MOUNT VERNON, N.Y., November 4, 2023 – Saturday's matchup at The Stadium at Memorial Field looked like it was about to get out of hand early in the first half, but the Monroe College football team fought its way back into the game against No. 14 Lackawanna College to eventually force overtime. The Mustangs ultimately dropped a 38-36 final to the Falcons after two thrilling overtime periods. The Mustangs fall to 6-3 overall with the loss, seeing their three-game winning streak come to an end, while the Falcons improve to 7-2 and sweep the season series against Monroe.
 
The Mustangs looked to have things moving on the opening possession of the game after a huge 51-yard run by Kyon Barnes quickly put them in Lackawanna territory, but an interception on the next play turned the tables toward Lackawanna. The Falcons then had a few big plays on what became a seven-play, 76-yard drive, capped off by a Terrez Worthy seven-yard touchdown run, giving the visitors an early 7-0 lead.
 
Monroe's next drive once again found its way into Lackawanna's side of the field, but Monroe ended up turning it over on downs to give the Falcons a chance to improve upon its lead. It did just that three plays into the drive when Worthy broke off a 61-yard touchdown run. However, on the ensuing point-after attempt, Jayon Venerable broke through a blocked the kick, and Jessiah Gildersleeve was able to scoop it up and take it all the way to the end zone to earn two points for Monroe and make it a 13-2 game.
 
With some added momentum in hand, Barnes opened the next drive with an 18-yard run. Boothe later hit Trevion Thomas for 10 yards, and then Deon Metezier for 14. A second-down completion to Diego Lamonica moved the chains again for the Mustangs. The Mustangs moved the ball down to Lackawanna's five-yard line, but three straight runs went backwards, forcing the Mustangs to settle for a field goal. Patrick Fisher-Butler was good from 25 yards out to make it a 13-5 game.
 
The Falcons followed that up with a long drive. A roughing the passer penalty on the Mustangs had things going the wrong way. Quarterback Hamas Duren kept the chains moving with a 17-yard pass to Avohn Cross. After keeping it on the ground for much of the drive, Worthy finished the job with a 14-yard touchdown run to make it a 20-5 lead for Lackawanna in the second quarter.
 
The Mustangs went three-and-out on their next possession, but Lackawanna's next drive ended up giving Monroe the momentum it needed. A short punt by Monroe allowed the Falcons to take over on the Mustangs' 30-yard line. Duren went deep on the first play, but Tony Carter dove in front of it and intercepted the ball on the three-yard line to take it back for Monroe.
 
The Mustangs took to the air to work their way out of their own end zone. Boothe went to Metezier for eight on first down, then found Thomas for five yards to get a first down. He got it to Thomas for another five yards on the next play, but then hit Rafael McCoy for a long 65-yard catch-and-run, putting the Mustangs on Lackawanna's 14-yard line. Thomas caught another 10-yard pass to make it first-and-goal for Monroe. On second down, Thomas made his fourth reception of the drive, this time for a four-yard touchdown, finishing off a seven-play, 97-yard drive to make it a 20-12 game.
 
The Falcons made a couple miscues the next time they had the ball, with a penalty and a self-inflicted fumble pushing them back to the goal line. A short punt later left the Mustangs on Lackawanna's 27-yard line. Charles Alia got into the game and made an immediate impact with runs of seven and 11 yards to make it goal-to-go for Monroe. An encroachment penalty by the Falcons put Monroe on the five. Donte Rhodes then checked into the game, took the snap and pushed his way into the end zone. The Mustangs went for two to tie the game, but a false start made it that much more difficult to do so. Monroe still went for it, but came up just short on a pass from Boothe to Jamel Stubbs, leaving the Mustangs down, 20-18.
 
Lackawanna opened the third with the ball. Down on Monroe's end of the field, the Falcons chose to go for it on fourth down, but Duren managed to just get three of the four yards he needed before Nareece Wright made the stop, turning it over on downs back to the Mustangs.
 
Another long Barnes run, this time for 33 yards, had the Mustangs moving. The Mustangs nearly had a big touchdown from Boothe to Jahqiel St. Cyr, but it was called back on a holding penalty. The Mustangs were ultimately forced to punt instead.
 
As the game moved to the fourth quarter, Lackawanna was on Monroe's side of the field. On fourth down at Monroe's 33, the Falcons lined up to punt, but the snap went directly to Devin Harper instead, but Logic Hudgens sniffed it out and made the stop behind the line of scrimmage, getting the ball back for Monroe in a two-point game. However, Barnes had the ball punched out on first down, giving it right back to the Falcons.
 
This time, the Falcons managed to capitalize on the opportunity given to them. Duren completed a 38-yard pass to Petey Tucker to get inside the red zone. Duren finished off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Worthy, crossing the goal line for the fourth time on the evening, to push Lackawanna's lead to 27-18, with just 8:35 to play.
 
