NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., September 1, 2023 – The Monroe College football program kicks off its second season under the leadership of Head Coach Kevin Pulley this Saturday, Sept. 2, when the Mustangs visit Nassau Community College. The Mustangs have their sights set on improving from a year ago and becoming a more cohesive, fortified unit in all three aspects of the game.
 
The Mustangs finished 2022 with a 3-5 overall record after putting together one of the toughest schedules the program has ever had to face. Monroe played five games against teams that finished the season in the NJCAA Football Rankings, four of which were played on the road. The Mustangs also made their first-ever trip out to Utah to take on Snow College, ranked No. 5 at the time, for that week's NJCAA Game of the Week on ESPN+.
 
The Mustangs return some key players on both sides of the line of scrimmage for 2023. Starting quarterback Mason Boothe returns for his redshirt sophomore season, while second-leading rusher Justin McDuffie is also back in the fold for the offense. On defense, Nareece Wright, who finished 2022 second on the team in total tackles, leads the way heading into 2023. Sekou Kromah, Jessiah Gildersleeve, Xavier Belton, Ian Brown and Abdoul Kone are also a group of familiar names that were key contributors last season and looking to build upon their performances in the new campaign.
 
The Mustangs open the year against NJCAA Div. III's No. 5-ranked team, Nassau, out in Uniondale on Saturday. The Mustangs will be back on the road the following week when they visit the Wagner College JV team in Staten Island on Friday, Sept. 8.
 
Monroe's home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 16, when they host first-time opponent Community Christian College (Mich.) at Joseph F. Fosina Field in New Rochelle.
 
The Mustangs then go on back-to-back road trips to take on a pair of nationally ranked opponents. On Saturday, Sept. 23, they will take on No. 11 Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga., the third straight year the Mustangs and Bulldogs have faced off. The Mustangs won at home two years ago, and then the Bulldogs picked up a win on their home turf last season. Monroe then gets a week off before visiting No. 12 Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 7.
 
One week later, the Mustangs will be down in North Carolina to take on Louisburg College, a team they have not played since 2019. They then return home for the annual Homecoming Game, in which the Mustangs will host The Apprentice School on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m.
 
The Mustangs go back on the road for an Oct. 28 matchup at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. The following week will see the Mustangs host a rematch against Lackawanna at Fosina Field on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 4 p.m. No. 10 Snow College will then visit New Rochelle for the first time even on Saturday, Nov. 11, in a 1 p.m. contest. The Mustangs then wrap up the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 18, with a short trip into New Jersey to take on Sussex County Community College.
 
The Mustangs get their season going tomorrow, Sept. 2, at Nassau Community College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Mitchel Athletic Complex.
 
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).