Montclair, N.J. (11/14/15) – Junior Damian Corredor rushed for 191 yards, passing the 1,000 yard mark for the season as the Kean University football team closed out the regular season on a high note with a come-from-behind 28-21 win over rival Montclair State University.
With the win the Cougars finish the regular season with a 7-3 mark and a 6-3 record in conference play. Their conference slate includes wins over every New Jersey based NJAC member. They also have almost completely turned around their record from a season ago (2-8). The victory also helped the Cougars snap a three-game losing streak against MSU as Kean picked up just its eighth win versus Montclair State in 41 all-time meetings.
Kean will wait to see if they receive an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) bid when they are announced on Monday.
In today's action, both teams see-sawed for the advantage and headed into the break knotted up at 14-all. In the first quarter it was the Red Hawks (4-6, 4-5 NJAC) who got on the board first as Denzel Nieves broke free for a 54 yard run and the game's first touchdown.
The Cougars special team evened up the score two drives later as Matt Liparini blocked an MSU punt and returned it for a quick six points.
The Red Hawks used a nine play, 59 yard drive that spanned the first and second quarters to go back up, 14-7. John DiStefano capped up the drive with a three yard rush for the touchdown.
Kean evened up the contest as Corredor (pictured left) scratched across a TD with an 11 yard run that finished off an 11 play, 71 yard drive for the Cougars.
The Cougars took their first lead of the day in the third quarter as Aryeh Moslavi nailed a 20 yard field goal.
Early in the fourth it was the Red Hawks turn as they took the lead back with DiStefano's second TD of the afternoon, this one a 14 yard run, to make the score 21-17.
Kean edged their way back with a 31 yard field goal from Moslavi half way through the fourth quarter to trail by one, 21-20.
Late in the game, the Cougars used over four minutes off the clock as they marched their way down the field and took the lead for good as quarterback Charles App used a two yard keeper to complete the 14 play, 77 yard drive. Kean put the pressure on and converted the two point attempt to keep their advantage to seven points with eight seconds remaining in the contest.
MSU was able to get two plays off in that time, but their final pass of the day was intercepted by LeRon Dillard to seal the Kean victory.
Corredor finished with 191 yards on 32 carries while App was 11-for-24 with 116 yards in the air and another 60 on the ground.
Defensively, Dillard (pictured right) finished with two interceptions as well as seven tackles while Darin Hungerford had 1.5 tackles for a loss. Robert Meade III lead the team with 10 tackles on the afternoon.
