GARDEN CITY, N.Y., September 8, 2017 – After just two points were scored in the first half, the Monroe College football team exploded for 34 second-half points, including three touchdowns in the first eight minutes after halftime, to claim a 36-7 victory on ,the road at Nassau Community College on Friday. Monroe moves to 2-0 on the year, while Nassau drops to 1-1.
 
Sophomore quarterback Sean Kelly impressed for the second week in a row, totaling five touchdown passes on the day. He completed 14-of-24 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed three times for nine yards and two more scores. He now has five passing touchdowns and four scores on the ground through two games this season.
 
Midway through the first quarter, Nassau took over on its own two-yard line after a 51-yard punt by Jake Smith. Two plays into the drive, Naim Jones was caught in the end zone by Brandon Fernandes and Richard Butler for a safety, putting the Mustangs ahead, 2-0. That was it for the scoring in the first half, as Monroe took that 2-0 lead into the break.
 
De'Ron Maxwell took the second-half kickoff at the Monroe 16-yard line, and returned it 22 yards to the 28. On the first play of the half, Kelly threw deep down the right sideline to Shea Holbrook, who beat the defender and was off to the races, scoring a 72-yard touchdown just 14 seconds into the third quarter and giving the Mustangs a 9-0 edge.
 
Two plays into the next drive, Jones fumbled a handoff, and Tyrik Glenn got on top of the ball first, quickly giving the ball back to the Mustangs on the Nassau 32-yard line. Makiya Caesar opened the drive with a seven-yard run, and then broke off a 23-yard scamper down to the two. Kelly then called his own number, pulling back the handoff and taking it in himself to push Monroe's lead to 16-0.
 
The Lions were in Mustang territory facing a third-and-seven when the Mustangs broke into the backfield and caught quarterback Lavelle Hall for a 13-yard loss on the sack, forcing Nassau to punt. The ensuing snap flew well over the head of the punter, who fell on the ball at the 15-yard line to give the Mustangs the ball deep into Lions territory.
 
Monroe needed just four plays to get into the end zone on another run by Kelly, this time from four yards out, making it a 23-0 game with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
 
The Mustangs later got the ball back on their own 23-yard line with 4:15 on the clock in the third. This time, the Mustangs methodically moved the ball up the field. Facing a third-and-24 at the 30-yard line, Kelly lobbed one up for Tyler Hodge, whose defender fell down, making for an easy touchdown catch in the front-right corner of the end zone, putting the Mustangs up, 29-0.
 
Nassau took advantage of a short kickoff, and quickly found itself on Monroe's side of the field. On second down, quarterback Khalil Trotman was picked off by Dominique Rogers, giving the Mustangs another chance to put points on the board. Monroe took advantage when Kelly tossed up a 42-yard touchdown pass to Nyjaliek Williams to make it 36-0 game. Nassau got on the board with 34 seconds left in the game, but the Mustangs went home with a 29-point victory.
 
Caesar rushed nine times for 89 yards, and caught two passes for 26 yards to continue a hot start to the season. Holbrook also kept his strong start going with four catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. Williams finished with two catches for 58 yards and a score, while Hodge went for 48 yards on two receptions and a touchdown of his own.
 
On defense, Glenn, Lloyd Jackson and Justin McMillian each registered a sack. Glenn finished with an impressive five tackled for loss, nine total tackles and a fumble recovery on the afternoon. Clayton Glasco also had nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Rogers grabbed his second interception in as many games, while Qudair Sims had one of his own and returned it for 74 yards.
 
The Mustangs will look to keep their streak going on Sunday, Sept. 17, when they visit the Wagner College JV football team in Staten Island, N.Y. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs), and follow Mustang football on Twitter (@MJCMustangs).
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