A Look At What Went Wrong In Monmouth's Loss To New Hampshire

WEST LONG BRANCH – Monmouth University’s six-game winning streak came to a crashing halt last Saturday when the University of New Hampshire turned a tied game at the half into a second-half rout on Monmouth’s home turf. The loss extended the Hawks' losing streak against the Wildcats to four games, dating back to 2022.

With their hopes of securing a playoff bid hinging on them sweeping their final three games of the regular season, New Hampshire (6-4, 4-2) played like their lives counted on it. Conversely, Monmouth (8-2, 5-1), still in the process of breaking in a young quarterback while All-American quarterback Derek Robertston heals from a wrist injury, looked shell-shocked at what was unfolding in front of them.

Granted, New Hampshire was a step up in competition and their toughest test since the Villanova game five weeks ago, but if they’re as good as their record indicates, they need to show it against a quality opponent like New Hampshire. They failed miserably at doing that on Saturday.

Here’s a look at some of the reasons:

THE OFFENSIVE LINE WAS A SHELL OF THEMSELVES

Monmouth has a long history of dominant offensive lines, and this season’s version rates up there with some of the best. However, on Saturday, they failed to protect sophomore quarterback Frankie Weaver’s blind side over and over again and had trouble blocking in the running game. Monmouth’s offensive line ranked No.1 in the CAA in sacks allowed entering Saturday’s game, averaging 1.4 sacks allowed per game. Against the Wildcats, they gave up five sacks, including four strip sacks, with three recovered by New Hampshire, which directly led to 14 points. And it could’ve been more had the Wildcats not decided to run out the clock at the end of the game. New Hampshire right side defensive end Jordan Mcallister had a field day collecting 3.5 sacks, including three strip sacks. He came into the game with one sack on the year and left looking like the Browns' Myles Garrett. Monmouth entered the game averaging close to 190 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry, but managed to rush for just 71 yards while averaging 2.4 yards per attempt Saturday, with the 50 yards that were subtracted for sack yardage. The nation's leading rusher, Rodney Nelson, ran for 88 yards on 19 carries, about 80 yards below his average. On a crucial fourth-and-2 at the New Hampshire 39 in the second quarter, Nelson was stopped after a one-yard gain, and that set the tone of the game for the Wildcats. New Hampshire packed the interior part of the defensive line to slow the Hawks' rushing attack and had success all day long against Monmouth’s outmanned offensive line.

TWO-POINT CONVERSION FAILURE TOOK THE WIND OUT OF THE HAWKS' SAIL

Monmouth had just marched 75 yards in five plays in just 36 seconds to tie the game 13-13 with eight seconds left in the first half after looking dead in the water for much of the half. The touchdown drive was a huge momentum boost to the team and got the fans wholeheartedly back in the game. Then, for some inexplicable reason, the Hawks attempted a two-point conversion that failed miserably. It was a bewildering decision that deflated the crowd's buzz and left them in stunned silence. Instead of holding a one-point lead and all the momentum heading into the locker room, it was now a tie game, and New Hampshire had reclaimed the momentum right from under their noses.

THIRD QUARTER FAKE PUNT TURNED THE GAME UPSIDE DOWN

New Hampshire received the second half kickoff and had a first down at their own 25-yard line. Two plays netted five yards, setting up a huge third-and-5 at the 30-yard line. Monmouth linebacker Ryan Russo stopped Myles Thomason after a one-yard pickup, forcing a fourth-and-4 and a punting situation. Monmouth appeared to regain momentum with the crucial stop, but New Hampshire stunned everyone with a successful fake punt, handing them a first down at the 44-yard line. And Monmouth never really recovered after that. Six plays later, Thomason took it in from 22 yards out for a 20-13 lead. On the Hawks' ensuing possession, Mcallister recorded one of his three strip sacks, which set the Wildcats up at the Monmouth 37-yard line. Three plays later, it was 27-13, and Monmouth was reeling.

HAWKS WERE 0-FOR-3 ON FOURTH-DOWN CONVERSION ATTEMPTS

On the Hawks' second possession of the game, they converted two third-down plays, advancing to the New Hampshire 26-yard line. A third-and-eight run picked up one yard, setting up a fourth-and-seven at the Wildcats' 23-yard line. But Weaver's pass intended for Maxwell James at the 15-yard line was incomplete, turning the ball over on downs. In the second quarter, Nelson came up short on a fourth-and-2 at the Wildcats' 39-yard line, and New Hampshire then drove 61 yards to tie the game at seven. On Monmouth’s ensuing possession, the Hawks had a fourth-and-six at the Wildcats' 34-yard line, but Weaver’s pass over the middle intended for Josh Derry was broken up. Nine plays later, New Hampshire took the lead at 10-7.

TALE OF TWO HALVES FOR THE DEFENSE

Monmouth’s defense was lights out in the first half, extending its string of solid performances. In the first quarter, they held New Hampshire to seven total yards on eight plays. For the half, they allowed just 13 points, including a rare 53-yard field goal by the Wildcats, and 141 yards. Things came completely unglued in the second half and spiraled out of control with New Hampshire scoring 21 second-half points and racking up 240 yards of total offense. Monmouth’s defensive front was again held without a sack as New Hampshire dual-threat quarterback Matt Vezza continually frustrated and burned them by escaping their grasp and scrambling out of the pocket for chunk yardage, often for first downs. End Lamont Lester Jr. was called for two roughing the passer penalties, although the second one was a questionable call. On the first roughing call, Vezza threw an incompletion that would have brought up a third-and-13 at the 45, but the roughing call gave them a first down at Monmouth’s 30-yard line, and two plays later, they scored to take a 20-13 lead. Vezza ended up rushing for 82 yards, with most coming from scrambling out of the pocket for significant yardage.

Certainly, Monmouth has already put this game behind them and has zeroed in on its next opponent. Two games are remaining on the Hawks' regular season schedule: North Carolina A&T (2-8, 2-4) this Saturday on the road and the University of Albany (1-9, 0-6) at home the following week. And they'll be heavy favorites in both, especially if Robetson can return for either of those games. If he does, it would most likely be the Albany game, but that's a wait-and-see scenario. Either way, Monmouth should win those games and finish the season with a 10-2 overall record and 7-1 in conference games. Barring an upset, Rhode Island (8-2, 6-0) is in the driver's seat for the CAA championship. With the Hawks' loss to New Hampshire, a first-round bye in the FCS playoffs is probably off the table, but a first-round home playoff game is a distinct possibility. They just have to take care of business.