Game Leaders
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Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
Union, NJ – Senior wide receiver Carsen Johnson set school records for receiving yards and yards per catch finishing with five for 212 yards and a touchdown as Montclair State rolled past Kean University, 41-12 in its return to action since the end of the 2019 season.
Senior Zahir Wilder returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown while kicker Anthony Marinelli connected on a pair of field goals for the Red Hawks (1-0), who were playing their first game since a 40-12 win over Kean on November 16. MSU won its fourth straight against Kean and improved to 37-9 all-time against the Cougars.
Johnson broke the single-game mark of 197 set by Bryan Scipio against Kean in 1986 and equaled by Eric Magrini versus Iona in 2001. Johnson averaged 42.4 yards per reception, breaking Amod Field's 1989 mark of 38.2 at Trenton State (now The College of NJ).
It took just 12 seconds for Montclair to put the first points on the board as Wilder took the opening kickoff and raced 93 yards for the touchdown. It was the first career return for Wilder, the first for MSU since Kason Campbell went 91 yards against Southern Virginia in 2018, and the longest since Bill Harrell's record 95-yard return against Cheyney in 1955.
MSU increased the lead to 14-0 on its next possession as Ja'Quill Burch connected with Johnson on a 55-yard scoring strike with 10:36 left. The two would connect on a 76-yard completion in the second when the Red Hawk marched 86 yards in six plays, capped by a Makai Mickens 1-yard run extending the lead to 21-0 with just over eight minutes to play.
Kean answered that with a touchdown of its own, however, the Red Hawks countered that with a Burch 34-yard touchdown toss to Clarence Wilkins with 3:48 remaining before halftime. Wilkins blocked a punt to help set up MSU's final score of the half, a 41-yard field goal by Anthony Marinelli sending Montclair into the locker room with a 31-6 lead.
Marinelli hit from 28 yards out midway through the third quarter with Adrian Sanchez scampering 15 yards for a touchdown to close out the Red Hawks scoring drive.
Burch finished 11-of-22 for 284 yards through the air. Brian Kowalczyk had three receptions. Seamus Nelson led the MSU defense with eight tackles with Mike Ramos and Michael Stefkovich (one sack) each totaling seven.
The Red Hawks outgained Kean, 359-251.
MSU is back at Sprague Field for the first time since the 2019 finale next Saturday, March 20 hosting Wesley College at 1:00 pm.