Montclair State football drops to 0-2 on the season.
If the week one loss against Delaware Valley College wasn’t enough heartbreak for the Montclair State University Red Hawks, the 46-14 blowout against Salisbury University would certainly crush all emotions heading into the following week.
Salisbury quarterback Ryan Jones amassed for 14 rushes, 313 total yards on offense while tossing four touchdowns and Jerome Johnson was good for 96 yards and was responsible for the first 29 points of the Sea Gulls’ offense.
After a series of back-and-forth possessions, Montclair State special teams forced Salisbury to begin at their own 7-yard line. Tailback Johnson would rush for seven yards, followed by quarterback Jones hitting wideout Aaron Moore for an 86-yard bomb, running after the catch and scoring, placing the score 7-0 Salisbury with 5:57 left in the first quarter. The score extended to 10 after kicker Zak Osborne hit a 35-yarder through the uprights.
Photo courtesy of MSU Sports.
On the following possession, Salisbury compiled a 70-yard march within four plays for another touchdown via quarterback draw, which extended the score to 16-0 with 6:46 left in the first half. In the next series, Jones hit receiver Isaiah Taylor for a 39-yard pass before rushing into the end zone to draw the score up to 23-0 Salisbury at the end of the half.
In the first drive in the second half, the Red Hawks were picked off at their own 19-yard line, which eventually gave way to another Johnson touchdown.
Following up Salisbury’s fourth score of the game, Montclair State Ryan Davies connected with freshman wide receiver Julianee Prince for a 78-yard touchdown with 11:01 remaining in the third quarter to give Montclair the touchdown.
The happiness was short-lived as the Sea Gulls scored once again with 8:45 left on the clock, leaving the scoreboard reading 36-7.
Montclair State did find a way to rebound through a 75-yard drive that included a 43-yard deep ball to freshman wideout Nick Soravilla. A Zach Ligouri one-handed grab sealed the score difference for Montcliar State at 36-14 with 6:48 left in the third.
The Sea Gulls offense did not slow, as they were once again successful in scoring using a 30-yard run as well as a 28-yard field goal with 6:05 left in the fourth quarter.
Davies was 20 of 36 and threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns. This victory against the Montclair State Red Hawks marks the first time since 1986 that Salisbury beat MSU.
The Red Hawks’ next contest is away in Glassboro where they will play Rowan University on Saturday, Sept. 26. at 7 p.m.
