MONTCLAIR N.J. — With only 52 seconds left in the game, the Montclair State University football team had their backs against the wall. They found themselves down by two points and needed a field goal to win.
The Red Hawks proceeded to drive down the field to set up sophomore kicker Greg Casimir to attempt a 17-yard field goal. The noisy Sprague Field crowd grew silent as he lined up to kick with four seconds left on the clock.
Casimir sent the kick through the uprights as time expired. Pandemonium broke out as the team stormed the field. The home bleachers shook from the cheers of the home crowd.
College football is back. Montclair State defeated Gettysburg College 27-26.
Head coach Mike Palazzo said that his team’s ability to respond to challenging moments has been built into their DNA.
“One of our core values is to respond, not react,” Palazzo said. “And throughout that whole game, there was a lot of adversity that hit, and we [had] to respond to it. Our guys weren’t getting upset, our guys weren’t throwing helmets and our guys weren’t getting too flustered.”
The Montclair State offensive line gave junior running back Henry Lewis room to run.
Mar Tutunijan | The Montclarion Photo credit: Maral (Mar) Tutunjian
Palazzo was not exaggerating about adversity in Saturday afternoon’s season opener. The Red Hawks quickly found themselves down 13-0 early in the second quarter.
After a third-down sack from junior linebacker Nicholas Burgess forced the Bullets to punt, the running game was on full display as junior running back Henry Lewis was given the majority of offensive snaps. Lewis, the leading rusher in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in 2023, would punch in the touchdown to cut into the Gettysburg lead.
After junior defensive back Ryan Visalli came away with an interception on the ensuing drive, a familiar face made his return to Sprauge Field as senior wide receiver Jamie Hamilton caught a deep pass from junior quarterback Aidan McLaughlin to put the Red Hawks on the Gettysburg two yard line. Lewis then got his second touchdown of the game.
The Red Hawk defense came away with an interception late in the game.
Mar Tutunijan | The Montclarion Photo credit: Maral (Mar) Tutunjian
This was Hamilton’s first game since breaking his collarbone last season. Palazzo said that he was glad that he was back in the lineup.
“There’s a lot of guys that work real hard, and Jamie’s wonderful,” Palazzo said. “I mean, Jamie really wants to be a great football player and he wants to be a great leader. Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time spots.”
Notably, Montclair State missed the extra point. The Red Hawks struggled with kicking as multiple kickers, including Casimir, missed on attempts.
In the second half, Gettysburg silenced the home crowd after returning a McLaughlin interception for a pick six. With the Bullets ahead by eight points and the Red Hawk offense stalling out, Montclair State faced another test of resilience.
Senior defensive back Brandon Primus swats a ball away from his opponent.
Mar Tutunijan | The Montclarion Photo credit: Maral (Mar) Tutunjian
As the Bullets lined up for a field goal late in the third quarter, the special teams unit struck in the nick of time, as the kick was blocked and Visalli, who took the football to the opposite end zone.
“That’s a hell of a game [from Visalli],” Palazzo said. “If he’s not NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week, then they’re wrong.”
However, late in the fourth quarter, Gettysburg marched down the field and scored a touchdown with just 58 seconds left. With Montclair State down by two, the team needed a big play offensively to get back into the game.
Enter junior wide receiver Ahmirr Robinson.
In his first game as a Red Hawk, he caught the biggest pass of the day, a 46 yard long ball from McLaughlin. The play brought Montclair State well into field goal range with time about to expire.
Robison said that he was fueled by those around him.
“The energy came from my teammates,” Robinson said. “You know, I have a job to do. Obviously, as a receiver, my job is to catch the ball. So, they gave me energy, and I had to make a play for my team.”
Robinson said that his big play was just part of a team effort, something that the coaching staff emphasized throughout the preseason.
“I think sometimes teams get above [themselves] when they try to make plays instead of doing the plays that come to them, and just doing their job,” Robinson said. “So I did my job today, and I was able to help my team out.”
It came down to Casimir once more one the field goal attempt. This time he nailed it.
As the ball sailed through the uprights, the Red Hawks knew they were 1-0 to start the season.
Palazzo praised his kicker for staying focused in what is considered football’s most high pressure situation.
“You got to have short memory when playing kicker and that’s what he had,” Palazzo said. “He was in a huge spot, it was a huge moment for him and [he] swung the line and put it in so that’s what we needed.”
