Cortland, NY – Senior cornerback C.J. CONWAY returned the last of his four interceptions 23 yards for a touchdown with 2:16 left sealing Montclair State's 30-20 come-from-behind win over SUNY Cortland on Saturday.
Running back DENZEL NIEVES rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns while JOHN SCHUBERT kicked three field goals as the Red Hawks (7-1) won their seventh straight victory while remaining atop the NJAC at 5-0.
Montclair rallied from deficits of 10-0 and 20-10 scoring the final 20 points of the game for its first win at Cortland since 2003. It was the final meeting between the teams in the foeseaable future as the Red Dragons (3-5, 3-3 NJAC) head for the Empire 8 Conference for the 2015 campaign.
The Red Dragons jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Shane Cronin connected on a 24-yard field goal 3:26 into the contest capping a 14-play, 60-yard drive. It looked as if Cortland would get more driving to the Montclair 9 on its next possession however Conway intercepted the first of his four passes in the end zone thwarting the drive. Later in the period, Cortland would get the touchdown as John Grassi connected with Josh Riley for a three-yard touchdown with 36 seconds to play in the opening period.
Montclair State would get on the board with 10:15 to go in the second on a 27-yard field goal by Schubert, his first of the year. Cortland got countered with a 22-yard field goal by Cronin on the ensuing possession making the score 13-3 with 8:03 left.
A 12-yard punt return by PAT CAGGIANO set Montclair up at its own 47 and the Red Hawks took avantage as Nieves carried twice, the second a 32-yard run for a touchdown closing the gap to 13-10 with 5:02.The pendulum swung back to Red Dragons, who got a 47-yard touchdown pass from Grassi to Jon Mannix with 63 seconds before halftime for a 20-10 lead.
The Red Hawks would get a very important score as Schubert hit from 42 yards out at the first half expired, trimming the lead to 20-13. The drive was kept alive by a Cortland pass interference penalty on third down at the MSU 40. Quarterback RYAN DAVIES then hit AARON WILLIAMS for completions of seven and 15 yards fown to the Cortland 20. Williams finished with 10 receptions for 130 yards.
For the second straight week, Montclair State opened up the second half with a touchdown drive. Nieves ran 31 yards to the Corltand 29 and after a penalty, Davies found CLINTON COFFEY for 35 yards down to the 4. Nieves scampered into the end zone on the next play tying the score at 20-20 with 13:35 left in the third.
Conway picked off a pass to set the Red Hawks up at the Cortland 34 later in the quarter however a 42-yard attempt from Schubert fell short. His third pick gave MSU the ball at the Cortland 31 with 1:42 left however Montclair gave it right back as Mark DelPrete intercepted Davies at the 2.
A Red Dragon punt from deep in its own end set up the Red Hawks' go-ahead score. Taking over at the Cortland 30, Nieves ran 11 yards for the 20 on the first play of the fourth before Montclair had to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Schubert giving MSU its first lead of the contest with 14:26 remaining in the game.
Junior safety ERIC GARGIULO intercepted his ninth pass of the year on the next Cortland possession which began a string of defensive efforts for both teams until the late in the fourth when the Red Dragons took over at their own 13 yardline following a punt by Montclair's JOE JANOVIC, who pinned Cortland inside its own 20 four times on the day.
Starting at its own 13 with 2:43 left, the Red Dragons faced a 4th-and-4 at its own 19. Conway, who recorded seven solo stops, stepped in front of a Grassi pass at the 23 and returned it all the way for the final points of the game.
Nieves carried 31 times as he posted his sixth 100-yard game of the year. Davies was 20-of-36 for 215 yards. MALCOLM ROBINSON had five of those receptions in addition to Williams' 10. Linebacker MICHAEL KLIMEK led the way with eight tackles while defensive end JOE KOONCE had seven along with a sack, one of four by Montclair, which increased its NJAC-leading total to 26. JOSHUA BETTS, JOE FALATO and KEVIN BLESS each registered a sack.
Montclair was outgained in the game 343-315 but held the ball for a season best 35:03 of the contest.
The Red Hawks now return home to face Morrisville State on Senior Day next Saturday, November 8 at 1:00 pm. A win by Montclair State would clinch the NJAC Championship for MSU
Conway's Four Interceptions, Late TD Caps Comeback as Montclair St. Tops Cortland, 30-20
/seasons/2014/boxscores/20141101_8yyx.xml
2014
Montclair State
30
Cortland
20
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montclair State (7-1) | 0 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
| Cortland (3-5) | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Nov 01, 2014