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Montclair State

Scoreboard

Montclair State University Athletics

OFFICIAL SITE OF RED HAWKS ATHLETICS
Diante Wilson
26
Winner Montclair St. MSU 2-1 , 0-0
9
Wilkes WIL 1-2 , 0-0
Winner
Montclair St. MSU
2-1 , 0-0
26
Final
9
Wilkes WIL
1-2 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MSU Montclair St. 0 6 0 20 26
WIL Wilkes 0 0 3 6 9

Game Recap: Football |

Wilson & Defense Pace Football to a 26-9 win at Wilkes

Wilkes-Barre, PA – The Montclair State University football team (2-1), paced by senior running back DIANTE WILSON and excellent play from their defense, grinded out a tough non-conference win at Wilkes (1-2) on Saturday night, coming away with a 26-9 win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Montclair's offense stalled early on with two three-and-outs to start the game, but the defense did its job and kept Wilkes off the scoreboard. Two drives from Wilkes looked as if they were going to score, but a fumble on the first drive from the MSU 11 and a fourth-down stop by ASHAN HARRIS on the MSU 19 kept the Colonels off the scoreboard.
  • Entering the second quarter, Wilkes faced a fourth and nine from inside the red zone. JONTAE WALTERS came up with the sack to once again keep the game scoreless. JAHMIR BEAL picked off the Wilkes quarterback on the first play of the next Colonels drive, but the offense still couldn't find a rhythm and was forced to punt.
  • A BRENDAN MCGONIGLE punt went down at the Wilkes 6 with 10:36 remaining in the half. The Red Hawk defense forced a punt, and an offensive drive started at the Wilkes 30 thanks to a nice return by ALEX RODRIGUEZ and a penalty tacked on more yardage.
  • While a touchdown wasn't scored on the ensuing drive, Montclair was able to take the lead thanks to a 30-yard field goal by McGonigle.
  • Following a Colonels punt, Montclair put together its best drive of the first half. From their own territory, LUKE HENRICH orchestrated a two-minute drill. He connected with TJ KACHALA for a gain of nine, followed by one to KHALIL FORBES for 14. DIANTE WILSON grinded out a couple of nice runs to set up McGonigle for another field goal as time expired in the half, and Montclair took a 6-0 lead into the intermission.
  • On the first drive of the second half, Wilkes connected on an outside vertical for a gain of 71 down to the Red Hawks 11. Despite giving up the big game, the defense continued its "bend, don't break" evening with another huge stop deep inside their own territory. Harris and WILLIAM CANAVAN made the stop on fourth down for another turnover on downs.
  • Following another Red Hawk punt, the Colonels finally put together a scoring drive as an eight-play, 42-yard drive ended in a 25-yard field goal to halve the lead to 6-3.
  • The Red Hawks started a drive with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter. The drive leaned on the run game and took the possession into the fourth quarter. A 15-play, 70-yard drive ended with ALI LEE JR. taking a handoff and hitting the edge for a four-yard touchdown run that put Montclair up 13-3.
  • An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty helped Wilkes start the ball at their own 39. Wilkes once again put together a solid drive, but it ended in disaster, and a throw to the end zone was picked off by Beal.
  • CHRISTOPHER ARNOLD put together some solid runs of 15 and seven on the next Montclair drive. Wilkes held off to fourth down and Montclair lined up to punt, but a fake saw JAIDEN HERNANDEZ run for a first down to keep the drive going. Wilson then took over the backfield and pushed ahead for gains of 17 and 11 before breaking off a 20-yard touchdown run to push the Red Hawks out in front 19-3.
  • A few penalties and big gains for Wilkes moved their next drive, which was capped off by a 15-yard touchdown connection through the air to cut the lead to 19-9.
  • On the final drive of the game, Montclair once again controlled the ground game and plowed ahead. On the Wilkes three with just seconds remaining, Henrich called his own number and found his way into the end zone to put the exclamation point on a 26-9 road win.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
  • Wilson once again was at the forefront of the Red Hawk offense. He finished with 35 carries and totaled 198 yards on the ground. His 35 carries are tied for the sixth most in a single game in program history, while his 198 yards on the ground is eighth best all-time. He currently leads the NJAC in attempts (80), yards (450), and touchdowns (6) on the ground.
  • BI'SHAY SANDERS led the defense with seven solo tackles and a pass breakup.
  • Eight different Red Hawks contributed to tackles for loss in the game. JAYDEN LUCAS led that effort with 1.5.
  • McGonigle followed up a fantastic special teams outing a few weeks ago with another. He was 2-for-2 on field goals and had five punts for 217 yards (43.4 per punt). Two of his punts were inside the 20 and one went for 50+ yards.
 
FROM THE FIELD

"It was a complete team effort from our guys tonight. Adverse conditions in the first half kept the scoring down, but we came out in the second half and really put our foot on the gas." Head Coach Michael Palazzo

UP NEXT
  • Montclair returns for homecoming on Saturday, October 3 and will open NJAC play with Kean at 5:00 p.m.
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