Venue & Game Details
Conference: Wilkes (Landmark Football / MAC scheduling), Montclair State (New Jersey Athletic Conference – NJAC)
Kickoff Time: 5:00 PM ET (Homecoming Game for Montclair State)
Venue: Sprague Field, Montclair, New Jersey (Capacity ~6,000, turf surface)
Broadcast: Montclair State Athletics Network / ESPN Gamecast
Weather Forecast (Montclair, NJ)
Temperature: ~73°F (23°C) at kickoff
Conditions: Mostly sunny, light winds (5–8 mph)
Precipitation:
Impact: Excellent football weather; no major disruptions expected
Injury Report (Projected)
(Note: D-III programs rarely release official injury reports; this is based on recent availability trends)
Montclair State Red Hawks:
QB Luke Henrich healthy after rebounding from a 4-INT debut with 119 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 105 rushing yards vs Lycoming.
WR Jalen Carter (49-yard TD reception vs Lycoming) fully available.
OL depth thin after early-season injuries (questionable).
Wilkes Colonels:
QB Cooper King (192 yards, 2 TDs vs Muhlenberg) healthy.
RB rotation inconsistent—rushed for 127 yards in Week 1 win vs King’s, but only 12 yards in Week 2 vs TCNJ.
Secondary missing one starter (out).
Key Player Matchups
Montclair QB Luke Henrich vs. Wilkes Linebackers
Henrich’s dual-threat ability (passing + rushing) will test Wilkes’ ability to contain scrambles.
Wilkes RB Committee vs. Montclair Run Defense
Montclair has struggled vs the run (365 yards allowed vs Merchant Marine, 169 vs Lycoming). If Wilkes establishes the ground game, they can control tempo.
WR Jalen Carter (MSU) vs. Wilkes Secondary
Carter’s big-play ability could stretch the field against a banged-up Wilkes secondary.
Recent Team Form
Montclair State (2025 Season so far)
Record: 1–1 overall
Results:
L vs Merchant Marine (29–15)
W vs Lycoming (27–24)
Strength: Dual-threat QB play, resilience in close games
Weakness: Turnovers (5 in Week 1), run defense
Wilkes (2025 Season so far)
Record: 1–2 overall
Results:
W vs King’s College (19–16)
L @ TCNJ (17–3)
L vs Muhlenberg (26–18)
Strength: Passing game with Cooper King
Weakness: Inconsistent rushing attack, defensive lapses
Conference vs. Conference
Montclair State: NJAC contender, physical defense-first identity.
Wilkes: Landmark/MAC scheduling, more wide-open offensive style.
This is a non-conference matchup, but a key test for both programs’ postseason resumes.
Series History
All-time series: First-ever meeting between Montclair State and Wilkes.
Trend: No prior head-to-head results; both teams enter with fresh scouting challenges.
Betting Trends:
Montclair State is 3-1 ATS in last 4 home games.
Wilkes is 1-2 ATS this season (modeled).
Montclair games have gone Over in 3 of last 5 due to defensive struggles.
Wilkes games have gone Under in 2 of 3 due to offensive inconsistency.
Historical Betting Results (Modeled)
2024: Montclair State +10.5 (covered, lost 21–0 vs Muhlenberg)
2023: Wilkes +7 (covered, won 43–38 vs Keystone)
2022: Montclair State -3.5 (covered, won 20–13 vs TCNJ)
2021: Wilkes -4.5 (covered, won 24–17 vs Lycoming)
Game Odds
Wilkes Colonels 48
Montclair State Red Hawks – 7.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
