Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University football team (0-1) kicked off the 2026 season at home but dropped its opening contest to visiting Merchant Marine (1-0), 41-24, on Thursday evening.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• FARAD GREEN JR. glided for 30 yards on the opening kickoff, but Montclair was unable to use that momentum and went three-and-out on the opening possession. The Mariners' first possession went 85 yards on eight plays and capped off with a play-action shot over the middle for 39 yards for a touchdown, and took a 7-0 lead.
• LUKE HENRICH was strip-sacked on the next drive that set up a USMMA possession at the MSU 20, where they eventually punched in another score from six yards out to take a two-possession edge with 6:01 remaining in the opening quarter.
• On the first play of the next possession, Henrich took a shot over the middle and connected with ALI LEE JR. for a gain of 36 yards that turned into 15 more due to a horse collar tackle on the play. The Red Hawks were forced into a field goal on the drive but missed and were left without a score. Merchant Marine turned around another scoring drive. They went 80 yards on seven plays and scored on a 29-yard reception and pulled ahead 21-0 after one quarter of play.
• Following another Red Hawk interception, Merchant Marine was gaining traction once again. JAHMIR BEAL forced USMMA into its first mistake of the day, taking advantage of an errant throw and sprinting the other way for a 34-yard interception touchdown that cut the lead to 21-7.
• The Mariners chewed up most of the remaining quarter with a methodical drive. In 13 plays the killed 8:23 minutes off the clock and ran in another touchdown, this time from three yards out. Montclair had one last possession to score before the half. Henrich found Lee four times on the drive for a total of 29 yards and set up a 38-yard field goal from BRENDAN MCGONIGLE to end the half with a 28-10 score.
• Merchant Marine received the opening possession of the second half and manufactured its most impressive drive of the day with a 17-play, 72-yard drive that burned 10:59 off the third-quarter clock and ended with a four-yard run, putting the score at 35-10.
• Scoring stalled out until midway through the fourth quarter. After backing Merchant Marine up at their own two-yard line, Montclair received possession at the USMMA 38. A pass interference call helped Montclair get to a goal-to-go situation, where DIANTE WILSON pushed forward for a four-yard score. A failed two-point conversion made the score 35-16.
• A failed onside kick due to a penalty gave the Mariners possession at the MSU 44, where they stamped off their impressive offensive output with a nine-yard touchdown reception.
• Wilson impressed on the final offensive drive of the day for the Red Hawks. He ripped off runs of 28 and 15 back-to-back to begin the possession. At the USMMA one-yard line, he leaped over the defenders and scored his second touchdown of the game. On the two-point try, Lee Jr. took the snap from the muddle huddle formation, scrambled right, and dished a ball to Kachala for a successful attempt, putting the game at a 41-24 final.

 
INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Beal was stellar in his first collegiate start. He finished the day with 15 tackles, nine of which were solo takedowns, and had Montclair's first interception touchdown since 2023 (Nicholas Burgess vs. TCNJ on September 30).
• WILLIAM CANAVAN joined Beal in double-digit territory with 10, while ASHAN HARRIS had seven and forced a fumble.  
• Wilson kept his momentum going from last season, where he finished with 18 rushing touchdowns. He scored two on the ground tonight and had 77 yards on 13 carries.
• Lee Jr. showed out in his first game in Red Hawks' uniform. He finished with 84 yards on nine catches

 
FROM THE FIELD

• "Proud of the way we stuck together and continued to fight in the second half. Ultimately, we couldn't overcome the mistakes we made in the first quarter. This adversity can make us better down the road if we're willing to learn from it and grow." Head Coach Mike Palazzo

UP NEXT

• Montclair hits the road for a matchup on a Saturday afternoon slate at Lycoming on Saturday, September 12 at 1:00 p.m.