MOUNT VERNON, N.Y., September 7, 2024 – After a tough outing last week in Kansas to open the 2024 season, the Monroe University Mustangs football team rebounded in front of the home crowd at The Stadium at Memorial Field on Saturday, defeating Sussex County Community College, 21-6, to end a two-game skid against the Skylanders over the last two seasons. The Mustangs even their record at 1-1 on the year with the win, while the Skylanders drop to 0-1.
 
After the first two drives of the game did not produce much for either side, Sussex County's second possession gave the Skylanders the first lead of the evening. On a third-and-six just past midfield, Maurice Williams hit Brion Dorsey for a deep 41-yard reception down to Monroe's three-yard line. Two plays later, Maurice Williams punched it in for the Skylanders touchdown. On the point-after attempt, Freddie Lenix blew into the backfield and blocked the kick. Keeping the Skylanders' lead at 6-0.
 
The Mustangs had the ball moving on their next drive, but Raeden Oliver was picked off a Sussex's 33-yard line, halting the momentum and giving the ball back to the visitors. Monroe's defense stepped up to keep the Skylanders off the board and prevent them from expanding the lead.
 
Early in the second quarter, the Skylanders took over on their 20-yard line after a Monroe punt. On the first play of the drive, Kendal Stewart took a handoff on a pitch to the left where he was blown up by Matthew Courtney, jarring the ball into the air for Kareem Lewis to grab it and recover the fumble for Monroe to give the Mustangs great field position. Five plays later, Rodreckus Johnson crossed the line untouched to score Monroe's first touchdown of the season and tie the game. Luis Tejada was good on the extra point to put the Mustangs ahead, 7-6.
 
The Skylanders had the ball with 4:35 left in the half and put together a long drive. After 11 plays, they pushed the ball down to Monroe's 13-yard line with time running thin. Ja Bonner dropped back to pass, but his throw was tipped at the line, allowing Loic Germain to catch the ball on one knee at the four-yard line for an interception, keeping the Skylanders off the board once again and allowing the game to go to halftime with Monroe on top, 7-6.
 
The Mustangs looked to be in trouble early in the third quarter. Three plays into their first drive, Raeden Oliver completed a pass to Jashaun Amin, but Amin was hit hard by Sussex County's Jamil Peterson and the ball came loose, allowing Daylin Gooden to scoop it up and return it 21 yards to Monroe's 21-yard line. Monroe's defense picked up the offense after the Skylanders reached first-and-goal on the 10, pushing them backwards before the Skylanders decided to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 23-yard line. Williams hit Stewart at the line of scrimmage, but Courtney came flying in once again to force another fumble. The Skylanders recovered this time, but turned the ball over on downs back to Monroe.
 
The teams then traded punts until the Mustangs took over on their own 26 midway through the third. Sean Robinson took a handoff and cut out to the Skylanders' sideline with plenty of speed for a 37-yard run down to Sussex's 32. Oliver then found Lasalle Rose wide open cutting up the seam for a 32-yard catch-and-run into the end zone for another Mustang touchdown, pushing Monroe's lead to 14-6 with 5:38 left in the third.
 
The Mustangs' defense continued to make clutch plays on the ensuing Skylanders drive. With third-and-10 just across midfield, Bonner dropped back and was swallowed up by Justice Jordan, who knocked the ball loose and recovered it to take the ball back for Monroe with just a minute left in the quarter. And then less than a minute into the fourth, Oliver found Donovan Brown in stride on a deep fade toward the near corner of the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass, stretching the lead to 21-6 with 14:11 to play.
 
The defense continued to hold while Monroe's offense did its best to run out the rest of the clock down the stretch in Saturday's contest. The defense forced a punt and three turnovers on downs in the fourth to wrap up the 15-point victory.
 
Oliver completed 15-of-24 passes for 163 yard and two touchdowns in Saturday's win. Three of those completions went to Brown, who turned them into 62 yards and his first touchdown. Rose caught three passes for 45 yards and his first score of the season. Robinson rushed 12 times for 78 yards while catching two passes for two more yards.
 
Courtney was flying all over the field for the Mustangs on defense on Saturday, tying for the team lead with six total tackles while picking up two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and a tackle for loss. Lenix impressed in the secondary with six tackles and three pass breakups while blocking an extra point on special teams. Jordan picked up 1.5 sacks with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup at the line of scrimmage. Lewis totaled five tackles with a sack, a pass defended and a fumble recovery in the game. Loic Germain came away with Monroe's lone interception in the win. Ty Boler, Ja'Von Barnes and Romello Flowers all broke up passes in the game as well. Ahshod Hill had a half sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a QB hurry in the game.
 
The Mustangs get a week off this coming week before getting back to work the following Friday, Sept. 20, with their annual visit to Staten Island to take on the Wagner College JV team. Kickoff at Wagner 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.
 
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