Montclair State University Athletics

Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University football team (7-2, 5-1 NJAC) made Senior Day memorable for its 2026 class, setting multiple program records in a 75-0 rout of Vermont State Castleton (2-7, 0-6 NJAC) on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Montclair got the ball first and put together some chunk plays capped off with a 24-yard touchdown run by DIANTE WILSON for the game's first score.
• On the next Red Hawk drive, ALI LEE JR. got a carry and ripped off a huge 70-yard touchdown run to put a 14-0 score on the board in the first five minutes of the game.
• On a drive that started at the 8:25 mark in the first from the MSU 25, BERNIE TINORD scampered for 28 yards on a run to push the ball near midfield. At the VTSU 34, LUKE HENRICH aired one out for TJ KACHALA, who outjumped his defender for the score, making the score 21-0 going into the second quarter.
• The Red Hawks kept the offense rolling in the second, getting all the way down to the two-yard line of Castleton and punching in a two-yard run with MIKE FANO.
• Montclair's defense was able to overcome a 31-yard-deep ball from the Spartans' offense to force a punt. DIANTE WILSON followed that drive up with his longest career rush, breaking away for an 80-yard touchdown run to push Montclair out in front 35-0.
• The Red Hawks scored on two more short-yardage runs before the halftime break, with CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD and Tinord finding the end zone. Montclair took a commanding 49-0 lead into halftime.
• Castleton was putting together a solid drive at the beginning of the third quarter, before a high snap caused a loss of 23 yards and derailed the drive. RYAN DOUGHERTY took over at quarterback and drove the offense down the field. He hit ANTHONY ROIGE on a route, and he turned the corner and scored an 18-yard catch-and-run to put the score at 55-0 entering the fourth.
• Montclair once again had a pair of goal-line carries that went in for scores from Arnold and AHMAD DIXON in the fourth quarter. Dixon had the final touchdown of the day, putting his foot in the ground and scoring a 19-yard touchdown to cap off a historic day for the Red Hawk offense.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Montclair broke several records today on the offensive side of the ball
  • Their 75 points were a single-game record, besting the mark of 70 against Jersey City State in 1982.
  • Other single-game records broken from the Jersey City game were total touchdowns (10), rushing touchdowns (9), and yards per carry (10.3).
  • Their 433 net rushing yards bested a mark of 375 against William Paterson in 1980.
  • 770 yards of total offense bested a mark of 560 against Buffalo State.
  • Their yards per play (10.8) set a single-game record that was set back in 1999 against Kean.
• Leading the rushing charge was DIANTE WILSON, who had 134 on just six carries (22.0 per rush) and two touchdowns. Wilson eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards on the year and tied the single-season rushing touchdown record with 17 on the season. His 80-yard touchdown run was also the second longest rush in school history, just behind Dan Walsh, who had an 85-yard run against Ramapo in 1988.
• Nine different receivers caught a pass today with TJ KACHALA headlining with five catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. It was his fourth 100-yard receiving day of the season.
• Henrich and Dougherty were both efficient. Henrich finished 11-for-15 with 175 yards and a touchdown. Dougherty was 11-for-14 with 162 yards and a touchdown.
• Defensively, JOSEPH FARRINGTON led with six total tackles. ZAHMIR EVANS led the team with two tackles for loss, while TOM CADER had five tackles and two pass breakups from the defensive line.

 
FROM THE FIELD

• "Good way to send our seniors out at home. Proud of this team. Excited for next week." Head Coach Mike Palazzo

UP NEXT

• Montclair will wrap up the regular season in the third annual Breakfast Bowl at Rowan on Friday, November 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.