Montclair, NJ – Senior defensive end Joe Falato recorded 3.5 sacks with the Montclair State defense adding a score of its own as the Red Hawks delighted its Homecoming crowd with a 21-7 victory over The College of New Jersey on Saturday.
Senior running back John DiStefano rushed for 121 yards and a score as MSU (4-3, 3-3 NJAC) racked up eight sacks in capturing the 84th renewal of the oldest active college football rivalry in New Jersey. MSU improved to 52-30-2 against the Lions (0-7, 0-6 NJAC) winning for the 13th time in the last 18 meetings.
Montclair did all of its scoring in the first quarters, including the first possession of the contest. DiStefano rushed for 26 yards on four plays out to the TCNJ 47. Quarterback John Apicella then flipped a shot pass out in the flat to Julanee Prince, who broke three tackles along the way for a 47-yard touchdown and a 7-0 Red Hawks just 3:18 into the game.
The defense came up with the next score as Falato sacked Trevor Osler forcing a fumble at the TCNJ 22. Nick Volpe grabbed the loose ball and rambled his way into the end zone giving the Red Hawks a 14-0 advantage with 10:37 left in the opening period.
The Lions went three-and-out on their next possession giving the ball back to MSU which capitalized on its third touch. DiStefano accounted for 32 of the 66 yards on the drive but it was an Apicella pass to Jaedon Stephens for 12 yards and a 27-yard completion to Prince that eventually set up DiStefano scoring from six yards out making the score 21-0 with 81 left in the first.
TCNJ threatened to get on the board with a 10-play drive that spanned the first and second quarters. The Lions drove to the MSU 18 however Osler's 4th-down pass to John McDonald was cut short of the sticks on a great tackles from Shaon Stephenson.
After failing on the previous drive, New Jersey got on the board. TCNJ face a fourth-down from the MSU 20. Osler threw incomplete on the play however a pass interference call on the Red Hawks gave the Lions new life which it would take advantage of as Osler bulled in from a yard out on 4th-and-1 trimming the Montclair State lead to 21-7 at halftime.
The second half would be a series of missed opportunities for both teams. TCNJ turned the ball over on downs at the MSU 14 to open the second half. Montclair State's Je'Von Mason blocked a punt giving the Red Hawks the ball at the TCNJ 30 but the Red Hawks couldn't capitalize. Linebacker Mauro Altamura picked off an Osler pass and brought back to the nine yard line however MSU did not cash in as DiStefano was stopped short of the end zone on fourth down.
Vincent Cordasco, Chris Palma and Chris Cimilluca each had a sack for the Red Hawks, who put up their highest single-game total since a Homecoming win over Kean in 2003 when it also recorded eight sacks. Falato's total was the most by a player since Ed Kirschenbaum had 3.5 versus TCNJ in 2010.
Stephenson led MSU with eight tackles while Cordasco and Altamura had eight apiece. Apicella, making his second start, was 7-of-14 for 111 yards. Montclair outgained TCNJ 230-181.
Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, October 29 as it travels to Dover, DE for an NJAC matchup at Wesley College. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.