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Montclair, NJ – Senior running back John DiStefano carries 41 times for 175 yards and a touchdown while Josh Betts returned a fumble for a score as Montclair State shutout Southern Virginia University, 17-0 at Sprague Field.
Ryan DeLeon booted a 36-yard field goal and the MSU defense held the Knights to 157 total yards of offense helping the Red Hawks improve to 3-2 on the year, 2-2 in the NJAC. Montclair posted its second consecutive shutout against SVU (1-4, 0-4 NJAC) as it won for the third time in as many all-time meetings.
Scoreless late in the first quarter, Montclair got the ball at its own 45 yardline and went 55 yards for the game's first score. DiStefano had the bulk of the carries on the nine-play drive, however it was a 28-yard reception from John Apicella to Julanee Prince down to the SVU 11. Apicella connected with Anthony Dorsi down to the 4 and a two-yard gain left MSU with a 4th-and-1 at the 2. Montclair State went for it and DiStefano scampered off the left side into the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 11:01 to play before halftime.
Shut down through most of the first half, the Knights gained some life as Richie Sparrow blocked a punt that SVU recovered at the Montclair 43. Southern Virginia ran down the clock and tried a last-second heave into the end zone that was knocked away by Michael Stradford as MSU went into the locker room up 7-0.
Montclair's defense came up big in the third quarter stopping the Knights on a 4th-and-4 from the MSU 28 as Shaon Stephenson tackled Ty Jones short of the first down markers. The Red Hawks turned that into their next score. DiStefano had a 69-yard TD run negated by a hold, still MSU managed to move the ball to the SVU 19 before DeLeon came on to make his field goal attempt making the score 10-0 with 1:48 left in the third.
The Knights had a chance to close the gap as it took possession early in the fourth quarter at the MSU 45. Five plays later, SVU was at the MSU 7 when Jones tried to go around the left side. Vincent Cordasco forced a fumble and recovered the ball ending the threat.
Montclair then went on a 14-play, clock-chewing drive that took 8:51. DiStefano and Anthony Travisano accounted for all the yardage with DiStefano converting a pair of fourth-down plays to keep the drive going.
MSU would punt the ball back to the Knights with 2:22 left and then the defense created its own score as Frank Greco sacked Jones forcing a fumble at the SVU 30. Betts scooped up the ball and raced the other way for the touchdown, his second fumble return for a score in as many weeks.
Joe Falato led the MSU defense with eight tackles, including 2 ½ for losses. Cordasco had seven tackles as did Chris Cimilluca and Jabari Garvin.
The Red Hawks go back out on the road next Saturday, October 15 at Christopher Newport with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 pm.