Monmouth U Zaps North Alabama, 45-33, Stays Unbeaten in Big South

WEST LONG BRANCH – Monmouth University did what it set out to do Saturday by defeating North Alabama 45-33 to stay atop the Big South standings with two conference game to play.

It wasn’t the prettiest of games to even the casual observer but they made the big plays when they had to and got in the win column which is what counts.

“Obviously we’re happy to get the win today,” said Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan. “Our goal as we head into the month of November is to go 1-0 each and every week. If you’re playing meaningful games in the month of November that means you’ve done something right in the earlier part of the season and that’s exactly where this team has positioned itself.

“We’re in a key spot, we’re unbeaten in conference play, we’re currently in first place and it was really important to go out and get another conference win today. Our focus all week was to be 1-0 today. If you looked at the game there were certainly a number of things we can do a better job at and we’ll get to work on those things this week.”

The Hawks (6-3, 5-0) now need to just take care of business next Saturday at home against Robert Morris (3-5, 2-4) to set up a winner take all de facto Big South championship game against rival Kennesaw State where the victor receives an automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs.

With its defense fighting to keep North Alabama’s recently-discovered offense off the board, Monmouth didn’t really have this game nailed down until late in the fourth quarter even though they led by 12 points, 45-33, with 7:00 minutes remaining.

That’s when the Hawks put the outcome of the game in the hands of its versatile running game and held on to the ball for the final seven minutes with a game-clinching 13 play, 67-yard drive to run out the clock.

On fourth-and-1 from the North Alabama 23-yard line with just over two minutes to play and the Hawks desperatley trying to keep the ball out of the hands of the North Alabama offense, graduate transfer running back, Owen Wright, stepped up.

The hard-running Wright broke free with nothing but grass in front of him but wisely, and unselfishly, slid to the ground at the 4-yard line after a 19-yard pickup. That allowed Monmouth to kill the clock with the Lions out of time outs.

“When we went for it on fourth down Owen came up with a big run for key yardage and has the wherewithal to go down in a clutch situation,” said Callahan. “And that’s not easy to do when you’re a running back and the end zone is right there in front of you and you’re running right at it with nobody in your way, so I give him a lot of credit for that. We’d like to think all our players would do that all the time, but as a player, that’s tough to do - he deserves a lot of credit for doing that.”

The play would’ve been Wright’s fourth touchdown of the day had he not given himself up, but nevertheless, it was a breakout game for him as a Hawk and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

With the Hawks first-team All-Conference running back, Juwon Farri, still sidelined with a soft tissue injury, Wright and freshman running back Jaden Shirden stepped in and had a coming out party. The duo combined to rush for 176 yards on 33 carries for 5.5 yard average.

“I thought both Owen and Jaden did an exceptional job,” said Callahan. “They got some tough yardage. When we needed to get key yardage for first downs to keep the chains moving whether it was a key third conversion or a fourth down they were able to get it.”

Wright carried the ball 18 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns while Shirden gained 82 yards on 15 attempts. On the final drive, Wright rushed for 55 yards on six carries and Shirden 16 yards on four attempts to help run out the clock.

The 5-foot-11, 215 pound Wright also had a huge touchdown reception in the third quarter that gave the Hawks an 11-point lead after North Alabama had pulled to within four, 31-27, with 8:46 left in the quarter.

Following the Lions touchdown, Monmouth drove to the 18-yard line. On second-and-10, Wright floated out to the left uncovered and sophomore quarterback Tony Muskett – under intense pressure – spotted him and lofted a perfect pass that Wright effortlessly corralled. He then galloped untouched into the end zone to give the Hawks a 38-27 lead with 4:13 still left in the third quarter.

Muskett, who could take on the moniker of “Steady Eddie” for his consistency and dependability, had another stellar game Saturday completing 26-of-36 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns – his second four-touchdown game of the season – and two interceptions, one of which Moore IV fell down on making a cut just as he threw and the other just a poor decision.

His four touchdown passes give him 20 on the season with at least two games left to play. He needs one more touchdown pass to tie Brian Boland’s 2005 mark for second place all-time at Monmouth.

“I think what you saw today was the ability of players on our team to make big plays,” said Callahan. “Whether it was explosive plays on offense, big plays in the kicking game or big plays on defense with the three interceptions and turnovers. I guess it’s the coach in me that wants us to be perfect. You want all those things and then you want to do things right all the other times as well.”

