NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Monroe College football team improved to 2-2 on the season, with a 35-14 upset of #15 Globe Tech on Saturday in New Rochelle. The strong play of the defense and the Mustangs’ rushing attack, both keyed the victory. Donte Carter rushed for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jalen Jones added 44 yards and a score.
The Knights won the toss and took the opening kickoff. They picked up a first down and got into Monroe territory, when the special teams made a big play on fourth down. In a fourth-and-six, Globe lined up to punt, but ran a fake. Jeray Demby tackled the ball carrier to earn a turnover on downs.
The ensuing Mustangs possession resulted in an interception and Globe had the ball on their own 33. Later in that drive, on a third-and-nine from the Monroe 38, Anthony Cruz threw a pass that was intercepted by Sidney Gopre at the 36 yardline. He went 64 yards the other way for a touchdown. He got a key block from Kamal Hardy at the eight yardline to help spring him for the score. Elio Rodriguez made the first of five extra points and Monroe led 7-0.
The next time Monroe had the ball they scored again. The drive started with 7:06 left in the first. Four plays into the drive gave the Mustangs a fourth-and-three from the Knights’ 35. On the play, Jones scrambled and dodged his way for 34 yards to the one yardline. He scored on a rush on the next play. On the next Globe drive, Gopre forced a fumble that was recovered by Hardy. The Mustangs ended up giving the ball back to the Knights, but they were forced to punt. At the end of the first quarter, Monroe led the #15 team in the country, 14-0.
Neither side did much in the second quarter until Globe started a drive with 4:47 left in the half. They had an incomplete pass and a short rush, which set up a third-and-eight from their own 37. Cruz dropped back to pass and his throw was intercepted by Daejon Weeks who returned the ball 28 yards into Globe territory.
On a third-and-six from the Globe 34, Jones threw a quick slant to Chris Lessard who broke down the near sidline for a 34-yard touchdown. The pitch and catch made the score 21-0 for the Mustangs with 2:39 left in the half. Monroe would lead 21-0 at the break.
Globe kicked off to the Mustangs to open the half. On the first offensive play, Carter broke out a 78 yard touchdown run to put Monroe ahead, 28-0. The #15 team in the country was shutout and trailed by four scores well into the third quarter. Darius Webb finally got the Knights on the board late in the quarter when he scampered into the end zone from a yard out. The ensuing extra point was blocked by Kamal Hardy on the Monroe special teams. The quarter ended with Monroe ahead, 28-6.
Webb picked up his second touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter. The Knights converted the two-point-play and temporarily gave the Mustangs a scare to pull within 28-14. From there, Monroe had a drive that ended with a Curtis Pendleton punt that was downed at the Globe four yardline. On the ensuing possession, Globe fumbled the ball on the ten yardline and Gerron Pendarvis was at the bottom of the pile with the ball.
A penalty on the Knights put the ball inside the five on a first down. Two plays later, Carter plunged in from a yard out and Monroe went ahead, 35-14. Globe had the ball two more times in the game and turned the ball over on downs both times. Monroe went on to win 35-14.
The defense stopped Globe five different times on fourth down. Daivon Nixon led the Mustangs with 11 tackles and a pair of pass breakups. The Monroe College football team returns to the gridiron on Saturday, October 10, when they face Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York. The kickoff is slated for 1PM.