NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A balanced effort from both the offense and defense propelled the Monroe College Football team to a 52-0 win over Thaddeus Stevens College on Saturday. This was the Mustangs’ third shutout of the season.
Ryan Fulse was the offensive star once again for Monroe, surpassing 100 rushing yards for the fifth time in six contests. Fulse, who is currently the top-ranked player in the NJCAA for yards per game, added to his total with 180 yards on the ground in just seven carries and scored three touchdowns. He broke an 80-yard scamper early in the second quarter.
Monroe scored 21 points in the first quarter, two by Fulse and another by Aaron Williams. The second quarter saw the Mustangs push the lead to 35-0 on a long scamper from Fulse and a touchdown pass from Sean Kelly to Malique Merchant. The toss covered 46 yards. The pass was set up by a fake punt by Monroe at their own five. On a fourth-and-six, punter Jared Calhoun took the snap and ran to his right for 14 yards and a first down. The play was made by Calhoun on his own; as he later said, “When I broke the huddle, I noticed no one on the right. I made up my mind before the snap that I would go.”
Monroe went deep into its bench in the second half, getting touchdowns from Tyri Beard on a run and an interception return from Xavier Brathwaite. Finally, Calhoun capped the scoring with a 43-yard field goal. The Mustangs won, 52-0.
On offense, Curtis Carr saw his first action of the season and broke a 39-yard run en route to 55 yards on the ground. Aaron Lewis led the receivers with two catches. Jatece Wright and Alonzo Guillaume led the defense.
The #19 Monroe Mustangs will return to action on Saturday, October 15th, against #6 Lackawanna in Scranton, Pennsylvania to determine the top team in the NEFC. The kickoff is slated for 1:00 PM.