Sep 14, 2024
Montclair, NJ– The game went down to the final second of regulation, but a chip-field goal from sophomore kicker Greg Casimir helped the Montclair State University football team walk off Gettysburg, 27-26 during their season opener on Saturday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Red Hawks got the ball first and put together a good nine-play, 47-yard drive that was highlighted by Henry Lewis ripping off a 30-yard run on his first carry of the season. Montclair was not able to score points however on a missed field goal attempt that led to Gettysburg putting together a huge 20-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a one-yard receiving yard touchdown. The score was kept at 6-0 after Markens Pierre blocked the point-after-attempt.
- Montclair fumbled the ensuing kickoff and handed the ball right back to Gettysburg, who put together another touchdown drive that ended deep inside the redzone again with a four-yard touchdown reception for 13-0 lead after this PAT was successful with 14:03 left to go in the second quarter.
- After each team had two drives that ended in punts, The Red Hawks got the ball with 6:10 left in the half. The team proceeded to put together a 10-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Lewis punching it in from a yard out to cut the lead to 13-6 after a blocked extra point.
- On the next Bullets drive, Ryan Visalli made an incredible one-handed interception and the offense capitalized on the great field position that started on the Gettysburg 28. Lewis collected his second touchdown of the drive, this time from four yards out. The PAT was missed however and the score went 13-12 Bullets into the half.
- Gettysburg punted their first drive away and Montclair started putting together a great first drive, even backed up at their own two-yard line. The drive included a 17-yard run from Lewis, a 22-yard reception to Jaden Peart, and a 16-yard run from Jimmy Pepe. The offense got down to the Bullets 34, but the drive took a turn for the worse as a pass was intercepted and returned the distance for a pick-six and Gettysburg widened the gap, 20-12.
- The Red Hawks were forced to punt and the Bullets compiled a drive all the way down to the Montclair 11. They were forced to try and settle for three and just when Gettysburg was believed to take a two-possession lead, the field goal was blocked by Julius Barriteau and scooped up by Visalli, who brought it to the house for a touchdown. Montclair State University tried to tie the game on a two-point conversion, but failed and made the score 20-18 with 1:07 left in the third quarter.
- It wasn't until the fourth when the next points were scored and it was the Red Hawks who eventually took their first lead of the game. An 11-play, 84-yard drive was capped off with Aidan McLaughlin connecting with Jamie Hamilton for a 22-yard reception touchdown to give themselves a 24-20 lead with 4:02 remaining in regulation.
- The ensuing drive started on the Gettysburg 17. The best chance the defense had to end the game on that drive was a 4th & 14 on the GC 36-yard line but the Bullets kept the drive going on a 16-yard catch. With 52 seconds left, the Bullets connected on a 32-yard touchdown throw that gave them a 26-24 lead and it stayed that score after a failed 2-point conversion
- With just seconds on the clock, The Red Hawks only needed a field goal and on their own 35, McLaughlin fired a deep shot Ahmirr Robinson who caught it for a 46-yard gain and brought them into field goal territory. The offense eventually got the ball to the one-yard line and all it took for Casimir was to hit a 17-yard field goal, which he kicked in as time expired to give the Red Hawks the opening-game victory.
INSIDE THE RESULTS
- Nicholas Burgess notched 13 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. Visalli collected the most solo tackles on the day with seven for a total of nine
- Lewis had his first multi-touchdown performance of his Red Hawks career
- Montclair State University only had one negative run play on 30 total attempts on the afternoon.
FROM THE FIELD
- "We preach resiliency. The game certainly didn't go the way we thought it would, but our captains and leaders did a great jo keeping our sideline together and believing in our culture. We kept getting punched in the mouth, but we kept punching back" Head Coach Mike Palazzo
UP NEXT
Montclair State hits the road for the first time this season as they travel to match up with Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, September 21. Kickoff of that game is scheduled for 1:30pm.