SCRANTON, Pa., October 29, 2022 – Playing rival Lackawanna College for the second time in the same season for the first time in the history of the matchup, the Monroe College Mustangs football team dropped a close 21-14 decision to the No. 12-ranked Falcons on Saturday at PENFED Field at Scranton Memorial Stadium. The Mustangs drop to 3-4 overall with the loss, while the Falcons improve to 5-1.
 
The Mustangs put themselves in a bad spot immediately in Saturday's matchup, a facemask penalty on the opening kickoff to put the Falcons on the 50-yard line. However, three plays into the Falcons' first drive, Quentin Hunter-Colvin picked up quarterback Barry Brown to keep the Falcons off the board.
 
Lackawanna got the ball back just a few minutes later, and put together an eight-play, 54-yard drive to take the lead. Hamas Duren completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Petey Tucker on a 4th-and-6 to make it a 7-0 game.
 
The Mustangs' second possession of the day turned into a long, productive drive. The Mustangs used the ground game to slowly move up the field. A penalty on the Falcons negated a Mustangs' turnover, and they made sure to take advantage of it. Facing 4th-and-17, Mason Boothe made a clutch throw in the middle of the field to Sean Bell Jr. for 22 yards to set up a first down on Lackawanna's 13-yard line. A 12-yard completion to Jamarii Robinson had Monroe on the one-yard line as the teams switched sides of the field at the end of the quarter. A false start pushed Monroe back to the six, but two plays later, Ernest Blackshear punched it in from five yards out, tying the game at 7-7 less than a minute into the second quarter.
 
Lackawanna had a strong drive going on the ensuing possession, but it was Hunter-Colvin making a play once again, intercepting Brown for the second time to end the threat by the Falcons.
 
Later in the quarter, the Falcons had the ball near midfield, but a personal foul penalty had them facing a 3rd-and-25. Duren then had his pass intercepted by Xavier Marquez, the Mustangs' third pick of the day.
 
The Mustangs were unable to capitalize on the turnover, giving the ball back to Lackawanna with 5:27 to play in the half. The Falcons opened the drive with a 24-yard completion to Tucker, but a personal foul penalty added 15 more yards to the play. The Falcons got down to Monroe's five-yard line, where Brown hit Terez Worthy for a five-yard score to put the home team back on top, 14-7, a score the Falcons held through halftime.
 
Lackawanna's first drive of the second half proved to be the difference-maker in the game. Brown managed to complete a 44-yard pass to Tucker, who narrowly stretched the ball over the goal line for a touchdown, making it a 21-7 lead for the Falcons.
 
The Mustangs responded well the next time they received the ball. A short kickoff with a penalty tacked on set Monroe up on Lackawanna's 42-yard line. Another penalty on the drive moved the Mustangs up to the seven-yard line. On third down, Boothe found Bell for a five-yard score, cutting the deficit to 21-14 with 5:49 left in the third.
 
For the remainder of the game, neither team was able to get anything going on offense, resulting in the final score of 21-14.
 
Boothe completed 14-of-36 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown in the game. Blackshear rushed five times for 18 yards and a score. Robinson caught three passes for a team-high 53 yards. Rashaan Tompkins made four catches for 39 yards. Bell made three receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown.
 
Hunter-Colvin had two interceptions for Monroe in the game, while Marquez had one of his own. Each had a pass breakup in the game as well. Marquez and Michel Lucien led the team with six tackles apiece. Tyee Martin and Trei Dansby each registered a tackle for loss, while Sekou Kromah and Dayshawn Coleman combined for another one.
 
The Mustangs will have next weekend off before taking the longest trip in the Mustangs' history in the regular season. On Saturday, Nov. 12, the Mustangs will visit No. 6 Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, in a highly anticipated matchup. Kickoff out in Utah is set for 2 p.m. EST.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well 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 11 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). Read Full Article