Stony Brook Football Traveling To Monmouth Seeking Revenge

WEST LONG BRANCH – Entering the final week of the regular season last year, eighteenth-ranked Stony Brook felt they had a legitimate shot at getting an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA FCS Playoffs. All they had to do was knock off an underachieving Monmouth squad in their own backyard, and they would be in. Monmouth, however, had a different idea.

The Hawks were coming off a 40-33 upset win over No. 8 Villanova the previous Saturday. Frustrated with how the season had played out, they were looking for another punching bag to take out their frustrations after several heartbreaking outcomes knocked them out of the playoff hunt. And Stony Brook fit the bill.

Stony Brook was 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Coastal Athletic Association, a year removed from going 0-10. It would’ve been their first playoff appearance since 2017, and the Seawolves were being hailed nationally for their program's turnaround. From zero wins in 2023 to an FCS Playoff berth a year later. Sounds like something out of the movies, except Monmouth had other ideas and beat the Seawolves 55-47 in a wild shootout that bumped them out of playoff contention.

You can be sure that’s at the top of everyone’s mind at Stony Brook, from second-year head coach Billy Cosh, the 2024 CAA Coach of the Year, to All-American running back Roland Dempster, to their supportive fans. And they’re coming off a bye, so they’ve had plenty of time to think about it, as well as being well rested.

Ninth-ranked Monmouth (5-1, 2-0), on the other hand, is coming off a huge win at Towson, and if you know head coach Kevin Callahan, he won’t allow his team to waste any energy on Stony Brook's pursuit of revenge. He’ll have his team focused and dialed in on what’s in front of them and what they need to do to win on Saturday.

The Seawolves (3-3, 1-1) are averaging 27.8 points per game, which is good for third in the CAA, but they are averaging over 38 points in their last four games. The defense allows, on average, 23.8 points per game, third in the CAA. They’re ranked fifth in the CAA in total yardage per game (377.5) and third in yards allowed per game (349.0). Their passing yards per game (199.5) rank 11th in the CAA, but with Dempster, the team averages 178 yards per game on the ground, third in the conference. The defense allows 153.7 rushing yards per game and 195.3 passing yards per game, fifth and seventh, respectively, in the CAA.

Put all these numbers together, and what you get is a team that specializes in complementary football with a potent, balanced attack.

Stony Brook’s redzone offense has scored 19-of-23 times (87.5%), including 16 touchdowns and 5-of-7 field goals. The defense has allowed 19-of-23 scores for an 82.6% conversion rate, including 12 touchdowns and 7-of-9 field goals.

As a team, the SeaWolves have been penalized 28 times, averaging 4.6 penalties per game, which is second in the CAA. In comparison, Monmouth has been penalized 39 times, averaging 6.5 penalties per game, which is 13th in the CAA.

On offense, the Seawolves start five graduate students obtained through the transfer portal, three returning graduate students, and a transfer portal junior, so there is a lot of experience on that side of the ball.

Stony Brook’s offense revolves around Dempster, for good reason. He is coming off a year where he rushed for 1,332 yards on 268 attempts and 18 rushing touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He also caught 32 passes for 335 yards and one touchdown, while averaging 138.9 all-purpose yards pr game. He was a first team All-CAA selection and garnered All-American recognition from numerous publications. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. So far this season, he’s rushed for 618 yards on 118 attempts, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with six touchdowns. He’s also caught 16 passes for 142 yards.

North Texas State transfer Ikaika Ragsdale backs up Dempster. He’s rushed for 136 yards with a 4.1-yard average per game so far this season.

Dual-threat quarterback Chris Zellous, a graduate transfer from Hampton, who started all twelve games for the Pirates in 2024, rushing for 328 yards and passing for 1,1030 yards and six touchdowns, is the second leading rusher on the Seawolves. He’s rushed for 285 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 3.7 yards per carry and completed 98-of-156 passes for 1,143 yards and seven touchdowns.

Monmouth’s run defense has been sporadic. Last week against Towson, they held the Tigers to 125 yards on the ground and a 3.4-yard average per attempt. However, in the three games before that, the three teams combined to average 5.4 yards per attempt. But against Fordham, the Hawks' defense held the Rams to 39 yards on the ground and a 1.6-yard per carry average. On average, they allow 161.2 yards per game, which ranks eighth in the CAA.

