Historic Offensive Output Sends #12 Monmouth Past Hampton, 48-13

Hampton Pirates (5-7, 1-5 Big South) – 13

#12 Monmouth Hawks (10-2, 6-0 Big South) – 48

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – A program record 696 yards of total offense propelled the #12 Monmouth University football team past Hampton for the outright Big South title, 48-13. The Hawks end the regular with eight straight wins and a perfect 6-0 Big South record.

Monmouth will find out its playoff fate on Sunday during the NCAA FCS Championship selection show, which airs from 12:30 to 1:30 on ESPNU.

Junior running back Pete Guerriero (Lyndhurst, NJ/Lyndhurst) compiled 18 touches for 306 total yards and three touchdowns. The reining FCS National Offensive Player of the Week reached 240 rushing yards, including a career-long 81-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

In less than three quarters, fifth year quarterback Kenji Bahar (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall) completed 22 of 30 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior wide receiver Terrance Greene Jr. (Philadelphia, PA/St. Joe’s Prep) caught six balls for 120 yards and a touchdown, while classmate Lonnie Moore IV (Sicklerville, NJ/Paul VI) added eight catches for 107 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half.

The Monmouth defense pitched a shutout in the second half and held the Pirates to just 101 passing yards. Junior DeJaun Cooper (Germantown, MD/Northwest) registered his first career interception off Hampton QB Deondre Francois in the third quarter.

Monmouth finishes the regular season with a 10-2 (6-0 Big South) record, and will compete in the FCS playoffs for the second time in three years.

NOTES AND QUOTES

“I could not be happier or prouder of the job that this team has done, not only today but all season long. It’s a group that’s worked extremely hard, starting way back in January. This team knew what they were chasing, they knew what they wanted to accomplish and kept that in the front of their minds. When the season started on August first and we came to camp we never talked about a championship, we talked about what we need to do to improve everyday and to prepare everyday. They’ve worked very hard for this and they deserve everything that comes their way.“ – Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan

“I think we are a defense that every week rely on each other. We have a lot of confidence going into games. This year we have a special bond and we know someone is going to make a play when we need it.” – Senior Evan Powell on the play of the defense

-On the opening drive of the game, Hampton connected on a 37-yard touchdown pass to go ahead 7-0.

-Monmouth was forced into a third down on its first possession, but Bahar found Guerriero for a 59-yard screen pass to the Hampton 9. Two plays later, Moore IV went in motion and caught a touch pass from Bahar for a six-yard score.

-Sophomore Ryan Kost launched a 50-yard punt down to the Hampton 3, and the Monmouth defense quickly forced a punt.

-Starting the drive with good field position, Bahar eventually found Guerriero on a screen pass, and the junior juked a defender en route to a seven-yard touchdown.

-Early in the second quarter, Guerriero showed off his speed on an 81-yard touchdown run. Monmouth took a 21-7 lead with 13:29 to go in the first half.

-The next Monmouth offensive possession including a 33-yard run from Guerriero and a 26-yard tight window pass from Bahar to Greene Jr. The 95-yard drive ended in a 31-yard touchdown pass from Bahar to fifth year TE Quentin Parham.

-Later in the second quarter, the Hampton defense secured an interception and the offense connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass. Despite a failed extra point, the Pirates cut the deficit to 28-13.

-With time expiring in the first half, senior kicker Matt Mosquera drilled a 38-yard field goal attempt to give the Hawks a 31-13 advantage.

-Monmouth needed just four plays to go 75 yards on the opening drive of the second half, capped by a 38-yard Guerriero rushing touchdown.

-After Hampton missed a 26-yard field goal, Monmouth got a 40-yard rush from Guerriero and a 40-yard touchdown pass from Bahar to Greene Jr. The Hawks went ahead 45-13 with 10:08 left in the third.

-After two straight 10-yard gains for the Pirates, Cooper intercepted the tipped pass across the middle from Francois.

-With 2:21 left in the third quarter and the Hawks up by 32, junior QB Brandon Harris checked in.

-Sophomore running back James Fara had a 20-yard rush and a 31-yard catch to close the third quarter, and Mosquera eventually connected on a 30-yard field goal to put Monmouth up 48-13.

NUMBERS CRUNCH

-The Hawks are 16-1 at the new Kessler Stadium dating back to 2017. MU has outscored opponents 704-417 in that span, averaging 41.4 points per game.

-Over the eight-game winning streak, Monmouth has outscored opponents 334-137 and is averaging 41.8 points per game.

-Bahar increased his program records in passing yardage (9,220), total offense yards (9,568), passing completions (763), passing touchdowns (68), and career games (46).

-Guerriero now has 3,647 career rushing yards (2nd all-time) and 31 rushing touchdowns (3rd all-time). His 240 rushing yards today were three away from the program record set by David Sinisi in 2008. Guerriero is six yards away from the program record for rushing yards in a single season.

-Moore IV continues his career year, and is up to 63 receptions for 903 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019. For a single season, his receptions rank fifth all-time, his yardage ranks sixth all-time, and his touchdowns rank t-fourth all-time.

-Greene Jr. has 58 receptions this season for 793 yards and eight touchdowns.

-Freshman defensive back Tyrese Wright led the team with six tackles.

-Monmouth compiled 404 yards of total offense in the first half alone. The Hawks put up points on five of their first seven drives.

-Monmouth averaged 9.9 yards per play. The Hawks were 4-4 in the red zone.