024, taking down the Profs, 35-28, on Friday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • After forcing a Montclair punt on the first drive of the game, Rowan connected on a big 64-yard completion that set up a 25-yard receiving touchdown that put them up 7-0.
  • Both defenses held firm against one another until the 2:49 mark in the first quarter. TYLER JACKSON intercepted a pass in Profs territory and returned it to the 10-yard line. CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD punched in the tying score from six yards out.
  • Montclair took the lead on a drive that started at 6:28 in the second. The ground game and a completion to ANTHONY ROIGE got the ball down to the MSU 45. On Roige's second completion of the drive, a late hit and an unsportsmanlike penalty on Rowan pushed the ball to the Profs ' 18-yard line and allowed DIANTE WILSON to eventually score from three yards out to give the Red Hawks a 14-7 lead.
  • On the first play of the next Profs drive, JAIDEN HERNANDEZ punched the ball out of the hands of a Rowan receiver, and JAMEIL CHALMERS fell on it to give Montclair one more chance to score before half. LUKE HENRICH led the charge, hitting ALI LEE JR., Roige, and TJ KACHALA for gains that set up a chip-shot field goal from 22 yards out for Brenden McGonigle, pushing the lead to 17-7 at the half.
  • The Red Hawks gambled with an onside kick to start the third quarter but were unable to get it to go the yardage needed to retain possession. Starting from the MSU 42, Rowan powered its way down the field on the ground and scored from two yards out to cut the lead to 17-14.
  • DIANTE WILSON took over the next drive with five carries, one that went for 21 yards. Just as the Red Hawks were putting together a good-looking drive, an unsportsmanlike penalty put them behind the sticks and the drive stalled out. Rowan then hit for a big 42-yard completion and broke away for a 35-yard touchdown run to regain the lead, 21-17.
  • After forcing a three-and-out, Rowan went back to work and put together a good drive. They traveled to the Montclair 19 and made an aggressive push on fourth and two, but were denied by JEHU ANDREWS and CONNOR MAY, who helped turn the ball over on downs just before the third quarter end.
  • The Red Hawks faced a third and 14 from their own 33. Henrich fired a ball over the middle and found a wide-open Kachala, who outraced the defense for a 67-yard touchdown that helped Montclair regain the lead, 24-21.
  • Chalmers made another big play, this time on special teams, blocking a punt to set up first and 10 for the Red Hawk offense at the Rowan 22. Montclair had to settle for a field goal, but McGonigle connected from 34 yards out to go up 27-21.
  • On the ensuing kickoff, Montclair forced its fourth turnover of the game as MATTHIAS PAYTON forced a fumble that was picked up by RON LOPOSKY. Wilson capped off the next drive with an eight-yard touchdown. A well-designed two-point conversion play that saw Lee Jr. find Roige extended the lead to 35-21.
  • The Profs made the game interesting on a drive that started with 7:58 remaining in the game. They went 81 yards in 12 plays and scored a touchdown on a 10-yard reception to make it a one-score game.
  • Montclair started its next drive with 4:21 left in the fourth. The Red Hawks burned Prof timeouts and clock. A targeting call on the Profs almost extended the drive, but the call was overturned, and the Red Hawks were faced with a tough decision on fourth and one from their own 43. They stayed aggressive, went for it, and Wilson picked it up to extend the drive and helped continue to chew clock.
  • Rowan was able to get the ball back with just four seconds left on the clock. They attempted a pass over the middle that fell incomplete as the clock struck all zeros and Montclair picked up the big road win.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
  • The night was historic in more than one way tonight. Wilson, who finished the day with 140 yards and two touchdowns, broke the single-season record in rushing touchdowns on his first score of the night. Wilson, who was just two scores away from it last season at 16, bested the 27-year record of Ron Lewis (17) and now has 19 this season. Diante is just four rushing touchdowns away from the career record also held by Lewis (36).
  • Kachala had his fifth 100+ yard receiving game of the season with 101 on just three catches tonight.
  • Defensively, JAHMIR BEAL and ASHAN HARRIS both lead in tackles with seven each on the night. Beal also forced his sixth interception of the season tonight, the most by any Red Hawk defender since 2014.
  • SHAUN SMITH II had a nice night as well, finishing with five tackles and a career-high three pass breakups.
  • Montclair finishes the regular season with a record of 8-2, its best record since 2018. They also finished 6-1 in NJAC play, its best conference record since 2014.
 
FROM THE FIELD
  • "Really proud of this team. It is a special group. Taylor Ham!" Head Coach Mike Palazzo
UP NEXT
  • Montclair will await selections for postseason play to see if they receive any bids.  
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