NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., October 21, 2023 – Mason Boothe put himself atop the Monroe College football team's record books on Saturday after tossing four touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to a 28-21 victory over The Apprentice School at Joseph F. Fosina Field. The Mustangs improve to 5-2 overall with the win, while the Builders drop to 2-5 on the season.
 
Boothe finished the day completing 16-of-29 passes for 285 yards, four touchdown passes and two interceptions. Boothe's career-high four touchdowns pushed him from third to first on the career touchdown passes leaderboard, surpassing the previous record set by Dominique Shoffner with a career total of 28. Boothe also tops the Monroe record list with 2,911 career passing yards and 201 pass completions.
 
After each team went scoreless on their first drives, the Mustangs opened the game's scoring on their second possession. On second down, Boothe found Jamel Stubbs completely uncovered, allowing him to take it 68 yards to the house to give Monroe an early 7-0 lead on the Builders.
 
The Builders took over late in the first quarter on their own 23-yard line. Two quick passes from Mason Tatum to Ta'Kevion Petty gave Apprentice gains of 19 and 16 yards to get them into Monroe territory. Kamron Jackson added a 10-yard run to move the chains again. Facing a 4th-and-3, the Builders chose to go for it, and Tatum was able to hit Ricardo Corpus over the middle of the field where he had nobody in front of him, taking it 25 yards for the score to tie the game at 7-7 with 14:03 left in the second.
 
Boothe was picked off on the first play of the next drive by Syncere Hawkins, setting up the Builders in plus territory. Tatum had a long run on third down, taking it 24 yards to Monroe's 16. The Builders were bailed out on another third down by a defensive holding penalty, giving them 1st-and-goal on the seven. Tatum then ran a draw and punched it in, giving the visitors a 14-7 advantage.
 
Late in the second, the Mustangs were pushed back after a holding to their own 28-yard line. That was no matter for Monroe, as Boothe saw Rashawn Reid down the near sideline with a few steps on the defender, hitting him in stride so he could take it 72 yards for the touchdown, knotting the game up at 14-14, which was ultimately the score when the game reached halftime.
 
The Mustangs got the second half started in a big way. With the Builders moving the ball down the field, Montez Minor picked off Tatum and returned it 62 yards, but a penalty put Monroe on the 24-yard line of Apprentice. It took just two plays for the Mustangs to take the lead, as Boothe found Stubbs again for a 24-yard score in the corner of the end zone, putting Monroe ahead, 21-14.
 
The Mustangs had the ball again later in the third deep in their own territory. On 4th-and-1 on the 19, Monroe attempted a fake on a punt attempt, but Donte Rhodes lost his footing trying to hit the edge and went down at the 13-yard, giving the Builders incredible field position. They did not waste any time, as Tatum hit Ernest Harris in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard score, tying the game at 21-21.
 
After a failed punt attempt by the Builders early in the fourth, the Mustangs took over on their own 40-yard line looking to take the lead back. Boothe completed a 14-yard pass to Stubbs early in the drive, and then Charles Alia rumbled for another 14 yards down to Apprentice's 23. Another completion to Stubbs for 12 yards moved the chains and set up the Mustangs on the 11-yard line. On 3rd-and-4, Boothe was able to connect with Deon Metezier on a slant across the middle in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown, putting the Mustangs back in the lead, 28-21.
 
Midway through the fourth, Apprentice opened a drive with a 49-yard completion from Tatum to Tim Blair, leaving the Builders on Monroe's 28-yard line. The Mustangs' defense stepped up from there, keeping the Builders from moving the chains and forcing them to attempt a 40-yard field goal. Jeremiah Morgan's attempt fell short, keeping the Mustangs up by seven.
 
Apprentice had one final drive to try and tie the game with 2:16 left to play. Tatum hit Blair for 12 yards on first down. Two plays later, a holding penalty backed the Builders up to their own 39. After a pass breakup by Jayon Venerable, another hold on third down made it 3rd-and-29 for the Builders. Tatum then attempted two long passes, but they were broken up by Logic Hudgens and Na'il Johnson to turn it over on downs and ice the game.
 
Monroe's pass catchers played a big role in helping Boothe reach those milestone numbers. Stubbs had a career day, catching five passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Reid went 79 yards with a touchdown on two receptions. Metezier led the team with seven receptions, turning that into 64 yards and a score. Alia led Monroe on the ground with 14 carries for 52 yards.
 
Nareece Wright totaled nine tackles on the afternoon, including one for a loss of yards, as well as a pass breakup on a big hit in the second half. Abdoul Kone, Brandon Bish and Darrien Lewis each registered a sack, while Xavier Belton and Zquan Steeps combined for one more. Montez Minor had Monroe's lone takeaway on an interception that he returned for 62 yards. Venerable made two pass breakups, while Johnson, Hudgens, Tony Carter, Da'Vaine Cushnie and Cornelious Miller all picked up a pass defensed in the game. Jeffrey Wilson, Javaree Jackson, Deitron Parker all had a tackle for loss, while Sekou Kromah and Johnson each had a half tackle for loss. Kromah also totaled six tackles on the day.
 
Kicker Patrick Fisher-Butler stepped up for the Mustangs on special teams on Saturday. Due to injuries, Fisher-Butler had to serve as Monroe's kicker and punter in the game. He was good on all four of his extra points in the game, punted the ball five times for 165 yards, and averaged 58.6 yards on five kickoffs with a touchback. Rafael McCoy had 61 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, while Reid had a 35-yard return as well.
 
With back-to-back wins in the books, the Mustangs head back on the road next Saturday, Oct. 28, to visit Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. Next Saturday's kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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