Football Shuts Out Stonehill, 44-0

BRONX, N.Y. – It looks like there may be something that can slow down the play of Fordham sophomore quarterback CJ Montes, who threw five touchdown passes in each of the past two games, but it's not something any defense has schemed. It's Mother Nature. Despite playing in a steady rain, Montes still managed to complete 14 of 21 passes for 220 yards and two scores but it was the Fordham defense that took center stage as the Rams shut out Stonehill College, 44-0, at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field.

With the win, Fordham, who entered the game ranked 22^nd in the latest NCAA FCS Coaches poll, improves to 3-1 on the season while Stonehill evens its record at 2-2.
 
The Fordham defense held Stonehill to 257 total yards, only 101 passing, in recording its first shutout since 2018. The Rams were led by junior linebacker James Conway, who recorded a game-high ten tackles, three solo, including one for loss, and he blocked a field goal and broke up a pass.
 
Offensively junior running back Julius Loughridge gained 108 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns while also catching two passes for 12 yards. Grad student Garrett Cody led the receivers with six catches for 119 yards and he also blocked a punt and returned it 21 yards for a score. Grad student MJ Wright added three receptions for 58 yards and a score and senior Mekai Felton added three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.
 
After a scoreless first quarter, the Rams got on the board via a 25-yard Brandon Peskin field goal about five minutes into the second.
 
Fordham made it a 10-0 game with 6:01 remaining in the half when Loughridge carried a pile of defenders into the end zone on a fourth-and-one play from the Stonehill one.
 
The Rams then put the game away with 28 third quarter points, commenced by a 28-yard scoring stroke from Montes to Wright on the first possession of the second half.
 
Takeaways
• The last shutout for the Rams was a 55-0 blanking of Lock Haven on August 230, 2012.
 
• The last time Fordham blocked a punt and returned it for a score was against Towson in 1997 when Dave Scoblick blocked a punt and Lance Peck returned it for a touchdown.
 
• The Skyhawks entered the game averaging 178.0 rushing yards/game and the Rams held them to 156.
 
• The Rams are now 10-2 over the past three years at Moglia Stadium.
 
• The 100-yard receiving game for Garrett Cody was his second of the season and the fourth of his career.
 
• The 100-yard rushing game was Julius Loughridge's second straight 100-yard game and the seventh of his Fordham career.
 
• The Rams lead the NCAA FCS in passing touchdowns over the past two years with 71.
 
• Fordham sophomore quarterback CJ Montes has thrown 13 touchdown passes in his first four games as the Ram starting quarterback, the most for any Rams over his first four starts.
 
• Sophomore quarterback Jack Capaldi saw his first action of 2023, completing his lone pass attempt for 32 yards.
 
• Freshman running back Vinny Rugai saw his first collegiate action in the game, rushing twice for five yards.

• James Conway has recorded double figures in tackles in each of the past three games.
 
By the Numbers
43 – 40-point games recorded by the Rams since 2012.
 
44 – Fordham wins at Moglia Stadium since 2012.
 
46.6 – Punting average for Fordham's Will Haslett.
 
76 – Wins for the Rams since 2012, the most for any New York area team.
 
90 – Career PATs for Brandon Peskin, moving him into third on the Fordham career list.
 
144 – Career receptions for MJ Wright, 12^th all-time at Fordham.
 
245 – Net rushing yards for the Rams, a season-high.
 
297 – Career tackles for James Conway, seventh all-time at Fordham.
 
2,291 – Career receiving yards for MJ Wright, moving him onto tenth place on the Fordham career list.
 
What's Next?
• The Rams open Patriot League play as they travel to Washington, D.C. to face the Georgetown University Hoyas on Cooper Field next Saturday, September 30, at 2:00 p.m.
 
• This will be the 69th meeting between Fordham and Georgetown on the gridiron.
 
• The Rams lead the all-time series, which started in 1889, 42-23-3.
 
• Fordham won last year's matchup, 59-38, on Jack Coffey Field as Tim DeMorat completed 21 of 35 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns while Trey Sneed (120 yards and two touchdowns) and Julius Loughridge (104 yards and one score) each rushed for more than 100 yards.