Monmouth faces must-win game against ranked Rhode Island

WEST LONG BRANCH – If Monmouth plans on rebounding from last week's disheartening 38-28 loss to Maine, hopefully, they've regrouped and refocused and moved on because time is now of the essence.

For Monmouth (4-3, 2-2) to receive an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, they must sweep their final four games of the season for a realistic shot at the postseason. Their push begins this Saturday with No. 19 Rhode Island (4-2, 2-1) coming to town for a Homecoming game at Kessler Stadium.

But first, they need to concentrate on cleaning up some things on both sides of the ball after they uncharacteristically turned it over three times last week, leading to 21 Maine points.

"Every one of them (turnovers) led to points, they were able to get 21 points off turnovers," said Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan on Monday's CAA Football Weekly Zoom Press Conference. "Anytime you're turning the ball over it's not a good thing and Saturday that was just one of the many things that led to our defeat."

The loss was a reality check for a team that was riding high after winning four games in a row. Saturday's game gives them the opportunity to find out who they are, contenders or pretenders.

"Everything considered the team is not in a bad place; they understand exactly what happened on Saturday," said Callahan. "We've played better football then we did on Saturday, not to take anything away from what Maine did in causing that. But we just need to concentrate more on the details of what we're doing and go out and execute at a higher level."

Monmouth's normally dominant offensive line had a rough day against Maine's stout front seven. The Hawks entered the game ranked sixth in the country in rushing yardage per game, averaging 246.2 yards and No. 1 in average yards per rushing attempt (6.56), but were held to 112 yards on 35 attempts (3.2 per carry). Quarterback Tony Muskett was under constant pressure, which resulted in five sacks and numerous busted plays, leaving Muskett running for his life after continually being forced out of the pocket.

The hope is that the offensive lines' poor showing last week was an outlier – which I tend to agree with – and they'll get back to the fundamentals that consistently make them the top unit on the team. Also, in their favor, the Hawks boast one of the top offensive line coaches in the country in coach Brian Gabriel, so you can expect him to right the ship.

Their job, however, doesn't get any easier this Saturday against a Rhode Island defense that is ranked fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association in points allowed (22.0) and sixth in offensive yardage allowed (374.0).

In last week's 17-10 upset win against then 14th ranked Elon (5-2, 3-1) with the score tied at 10-10 midway through the fourth quarter, Rams linebacker Jarrett Martin's pick six was the difference maker. Martin was the CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Week following his six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and game-changing interception for a touchdown performance against Elon.

"I couldn't be happier for him," said URI coach Jim Fleming on Monday's CAA Weekly Zoom Press Conference. "And then you add on to the other productivity he had. He's a kid that has ability and we got to continue to develop him so we can get it each and every week."

The URI defense held Elon to a season-low 263 total yards and 20 points under Elon's scoring average.

"They're a very formidable unit and if you throw out the Pitt game, they're giving up only 19 points per game," said Callahan. "They're doing a very good job on that side of the ball. They're physical, they're athletic and they've got tremendous size. They will be the biggest team we've played so far this season physically so that will present a challenge in itself."

Linebacker Evan Stewart had two critical pass breakups on Elon's final possession of the game, including one on fourth-and-3 from the URI 33-yard line.

The Rams then sealed the win by holding the ball for the final 4:53 of the game to run out the clock. Quarterback Kasim Hill converted a third-and-6 from their own 37, scrambling for six yards and a first down. Then on third-and-5 from the 43-yard line, he ran for 28 yards to the Elon 29, essentially ending the game with Elon out of timeouts. Hill was 17-of-29 for 201 yards and rushed for 76 yards on 13 attempts, including a seven-yard touchdown.

"It was huge," Fleming said of the Rams' game-clinching possession. "The way Kasim ran the ball at the end of the game was really convincing. He picked up two incredible first downs at a time when we really needed them and limited the opportunity for Elon to get the ball back, and if that had happened, who knows how the thing would've ended.

If the Hawks are to win this game, they'll need to limit the damage that Hill causes.

"He's a dual-threat quarterback that has the ability to hurt you throwing the ball but he's very scary when he either runs it on designed runs or pulls it down and runs on designed pass plays," said Callahan. "He's got a challenging group that surrounds him both at the receiver position and at the running back position. They've got a lot of weapons and have the ability to attack you in many different areas on the defensive side. So, you've got to be sound in what you do and what it does is prevents you from really loading up in any one specific area. You got to balance in what you do because it you don't they can hurt you."

Running back Marques DeShields dominated on the ground rushing for 127 yards on 18 carries, while wideout Kahtero Summers led all receivers with five catches for 74 yards.

"On the offensive side Rhode Island is very balanced," Callahan added. "They're rushing for about 200 yards per game and probably throwing for another 230 a game so they're going to test you stretch you on defense in every area."

One thing is certain; Fleming is not taking Monmouth lightly.

"Monmouth has a big gnarly offensive line, the receiver corps is good, and the running back is special," said Fleming. "The quarterback makes plays, and he moves around and does nice things, and they have a challenging scheme. Defensively they've been giving up some points, but they're physical and aggressive, and their kicking game is solid.

"We've got our hands full. We've got to go down there and play in a stadium we haven't been in before with unfamiliar surroundings on a homecoming game. We just got to focus on us improving on the things we didn't do well last week and that really becomes the name of the game in college football at this time of the year."

Take away a play or two, or three in each of Monmouth's three losses and they could easily be 7-0. In their first two losses of the season, they've held leads well into the fourth quarter and let the game slip away. And in last week's loss to Maine, with the Hawks trailing 38-28 late in the fourth quarter, they were stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Black Bears 25-yard line. A touchdown there and who knows what would've happened. Monmouth outgained Maine in the game 404 to 355.

So, if the Hawks can play a complete game and finish it off, there's no reason they can't beat Rhode Island and keep their postseason hopes alive.

"I think on the line of scrimmage," said Callahan when asked where Saturday's game was going to be won or lost. "They've a very, very stout defense. They've got tremendous size and they all run very, very well. We're going to have to find some way to move the ball and get it into the end zone. And on the other side of the ball our defense is going to have to stand up to their tremendously big offensive line. We're going to have to do what we can to slow them down and hopefully keep them out of the end zone as often as possible."