Redshirt junior Jayce Freeman led the Seawolves in receiving yards last season with 506 yards on 23 catches. This season, he has 20 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns. University of Albany junior transfer Marqeese Dietz had 515 yards receiving and three touchdowns last season for Albany. So far this season, he leads the team in receptions (30) for 230 yards and one touchdown.

Graduate student tight end Cole Bunicci started every game a year ago, catching 14 balls for 259 yards and two touchdowns. His 180 receiving yards this season ranks third on the team.

Redshirt senior right tackle, Kollin Melendez, anchors the offensive line, having started all 12 games a year ago. No other starter across the offensive line has starting experience. Graduate transfer center Christian Forbes began his career at Wake Forest before transferring to Howard last season, where he saw action in 11 games.

Monmouth’s pass rush, which ranks third in the CAA in sacks with 17, should be able to do some damage against the Seawolves' offensive line. Defensive ends Josiah Graham (7 sacks), Lamont Lester Jr. (5 sacks), and Hunter Watson (2 sacks) should be able to add to their totals Saturday.

Defensively, the Seawolves' second-level linebacker group is experienced and physical. Midddle linebacker Anthony Ferrelli, a CAA Preseason Honorable Mention selection, leads the team in tackles with 53, including 28 solo tackles, along with three TFL, 1.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. Preseason All-CAA weakside linebacker A.J. Roberts has recorded 28 tackles (15 solo), two sacks, three TFL, a forced fumble, and two QB hits. University of Virginia graduate transfer, linebacker Aiden Kaler, is second on the team with 41 tackles (17 solo), 2.5 TFL, .5 sacks, a forced fumble, and four QB hits. Two-year starter at Jack linebacker, Chayce Chalmers, a former University of Virginia transfer, is third on the team in tackles with 33 (17 solo), along with 1.5 TFL, two BU, and three QBH.

Up front, graduate student nose tackle Dyshier Clary, in his first season as a starter, leads the team in TFL (6.5) and sacks (3.5), along with 20 tackles and a fumble return. Defensive end Rodney Faulk, a Preseason All-CAA selection who had 37 tackles (17 solo), 10 TFL, and 4.5 sacks a year ago, has 13 tackles, two TFL, and three QBH so far this season. Sophomore end Sebastian Regis, a Phil Steele 2024 third team freshman All-American, has 18 tackles (11 solo), 4.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks. Another defensive end, redshirt senior Franco Milano, has recorded 17 tackles (9 solo), four TFL, and three sacks.

Three of the four starters in the secondary were brought in through the transfer portal, bringing a wealth of experience with them. Free safety redshirt sophomore Damario Crawford, a Saint Francis transfer, was sixth on the team in tackles (39) a year ago with the Red Flash, along with 2.5 TFL, FR, and passes defended. He also had a 94-yard touchdown return and led the team with 316 return yards. This season, he has 27 tackles (16 solo), an interception, and two passes defended. Richmond transfer Bryson Parker, a redshirt senior free safety, appeared in 35 games at Richmond with eight starts. He has recorded 25 tackles (12 solo) and one TFL and is third on the team in passes defended with four. Cornerback A.K. Kamara, a University of Maine transfer and redshirt senior, is second on the team with five passes defended to go along with his 18 tackles (15 solo). Redshirt sophomore cornerback Miles McGoy appeared in nine games a year ago before winning the starting job this season and leads the team with six passes defended.

Stony Brook is 1-1 in the conference, losing to Rhode Island and beating University of Albany. Besides the Charlotte game, this looks on paper to be the Hawks' sternest test of the season so far. There’s no overlooking this team, and Monmouth better bring their “A” game to the field on Saturday. The offense should be able to do what they do best: beat the opposing team's defense into submission. Let’s get real, nobody can stop this juggernaut offense from rolling. Realistically, this game hinges on how well the defense can play. They’ve been making weekly strides in the right direction. They have a knack for forcing turnovers, and their pass rush at times looks ferocious; the best Monmouth has had in years. However, if the game turns into another shootout, whoever has the ball last will most likely win the game.