Montclair State University Athletics

Williamsport, PA – The Montclair State University football team (1-1) played a hard-fought battle against Lycoming (1-1) in its first road trip of 2026. The Red Hawks rallied from a two-possession deficit in the fourth quarter and walked off the Warriors on a last-second field goal to win, 30-28.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks started the game out on offense. LUKE HENRICH was able to eliminate a 10-yard sack on second down when he connected with ANTHONY ROIGE for a 24-yard gain to keep the opening possession alive. Despite another connection through the air to ALI LEE JR. for 10 yards, the Red Hawks were forced to punt.
• Lycoming's opening possession was sparked by a 20-yard run that saw 15 more yards tacked on to it thanks to a personal foul penalty. The run game paced the Warriors into goal-to-go territory. The drive was stonewalled at the MSU 7 yard with BI'SHAY SANDERS coming up with big tackles on third and fourth down to generate the turnover on downs.
• Two big completions of 11 and 17 yards from Henrich to TJ KACHALA gave Montclair some breathing room to operate. Following another few completions to KHALIL FORBES that brought Montclair into Lycoming territory, DIANTE WILSON broke through for a 40-yard touchdown run that put Montclair out in front 7-0.
• The Red Hawks didn't have the lead for long, though, as Lycoming took the ensuing kickoff 94 yards to the house to tie the game, 7-7.
• Montclair took its next possession into the second quarter. Their next drive was sparked once again by a 40-yard run by DIANTE WILSON that got them down to the LYCO 24. The Red Hawks could not cash in, however, as a fumble inside the Warriors' 10 denied another Montclair score.
• Lycoming punted the ball back to Montclair, who started their drive with 8:28 remaining in the second quarter. The Red Hawks were forced to punt from their own 35 and had another special teams mishap as the punt was blocked, scooped up, and ran into the end zone to put the Warriors up 30-28.
• Following an interception, Lycoming had the ball deep in their territory and tried to burn as much clock as possible to not allow Montclair to get one more chance to score. They were forced to punt the ball back to Montclair, and a shallow punt allowed the Red Hawks to set up a field goal attempt with one second remaining. The field goal from 48 yards out missed, and the score went 14-7 into halftime.
• The Warriors were forced once again to punt, and Montclair put together a scoring drive. The Henrich-Kachala connection hit for a gain of 34 yards to put them into field goal territory for BRENDAN MCGONIGLE, who connected from 46 yards out to cut the lead to 14-10.
• On the next drive, Lycoming started with a gain of 24 yards. After a few minimal gains, the Warriors threw a deep ball and scored from 45 yards out to command a two-possession lead.
• Before the end of the third quarter, Montclair marched down the field from their own 33 and let McGonigle come through again, this time from 37 yards away to put the score at 21-13 entering the fourth.
• Lycoming had to punt it away but was successful on the coffin kick that went out of bounds at the MSU 4. After an unsuccessful run, Henrich took a chance, and Lee Jr. came up big, catching an outside vertical and weaving his way around defenders for a season-long completion of 75 yards. After a gain of eight from Kachala, Wilson went to work and punched in a score from three yards out. A taunting penalty forced the Red Hawks back, and they were unable to convert the two-point try and fell behind, 21-19.  
• With a drive starting with 10:00 remaining in the game, Lycoming manufactured a six-play, 88-yard drive that was capped off with an eight-yard ball for the score.
• A Taunting penalty was tacked to the ensuing kickoff. The kick went sailing out of bounds, and Montclair started the drive from midfield. On fourth and one, Henrich completed a pass to Kachala for a gain of 22. Wilson once again paced the Red Hawk rushing attack. He received the next four carries and found paydirt from a yard out. Chris Arnold took a direct snap and dove his way into the end zone for the two-point try, and Montclair cut the lead to one, 28-27.
• Montclair attempted the onside kick and was unsuccessful. Lycoming started with the ball from the MSU 44. Montclair forced them into a fourth-down decision, where they went for it and could not connect on a pass as Sanders broke it up.
• With one last chance, the Red Hawks started with the ball on their own 37. Lee Jr. came up with a big fourth-down conversion. Wilson then ripped off a 21-yard run to get Montclair into field goal range. After a holding call took them out of it, Henrich found GIANPAUL CORTES for a 21-yard gain to keep Montclair on track. They eventually got down to the four-yard line and set up McGonigle with a chip-shot field goal of 21 yards. With three seconds left, McGonigle hit it, and Montclair walked away with the win.

 
INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Wilson was electric on the ground, turning 31 carries into a career-best 175 yards and tied a career-best with three touchdowns.
• Henrich finished 18-for-29 with 298 yards through the air and ran for 35 on the ground.
• Kachala and Lee Jr. were both reliable targets. Kachala finished with a team-best 119 yards on nine catches. Lee Jr. totaled 91 yards on four receptions.
• Defensively, JAHMIR BEAL once again led the team in tackles with eight total. Sanders made seven total tackles and had the pass breakup on the Warriors' final drive.

 
FROM THE FIELD

• "Really proud of the team for sticking together. I don't think we played our best game; we definitely got punched in the mouth, but I am thrilled to come out with a victory and punch back." Head Coach Mike Palazzo

UP NEXT

• Montclair heads into the bye week but will be back in action with another road trip to Wilkes on Saturday, September 26. The night cap is set for 6:00 p.m.