The Hawks finished with 470-yards of total offense – a team-high for the season.

“Today was the first day where we felt like as an offense there was a lot of explosive plays all around,” said star wide receiver Lonnie Moore IV. “And that’s something we pride ourselves on. Right now towards the end of the season we feel we’re hitting our stride.”

Monmouth pushed its lead to 45-27 following an Eddie Hahn interception that gave them the ball at the North Alabama 14-yard line. Hahn read the play all the way drifting back into the passing lane in the middle of the field to make the play.

On the first play following the pick, Muskett, throwing from the far hashmarks, found Moore IV alone in the right corner of the end zone giving the Hawks a 45-27 lead. The throw itself rated high on the difficulty meter but Muskett made it look easy.

The touchdown was Moore’s 200th career reception at Monmouth ranking him third all-time.

Moore IV, who also had seven and 17-yard touchdown receptions earlier in the game, finished with nine catches for 127 yards. His three touchdown receptions marked the first time in his illustrious career at Monmouth that he achieved the feat.

It was Moore’s third straight 100-yard receiving day and his 10th of his career, which is third most in Monmouth history.

“I can’t say enough about Lonnie,” said Callahan. “He had an outstanding day contributing in a number of ways, running the ball, catching the ball, returning the ball and putting the ball in the end zone.”

Monmouth’s defense let the Lions back into the game late in the third quarter. After a Ryan Kost 62-yard punt pinned North Alabama down at their own 3-yard line, they drove 97 yards in nine plays to pull within 45-33.

The Hawks defense struggled with missed tackles throughout the game and surrendered 415 yards of total offense allowing scoring drives of 90, 72 ,92 and 97 yards. However, they did come up with three interceptions that lead to a trio of touchdowns and that was the difference maker.

“Probably on defense we could’ve contested the deep ball better,” said Callahan. “But when we needed to make plays on either side of the ball we did, we came up with those plays”

Stud defensive end Lorenzo Hernandez was on the same page as his coach.

“I think the defense stepped up when we had to,” said Hernandez. “We made some mistakes, allowing some big plays. But no matter how we played, we made big plays that contributed to points. At one point we went out at the start of a drive and said, ‘we need to make a play,’ and the next play Eddie Hahn intercepted the ball.”

On North Alabama’s first possession of the game, Hahn deflected a Rett Files pass that Hernandez intercepted at the 7-yard line. Muskett then hit Moore IV for the score on their first play from scrimmage for a quick 7-0 lead.

“Lorenzo’s interception early on really got us going,” said Callahan. “It provided a lot of energy on the sideline and set the offense up right down a the goal line.”

Hahn, who has taken on a much-needed leadership role this season after injuries have crippled the defense, had seven tackles (5 solo), two TFL, a pass breakup and interception. Junior Tyrese Wright again led the team with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops.

Junior Ryan Moran had another fine game with seven tackles (5 solo), sack and TFL. It was Moran’s fourth straight game contributing a sack. Veteran Erik Massey added 2.5 TFL.

Besides the Hahn and Hernandez picks, senior cornerback Eddie Morales III added an interception.

With the Hawks leading 17-7, the Lions drove the Hawks 48-yard line but on first down Morales picked off Files, who rushed his throw due to pressure from defensive end Justin O’Bannon and tackle Dominick Spanos.

Monmouth then put together a six play, 48-yard drive with Wright finishing off the drive with a 4-yard burst for a 24-7 lead at the 9:46 mark of the second quarter.

In defense of Monmouth’s defense, they’ve been hit hard with the injury bug this season. They were again playing without starters Nick Shoemaker at end, Anthony Budd at free safety and Tyler Delgado at middle linebacker and were playing a lot of young guys who are just getting their feet wet.

And that’s after losing stud defensive end Kahari Scarlett and Big South Defensive Player of the Year candidate Da’Quan Grimes to injuries before the season even started. Delgado did make an appearance late in the game so hopefully he’s on the mend.

However, with only two games left in the regular season and a playoff spot on the line there are no excuses. It’s the next man up, all hands on deck mentality that’s necessary for the Hawks to come out the other side on top.

The Hawks are in control of their own destiny.