The Mustangs got the ball back on their own 35-yard line needing to move quickly down two possessions. Boothe quickly moved the chains with an 11-yard run, and then kept them moving with an 18-yard pass to Thomas. A holding call did not hinder Monroe's drive, as Boothe responded with yet another completion to Thomas for 23 yards. A 13-yard reception by McCoy had Monroe in the red zone, but the Mustangs struggled from there with three incompletions. Fisher-Butler got the points Monroe needed with a 32-yard field goal to make it a 27-21 game.
 
The Mustangs' defense then immediately came up with the big play that Mustangs needed on the first play of the Falcons' next possession. Worthy tried to take a carry toward the sideline, but he was met by Anthony Henriquez, who jarred the ball loose, allowing Sekou Kromah to fall on it and get the ball back for the Mustangs. On the very next play, Alia hit a whole and sprinted toward the pylon for a 22-yard touchdown run to tie the game. However, Fisher-Butler's extra point was blocked by Saint McLeod, keeping the game tied at 27-27 with 4:35 on the clock.
 
The two teams traded punts before Lackawanna had one more chance to get downfield and score. Monroe's defense came through after the Falcons got into Mustang territory. With just a few seconds left on the clock, the Falcons lined up for what would have been a 46-yard field goal to win the game. However, an errant snap was then bounced around, seeing Gildersleeve pick it up with a head of steam before a hand caught his ankle and tripped him up before he could score a miraculous walk-off touchdown, sending the game to overtime.
 
The Falcons got the ball first in overtime and took just three plays to get down to Monroe's six-yard line. On third down, Worthy dropped what looked like it would have been a touchdown, forcing the Falcons to settled for a 22-yard field goal from Benjamin Paserk to give them the first lead of the extra frame.
 
The Mustangs had a great chance to win the game after getting their chance. Boothe hit Rashawn Reid for 11 yards, and then Alia rushed for 10 to get down to the four. Alia was then hit in the back field on first down for a big loss, and Monroe's next two passes fell incomplete. Fisher-Butler kept the game going with a 25-yard field goal to send the contest to a second overtime.
 
Monroe had the ball first this time. Facing third-and-five, Boothe went to the back corner of the end zone, hitting Stubbs in his outstretched hands for a 20-yard score. With no more extra-point attempts allowed after the first overtime, the Mustangs had to go for two. Their first attempt saw the Falcons get called for a holding penalty, cutting the distance in half for the Mustangs. Boothe then tried to go what they call in Philadelphia the "brotherly shove" but the Falcons were able to keep him from crossing the goal line, leaving Monroe up, 36-30.
 
On second down of Lackawanna's possession, Duren found Tucker for 12 yards, but a late hit on Monroe moved the ball to the six. Duren completed a six-yard touchdown to Jaehlan Joyner to tie the game and give the Falcons a chance to win. Duren called his own number, breaking a tackle and stretching the ball over the goal line for two, winning the game for the Falcons at the end of double overtime, 38-36.
 
Boothe went 20-of-38 for 273 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday. This was Boothe's fifth straight game with two-or-more touchdowns and his third straight game with more than 270 passing yards. Kyon Barnes had a career day with 131 rushing yards on 18 carries. Alia ran hard as well, finishing with 51 yards on nine attempts with a touchdown.
 
Monroe's receivers had some big days as well. McCoy caught four passes, including his 65-yarder, for a season-best 102 yards. Thomas was Boothe's safety blanket all night long, producing career-bests with nine receptions and 90 yards, adding a touchdown as well. Stubbs made his lone reception count with a 20-yard touchdown in double overtime.
 
Xavier Belton was Monroe's leading tackler on Saturday with nine total takedowns. Henriquez had a big day on defense, making eight tackles, including 1.5 for a loss of yards, while also forcing a huge fumble in the fourth. Carter had an interception and four tackles in the game. Gildersleeve and Kromah each picked up a fumble, registering seven and five tackles, respectively. Hudgens and Mysonne Pollard each broke up a pass on Saturday.
 
Fisher-Butler made all three of his field goal attempts on the evening, but was 1-for-2 on extra points after one was blocked. He averaged 63.2 yards on six kickoffs, including four touchbacks.
 
The Mustangs outgained the Falcons, 473-430, on the day, averaging 6.6 yards per play compared to 5.8 for Lackawanna. Monroe also held a narrow 24-22 edge in first downs in the game.
 
The Mustangs are set welcome another highly ranked team to The Stadium at Memorial Field next Saturday, Nov. 11, when No. 4 Snow College makes its first trip to New York to take on Monroe after the Mustangs made a visit to Utah last season. The Mustangs and Badgers go head-to-head next Saturday at 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.
 
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