Monmouth University Routs Fordham For Third Straight Win

WEST LONG BRANCH – Monmouth University used a punishing ground attack to spearhead a 63-21 whitewashing of winless Fordham in the wind and rain Saturday at Kessler Field on Family Day.

The win was Monmouth’s third straight, pushing its record over the .500 mark at 3-2 and 1-0 in the CAA. Fordham fell to 0-4.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way our team played today,” said Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan. “It was a great effort all around. We seemed to be clicking on every unit. Our offense moved the ball and scored a lot of points; we were very good on special teams and extremely explosive in the kick return game. I thought our defense did a great job getting off the field and controlling the tempo of the game.”

Monmouth’s starting running backs, Sone Ntoh and Gavin Nelson, combined for 269 yards on the ground, with Ntoh rushing for 136 yards on 15 attempts for a 9.1-yard average and Nelson picking up 128 yards on the ground on 13 carries for a 9.8-yard average. Ntoh ran for a program-tying five touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring jaunt, while Nelson capped off a four-play, 73-yard scoring drive with a 26-yard touchdown run.

As a team, Monmouth ran for 407 yards on the ground, the second-most in program history and only 10 yards short of the record of 417 set in 1997. Fifth-year running back Jamir Barnes chipped in with 134 yards rushing on 14 attempts in a stellar performance off the bench as Monmouth pulled its starters with 4:50 still left in the third quarter. For the game, the Hawks averaged 8.7 yards per carry on 47 rushing attempts.

“Coach Dorsett always tells us that we have to be able to do everything,” said Ntoh. “That is one of the things we pride ourselves on in the running backs room; to just being able to block, catch, run inside or outside, and it gives defenses fits because you don’t know who will pop off. Our room is so close, we get excited for each other. We want each other to be successful and I think that is part of the reason why we are so successful.”

Monmouth’s offensive line, which had four new starters when the season opened, was missing starting left tackle Matt Fries for the second game in a row and had to reshuffle its line, but they still managed to dominate the line of scrimmage all day long.

“Our offensive line is a group that is not only talented but it’s fairly deep,” said Callahan. “We’ve been able to move some guys around, and guys came in who were backups at one time, and the other guys in the line helped them; they picked them up. Any time you can play guys that aren’t typically in the game and still have success, it’s a way to build depth.”

The Hawks came into the game leading the nation in passing yardage and points scored per game, with quarterback Derek Robinson leading in almost every offensive category. However, the remnants of Hurricane Helene dictated a different offensive approach, as heavy rain and wind pelted the field most of the game.

Robertson only threw 14 passes, completing 11 of them for 180 yards and one touchdown without an interception for an impressive 210.1 quarterback rating. Gavin Nelson caught three passes for 62 yards, Speight had three catches for 33 yards, and Tra Neal caught two balls for 52 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown reception.

“We wanted to run the ball, we always want to run the ball, and we’re always going to be an offense that takes what the defense allows us to take,” said Callahan when asked if the weather dictated the running attack. “We got the running game going early, and then we decided we would stay with it.”

Makhi Green set the tone of the game early for the Hawks, returning the opening game kickoff 100 yards for a score, and the Hawks never looked back. Then, late in the second quarter, T.J. Speight returned a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown, putting Monmouth up 42-14. It's the first time Monmouth has ever returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game.

“Each week, we’ve been closer and closer to breaking one,” said Green. “So just trusting my guys, and once the hole is there, using my speed to get through and trusting my blockers.”

Monmouth’s starting offense scored touchdowns on all seven of its possessions before being removed late in the third quarter.

The ever-improving defense had its best game of the season. The starting unit held Fordham to 204 total yards, including 49 yards passing and 155 yards rushing. After the Rams scored on their opening possession, the defense forced three straight three-and-outs and six for the game. The Fordham offense was successful on just 2-of-12 third-down conversions.

Defensive tackle Isaiah Rogers had six tackles, including four solo tackles and 1.5 sacks, while defensive end Justin O’Bannon added three tackles and a half a sack, and tackle Chris King had four tackles, including three solo tackles and a tackle for loss.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys who can really play and are really explosive,” said captain linebacker Ryan Moran, who led the team with seven tackles, including four solo tackles and a half TFL. “We’re young, and you saw some missed tackles and assignments early in the season. But those guys are getting games under their belts and getting experience, and we’re really starting to click. We’re getting off the field, and we have a really explosive offense, so getting off the field and getting them the ball had been big for us.”

The Hawks set program records for points in a half with 49 and points in a quarter with 35 and have scored 40 or more points in all five of their games this season. They racked up 581 yards of total offensive yardage Saturday, their third game in a row in which they have surpassed 500 yards of total offense.

After Monmouth’s huge win last week against FBS opponent Florida International University, the Hawks quickly dispelled fears of a letdown and of them overlooking the wineless Rams with an eye on next week’s opponent Delaware.

“I really didn’t have to say too much to them,” said Callahan when asked if he said anything to the team about a possible letdown. “This is a team that’s very focused and are purposed driven. Yes, we went down to Florida and had a big win, but that’s still one out of 12 games. Once we went out and practiced Monday, we put that one behind us. We knew we had to look ahead and get ourselves ready for the Fordham game. And like I said, a mature team can do that, and we have a mature team.”

Undefeated Delaware (4-0), which is transitioning to the FBS next season, comes to town this Saturday and will be a stern test for the Hawks. The Blue Hens can have as many as 85 scholarship players this season, compared to 63 for FCS schools like Monmouth, but can only use 63 scholarship players in CAA games this season.