Glassboro, NJ – Sophomore running back Anthony Travisano rushed for 128 yards, including a huge 66-yard touchdown run in the third quarter as Montclair State defeated Rowan University 13-3 at Wackar Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Junior kicker Hunter Daly booted a pair of field goals as the Red Hawks (4-5, 4-4 NJAC) snapped a three-game losing streak and posted their ninth victory against the Profs (3-6, 2-6 NJAC) in the last 12 meetings. Montclair State leads the all-time series 33-24.
Tyler Knighton accounted for the lone score for Rowan with a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter.
The Red Hawks put the first points on the scoreboard taking the opening kickoff down the field. John Apicella hit Brian Kowalczyk for 32 yards on the first play of the drive and then converted a 3rd-and-3 with a four-yard pass to James Bartleson down to the Rowan 17. MSU would gain six more yards but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Daly for a 3-0 lead with 10:06 to play.
Rowan answered with a scoring drive of its own with a time-consuming 7:27 drive that took 14 plays and 51 yards. Messiah Divine converted a third down with a nine-yard run and Brian Furlong rushed for 11 yards on third down to the MSU 19. The Profs would get pushed back to the 25, however Knighton hit from 42-yards out knotting the game at 3-3 with 2:32 left.
From that point on the defenses took over as each came up with big plays. A blocked punt by MSU's Joshua Betts gave the Red Hawks the ball at the Rowan 24 midway through the second quarter. But Montclair couldn't capitalize as Daly's field goal attempt missed wide right. The Red Hawk defense would be just a stout the remainder of the half limiting the Profs to 45 yards after the Knighton field goal.
Tied at 3-3 after halftime, lineman Brandon Burdge came up with a sack that helped derail Rowan's opening drive of the second half. Taking possession at the Montclair 34, Travisano ripped off his longest run of the season going 66 yards for the go-ahead score putting MSU in front 10-3 with 11:22 to go in the third.
Montclair's defense continued to shut down the Profs allowing just 32 yards on 20 offensive plays in the second half.
Daly would help set up and add to the Red Hawks' next score. After pinning Rowan at its own 7 early in the fourth, Montclair used a short field taking over at the Prof 31 following a Julanee Prince 11-yard punt return. A loss on 1st down and penalty on 2nd down with an incompletion left Montclair State with a 3rd-and-24 at the Rowan 34. Apicella scrambled for 13 yards which proved to be big as Daly hit from 38 yards extending the lead to 13-3 with 10:34 remaining.
Up 10 points with 4:27 left, the Red Hawks looked to run the clock out taking over at its own 34. With the Profs using their timeouts successfully, Montclair had a 3rd-and-13 at its own 31 when Apicella found Prince for 17 yards and a first down that sealed the victory for the Red Hawks
Defensive lineman led the solid MSU defense effort with 10 tackles as the Red Hawks held Rowan to just 138 yards total. Betts totaled nine tackles along with a forced fumble with Chris Palma recording seven. Austin Smith registered sack with Tyquese Jackson and Nick Catalano combining on the third.
Montclair State closes its season out next Saturday, November 11 hosting local rival William Paterson at Sprague Field with kickoff set for 1pm.