HILLBURN, N.Y., September 4, 2021 – Despite Hurricane Ida forcing the Monroe College Mustangs football team to relocate its 2021 season opener to the Torne Valley Sports Complex, nearly everything went right for the Mustangs on Saturday, as they opened their season with a big statement, defeating No. 12-ranked Georgia Military College (GMC), 34-16. The Mustangs, who received votes in the initial NJCAA Football Rankings for the season, start the year 1-0, while the Bulldogs fall to 0-1.
 
Shelton Applewhite Jr. got the job done at the helm of the offense, completing 16-of-27 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns. Idrissa Nikiema provided a bunch of points for the Mustangs, catching four passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns, while also making 2-of-3 field goals and all four of his extra-point attempts in the win. Halim Dixon-King led the Mustangs in receiving with 84 yards on three receptions. Cory Gordon contributed 71 yards on a pair of catches, while LaMarcus Brand scored a touchdown on two receptions for 36 yards. Quarterback Roman Purcell also rushed in a score for the Mustangs.
 
Jakai Coker and Samuel Ntui-Ebob led the Mustangs with five tackles apiece on the afternoon. Michael Lufile had the team's lone sack, while each of Miracle Oguamanam, Douglas Blue-Eli, Ntui-Ebob and Johnathon Weir each had a tackle for loss. Edmund Dennis came up with an interception for Monroe. Zharell Walker forced two fumbles in the game, while each of Coker, Shawan Gresham and Jalen Stewart forced one apiece. Gresham, Tyee Martin Jr. and Payton Edwards each recovered a fumble in the win.
 
The Mustangs got an immediate jump on the Bulldogs when Stewart forced a fumble on the opening kickoff, setting up Monroe on GMC's 10-yard line. The Mustangs struggled to move the ball forward, though, settling for a 25-yard field goal from Nikiema to take a 3-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs started their third possession on the Bulldogs' 44-yard line. Troy Booker rushed for eight yards, then Applewhite hit Brand for a 21-yard gain. Two plays later, Applewhite hooked up with Brand in the end zone for a 15-yard score, making it a 10-0 lead for the home team.
 
The ensuing kickoff saw Gresham punch the ball loose and recover the fumble for Monroe, giving the Mustangs another nice break, as they started another possession with first-and-goal on the GMC eight-yard line. After going backwards on first down, Applewhite then connected with Nikiema for a 13-yard score, pushing the lead to 17-0 in the first quarter.
 
Late in the first, Applewhite completed a 53-yard pass to Dixon-King to set the Mustangs up with first-and-goal. They settled for a 27-yard field goal by Nikiema on the drives, but took a commanding 20-0 lead just a few seconds into the second quarter.
 
Monroe kept rolling on its next possession after taking over on their own 33. Kimon O'Sullivan got the drive started with a 17-yard run to midfield. On third down, Applewhite found Cory Gordon for 23 yards. A screen to Booker gained 15 yards for another first down, eventually setting up a nine-yard touchdown pass to Nikiema to push Monroe's lead to 27-0.
 
Late in the half, Georgia Military took over on Monroe's 43 after Tayler Gant returned a punt 21 yards. On 4th-and-4 from the 37, Peyton Rich found K.J. Rose wide open down the far sideline where he was able to take it over the goal line for a touchdown, getting the Bulldogs on the scoreboard and sending the game to the half with a 27-7 score in favor of Monroe.
 
The Mustangs got the ball to start the second half, and made their first possession count. On 3rd-and-8, Applewhite hit Dixon-King for 19 yards to move the chains. He then dropped a dime down the field to Nikiema, who fought off a defender for a 56-yard gain down to the five. After some penalties pushed Monroe backwards, Purcell was able to eventually run one in from five yards out to make it a 34-7 lead for the Mustangs.
 
Later in the third, after giving up a pair of big gains on back-to-back plays, Dennis jumped in front of a long pass down the near sideline for an interception, ending GMC's threat. Monroe forced another turnover with less than a minute to go in the third when Walker forced the ball loose from Reed Charpia and Tyee Martin Jr. jumped on it to get the ball back for Monroe.
 
After stalling on fourth in Georgia Military territory, the Mustangs gave the ball back to the Bulldogs with 12:41 to play in the fourth. The Bulldogs were able to move downfield, aided by a 40-yard reception by Rose, eventually scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Rich to Colby Cruz, making it a 34-14 game.
 
The Mustangs were forced to punt on their next possession, but a botched snap eventually resulted in a safety, making it a 34-16 score, but after forcing a three-and-out, the Mustangs were able to run out the clock and end the game with an 18-point victory.
 
The Mustangs produced 364 yards of total offense in the win, while also forcing four turnovers. 310 of those yards came via the pass. Monroe had 19 first downs in the game, while allowing just 12 to the Bulldogs. The Mustangs also possessed the ball for 37:01 in the game.
 
After an eventful week, the Mustangs have next weekend off before returning to action on Saturday, Sept. 18. They will hit the road to take on Nassau Community College, currently the No. 1-ranked team in the newly established Division III of the NJCAA. Kickoff in Garden City, N.Y. is set for 1 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 39 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 18 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).