MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The No. 15/16 Salisbury University football team showed off a balanced attack and came back from a third-quarter deficit to take down the Montclair St. Red Hawks, 27-24, on Saturday to open their New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) slate.

THE RUNDOWN

Final Score: No. 15/16 Salisbury 27, Monclair St. 24
Records: Salisbury (3-0, 1-0 NJAC) | Montclair St. (1-3, 0-1 NJAC)
Location: Sprague Field – Montclair, N.J.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Quarter

• Salisbury scored first in the middle of the first quarter when Jack Lanham connected with a wide-open Shamar Gray for a 39-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was bobbled to keep it a 6-0 game.

Second Quarter

• After a big loss after a low snap on a punt, Montclair started their opening drive of the second on the Salisbury 11-yard line.
• Montclair capitalized on the good field position and Craig Merkle capped off the short drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The ensuing point-after attempt was missed low to keep the game tied at six with 12:08 to go in the quarter.
• On the ensuing Salisbury drive, Lanham was stripped by Montclair's Michael Stefkov at their own 40 and Montclair recovered the fumble.
• Three plays later, Ralph McLean scored on a 16-yard run to put Montclair up 13-6 with nine and a half left in the half.
• Looking to tie the game before the half and starting at their own eight-yard line following an illegal block on the punt, Salisbury put together a 10-play, 92-yard drive that took five-plus mimutes off of the clock and was highlighted by Lanham's 16-yard scamper for the score to send the game into the half tied at 13.

Third Quarter

• Both teams traded punts in the third quarter before Montclair took the three-point lead as timed expired in the third when Anthony Marinelli hit a 24-yard field goal to give the Red Hawks the 16-13 lead heading to the final frame.

Fourth Quarter

• Salisbury responded to Montclair's field goal with a scoring drive of their own to start the fourth. After a long 41-yard run by Chad Gleason, Lanham would tally his second rushing touchdown of the day on a three-yard rush to put Salisbury up 20-16.
• After Salisbury's defense forced a punt, Salisbury would start a drive on the MSU 32. Salisbury notched a crucial insurance score on a four-yard touchdown run by Gleason to give Salisbury the 27-16 lead with 3:11 left in the game.
• Montclair wouldn't go down without a fight as the Red Hawks marched down the field with Ja'Quill Burch touchdown pass to Kason Campbell to end the drive. Montclair would get the two-point conversion to make it a 27-24 game with 1:05 left in regulation.
• Looking to force overtime, Montclair attempted an onside kick. Marinelli's kick was recovered by Sean Carroll to seal the road win.

GAME NOTES

• Salisbury outgained Montclair, 364-284
• Salisbury gained 235 yards on the ground and 129 yards through the air.
• Jack Lanham accounted for three of Salisbury's touchdowns. He carried the ball 19 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns while going 6-of-12 for 129 yards and a touchdown through the air.
• Chad Gleason registered 84 yards on six carries and added a pair of catches for 48 yards.
• Shamar Gray recorded two catches for 61 yards and a touchdown and toted the rock seven times for 36 yards.
• Mike-Ryan Mofor notched 33 yards on eight carries.
• Patrick Bernardo led the Salisbury defense with nine tackles.
• Sean Carroll racked up six tackles.
• Jamarkus Brumskin had four tackles and two pass breakups.
• Matthew McFarland and Felix Fonmedig each had a tackle for loss.
• Bert Schrecongost went 3-for-3 in point-after attempts.

UP NEXT

• Salisbury returns home on Saturday, Oct. 12 to host the No. 10/12 Wesley Wolverines in the Route 13 Rivalry.
• Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Sea Gull Stadium.
• Live video, stats and audio are available at SUSeaGulls.com.