SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 23 Salisbury University football team returns to Sea Gull Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24th, for Senior Day as the Sea Gulls welcome the Montclair State University Red Hawks for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Salisbury enters the contest with a 5-1 overall record and a 2-1 mark in NJAC play. The Sea Gulls are coming off a dominant 49-0 road victory over Vermont State University Castleton, while Montclair State stands at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play after a 21-14 loss to Christopher Newport. Both teams will look to strengthen their position in the NJAC race as the regular season continues.
THE RUNDOWN
GAME NOTES
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
TICKETS
The Series: Salisbury holds an 11-3 advantage in the all-time series against Montclair State and has won the last 10 meetings between the programs. The Sea Gulls earned a 56-21 victory in last season's matchup on Oct. 18, 2025, in Montclair, New Jersey. Salisbury has continued to control the series since 2015, with its most recent win extending the program's winning streak against the Red Hawks to 10 games. The first meeting between the teams came in 1986, when Salisbury claimed a 13-6 victory.
Last Time Out: Salisbury delivered a dominant defensive performance in its 49-0 win over Vermont State Castleton on Oct. 17. The Sea Gulls held the Spartans scoreless while building on their strong start to the 2026 campaign. Salisbury's offense continued to feature a balanced rushing attack, led throughout the season by quarterback SyRus McGowan and running back Dario Belizaire. McGowan entered the week with 376 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, while Belizaire had totaled 266 rushing yards and 254 receiving yards through six games.
Scouting the Red Hawks: Montclair State enters Saturday averaging 29.7 points and 409 yards of total offense per game. The Red Hawks have built their offensive identity around a productive rushing attack, averaging 208.2 rushing yards per contest, while adding 206.3 yards per game through the air. Running back Diante Wilson is Montclair State's leading offensive threat, recording 712 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns through six games. Quarterback Luke Henrich has thrown for 1,198 yards and five touchdowns. Through the air, TJ Kachala leads the Red Hawks with 536 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 33 catches. Defensively, Montclair State has allowed 18.8 points per game. Linebacker Jahmir Beal leads the team with 45 tackles and five interceptions, while William Canavan has recorded 42 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Ground Game: Salisbury's rushing attack remains a key part of the Sea Gulls' offensive success. The team averages 254.2 rushing yards per game and has scored 23 rushing touchdowns through six contests. McGowan leads the team with 376 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while Belizaire has added 266 yards and two scores. Malachi Dokes has contributed five rushing touchdowns, giving Salisbury multiple options in the red zone.
Defensive Dominance: The Sea Gulls have been one of the toughest defensive teams in the conference, allowing just 9.7 points and 229.5 total yards per game. Salisbury has limited opponents to 107.3 rushing yards per contest and has allowed only one passing touchdown through six games. Tyler Ohlmeyer leads the defensive unit with 47 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Dylan Lyerly has added 45 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Up Next: Salisbury heads back on the road next Saturday, Oct. 31, to face William Paterson University. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Wayne, New Jersey.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 26 individual national championships, and 211 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
