FDU-Florham Kicks Off Football Season Friday Against Montclair State

The FDU-Florham Devils open their 2016 football season Friday, September 9 at home against Montclair State University.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Robert T. Shields Field in Madison.

Picked to finish eighth in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) preseason poll, FDU looks to build upon their 3-7 (2-7 conference) campaign of a year ago, which saw the Devils post their best record since 2010.

Coach Brian Surace begins his sixth season at the helm by trying to replace last year’s standout wide receiver Malik Pressley, who transferred to Division III powerhouse Mount Union in the offseason.  Pressley amassed 89 catches for 1,152 yards and 18 touchdowns on his way to second team All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South Region, second team D3football.com All-East Region, and MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

In addition, the Devils replace 2014-15 starting quarterback Tyler Maurer, who graduated as the program’s all-time leader in completion percentage,  second in completions, third in touchdown passes, and fifth in passing yards and attempts.

Looking to fill the void offensively will be senior wide receiver Esaun Mobley (51 receptions, 515 yards, 6 touchdowns in 2015) and multiple-threat junior running back/returner Dennis Sutton.  The Devils offense will be led by sophomore quarterback Joey McCain.  As a freshman, McCain completed 54 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Devils return 27 lettermen from a year ago, and look to improve upon a unit that surrendered 41.7 points per game last season.

FDU’s opponent, Montclair State, comes off a 2015 season in which they finished tied for seventh in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), posting a 4-6 overall mark (4-5 conference).  The Red Hawks, picked to finish sixth in the NJAC preseason coaches poll, are led by coach Rick Giancola, the winningest active coach in NCAA Division III.  Coach Giancola’s squad will be led by three returning all-NJAC players in defensive linemen Joe Falato and Vincent Cordasco and offensive lineman Dan Giangrande.

Friday will be the third ever meeting between the two programs, and the first since 1994.  Montclair State leads the all-time series 2-0.