NELSONVILLE, Ohio, November 9, 2019 – A number of single-game records were smashed on Saturday, as No. 17 Monroe Football had a huge day on both sides of ball to pick up a 63-0 shutout victory at Hocking College in the Mustangs' final regular-season contest of the 2019 season. The Mustangs improved to 8-2 on the year with the win, while Hocking drops to 3-6.  
 
It was a day to remember for the Mustang offense, as quarterback Dominique Shoffner and wide receivers Lucas Nunez and Jevin Frett all made history out in Ohio. Shoffner set a new single-game record with seven total touchdowns scored, while tying the Monroe record for touchdown passes in a game with five (Sean Kelly, Oct. 15, 2016 at Lackawanna).
 
Nunez caught four touchdown passes in the win, surpassing the previous single-game high of three touchdown receptions, which had been achieved three times. His four touchdowns also tied the single-game record for most touchdowns scored in a game, rushing or receiving (Devonta Barnfield, Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Thaddeus Stevens). Frett also got in on the history-making day, as he and Shoffner hooked up for a 93-yard touchdown, the longest pass reception in Mustang history.
 
Shoffner completed 18-of-25 passes for 323 yards and five touchdowns in the win. He added eight rushes for 29 yards and another two scores. Shoffner finishes the regular season with nearly every single-season passing record in Monroe football history, and has also taken the lead from teammate Clayton Scott for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season in program history (14).
 
Frett's 93-yard touchdown highlighted a four-catch, 120-yard afternoon. Nunez finished with 6 receptions for 104 yards and four scores. Both receivers are now up to eight touchdown receptions on the season, tying each other for a new program single-season record. Frett now stands alone in first for the most receiving yards in a season with 720.
 
Marquise Cooper led the Mustangs on the ground with 62 yards on 11 carries. Scott carried the ball nine times, scoring his 13th touchdown of the season in the process.
 
Emmanuel Appiah-Takyi had a big day in the secondary. He came down with his NJCAA-leading eighth interception of the season, and added four pass breakups and a tackle. Tyrik Carter also had an interception in the game, adding a pair of pass breakups and two tackles. Zharell Walker forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in the win, while Tim Donnahue also managed to force and recover a fumble. Donnahue also led the team with seven tackles.
 
Kicker Idrissa Nikiema was consistent as always, making all nine extra point attempts while averaging 53.5 yards on 10 kickoffs. He also caught two passes for eight yards. Suquan Stays also came up with a big special teams play, blocking a punt early in the win.
 
Monroe had its foot on the gas right from the start on Saturday, scoring three times in the first quarter. Shoffner hooked up with Nunez in the end zone for the first time on a 15-yard score to make it 7-0. Scott then plunged in from three yards out to double the lead. Monroe went up 21-0 late in the first when Shoffner rushed it in from one yard out.
 
Nunez scored his second of the day midway through the second quarter on a six-yard receiving touchdown to push the lead to 28. Walker then picked up Tony White III's fumble and returned it 38 yards for a defensive touchdown to make it a 35-0 game. Carter's second-quarter interception left the Mustangs on their own seven-yard line, but that's when Shoffner was able to hit Frett for a 93-yard catch and run to run the score to 42-0. Monroe got it back one more time in the second, resulting in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Shoffner to Nunez to reach a score of 49-0 heading into halftime.
 
The Mustangs mostly looked to run out the clock in the second half, but they still managed to put a few more points on the board. Shoffner found Nunez for his fourth touchdown reception midway through the third quarter on a 16-yard pass to make it 56-0. Shoffner then punched it in once more on the ground from two yards out in the fourth quarter to reach the final score of 63-0.
 
The Mustangs totaled 468 yards of offense in the game while holding the Hawks to 212 yards from scrimmage. Monroe picked up 26 first downs, while holding the Hawks to just nine in the win. The Mustangs converted 8-of-12 third downs and 2-of-2 fourth downs, while allowing the Hawks to convert only 4-of-12 third downs and 2-of-6 fourth downs.
 
The regular season is now in the rear view for the Mustangs. Monroe has tied a program record with eight wins, matching their total from the 2017 season, in which the Mustangs also went 8-2. As a highly ranked team, the Mustangs are in contention to earn an invitation to their second straight bowl game.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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).