MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The TCNJ football team entered Saturday night's game at Montclair State already holding the NCAA's second toughest schedule in Division III. The Lions' four opponents this season entered this weekend's action with a combined one loss. Montclair State added yet another undefeated record to the Lions' schedule tally, entering the game at 4-0. The Red Hawks remained perfect on the season and moved to 5-0 overall with their 28-0 victory over the Lions.

TCNJ (0-5, 0-4) struggled to generate offense against the Red Hawks. The Lions had 10 yards of offense in the first half and didn't record a first down until late in the third quarter.

The teams spent most of the first half punting the ball to each other. Of the teams' 14 drives in the first half, 10 ended with punts. Three of the four that didn't, however, were touchdowns for Montclair State. The Red Hawks opened the scoring on a Ja'Quill Burch pass to Eric Magnifico for five yards on their first possession of the game.

The score stayed there until the second quarter. Craig Merkle rushed three yards for a score to make it 14-0 with 11:16 left in the first half. TCNJ tried to get back into the game late in the half when it took possession at its own 41 with 53 seconds left. On the first play of the drive, though, Mauro Altamura intercepted Andrew Donogue and returned it to the TCNJ 35. On the fourth play of the drive, Burch found Carsen Johnson from 17 yards out to make it 21-0 with 21 seconds left in the half.

Montclair made it 28-0 in the third quarter with a 10-play drive that drained 6:20 off the clock, but the Lions responded with a drive into the MSU red zone. Dave Jachera and Connor Owen led the drive, gaining yardage through the air and on the ground. Jachera's 10-yard rush set up the Lions with a first-and-goal at the Montclair State 9. On the next play, though, Owen was stripped as he rushed to the 1-yard line. MSU jumped on the ball there to keep the Lions off the board.

TCNJ fought through the final horn. On their last drive of the game, the Lions marched 66 yards in 10 plays in the final 2:24 of action. Jachera completed passes to Ean Craig and two to Mark Pacini. His 15-yard run later in the drive put the ball at the Montclair 14, but a pair of incomplete passes brought the game to its conclusion.

Freshman Sal Tardogno led the Lions' defense with eight tackles. Sophomore Gavin Liepe had four tackles, including two for loss. Zach Warcola, the national leader in punting, averaged 39.5 yards on eight punts. He had two punts of 50-plus yards and three that landed inside the 20.

TCNJ returns to action next Saturday night at home against Rowan. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.