Huge First Half Lifts No. 15 Monroe Mustangs Football over No. 19 Nassau in Top-20 Battle

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., September 7, 2019 – Fueled by a 35-0 halftime lead, the No. 15-ranked Monroe College Mustangs football team was triumphant in an NJCAA Top-20 battle against No. 19 Nassau Community College by a score of 52-27 Saturday afternoon at Joseph F. Fosina Field. The Mustangs improve to 2-0 on the season with the win, while Nassau drops to 1-1. The Mustangs were equally impressive on both offense and defense in the big win. Fresh off a five-touchdown performance a week ago, quarterback Dominique Shoffner completed 22-of-32 passes for 337 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing nine times for 39 yards and another score. Clayton Scott carried the ball 21 times for 105 yards and two touchdowns, adding three receptions for 24 yards. Halim Dixon-King had a big day, catching four passes for a game-high 97 yards and two scores. Lucas Nunez made five receptions for 86 yards, while Jevin Frett and Idrissa Nikiema both came down with touchdowns in the win. On the defensive side, Jahron Gayle dominated in the trenches, registering three sacks for a total loss of 20 yards, and had five total tackles on the day. Emmanuel Appiah-Tahkyi matched last week's two-interception performance with another two picks in Saturday's win. Appiah-Tahkyi also broke up two more passes and made three tackles. Devin Love, Jamelle Ryals and Nadir Pineda all picked up a sack in the game. The Mustangs registered 13 total tackles for loss, including two from each of Heath Stephen II and Ryals. In addition to three tackles on the day, Charles Amankwaa also blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter and returned it all the way for a score to give the Mustangs two points on the play. The Mustangs did not waste much time getting on the board in Saturday's contest. On their first drive, they went on a four-play, 61-yard drive, including a 41-yard touchdown run by Scott, for an early 7-0 lead. On their next possession, they went another 82 yards on just six plays. Shoffner hit Dixon-King for a 43-yard completion during the drive, and capped it off with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dixon-King to make it a 14-0 game.

As a team, the Mustangs totaled 488 yards of offense, while holding the Lions to 266 yards. The Mustang defense held the Lions to -41 yards rushing, while the Mustangs totaled 151 yards on the ground. Monroe picked up 28 first downs in the win, while holding the Lions to just 16. The Mustangs get a week off before hitting the road for the first time this season on Sunday, Sept. 22, when they will take on Delaware Valley University JV in Doylestown, Pa. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.