By Jim Hintelmann
WEST LONG BRANCH – Due to an unusual schedule, Monmouth University’s football team will not make its Big South debut until Oct. 25, but the Hawks have gotten off to a good start against important non-conference foes.
The Hawks scored an impressive 52-21 rout of Delaware State Saturday, Aug. 30.
“It’s good to be 1-0 after the season opener,” Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan said. “Except for their two big touchdowns, I feel that we played very well once we settled down.”
The Hawks used a balanced running and passing game and rolled up 588 yards in total offense. The defense held Delaware State to only 29 yards rushing, and just 1 yard in the first half.
–Sean Simmons
Senior KB Asante and Davon Chaney led the running game with 155 and 127 yards, respectively, with Asante scoring four touchdowns
Senior quarterback Brandon Hill had a solid game with 23 completions in 36 attempts for two touchdowns and 218 total yards.
Nevertheless, because of the two big Delaware State plays, coupled with 70 yards in penalties, Monmouth led only 28-21 at the half, despite totally dominating the game.
The game started on a bad note for Monmouth when Delaware State’s Aris Scott returned the opening kickoff 98 yards down the right sidelines for a touchdown.
“We didn’t have much of an opportunity to practice against kickoff returns in the pre-season,” Callahan said. “ The players might also have been nervous since it the opening game of the season, but I was happy with the way the team responded.”
Monmouth took the ensuing kickoff and rolled 72 yards in 14 plays with Asante finishing it off with a 7-yard touchdown run. Lucas Santangelo kicked the first of seven extra points to tie the game.
Delaware State, with a big assist from 45 yards in Monmouth penalties, came back with a 65-yard scoring drive, capped by Malcolm Williams’ 2-yard run.
The Hawks staged two more sustained drives, but stalled both times and had to settle for a pair of Santangelo field goals to cut the lead to 14-13.
Monmouth went 52 yards in just four plays to retake the lead, 21-14 on a 13-yard touchdown run by Asante, and a 2-point conversion run by Greg DePugh.
“I feel that my offensive line did a really good job,” Asante said. “We felt that Delaware State was getting tired and we powered the ball.”.
The Hornets still had one more big play as Gilbert Rivera tossed a 77-yard touchdown pass to Williams to tie the game At 21-21 with 9:32 left in the half.
“We had a lack of communication on that play,” Callahan said, “but we made adjustments.”
Once again the Hawks had an answer as Asante caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Hill to give Monmouth the lead for good, 28-21, at 7:12 of the half.
“”I think that we were successful in moving the ball down the field,” Hill said. “We didn’t leave points on the field.”
The second half was all Monmouth as Delaware State never got past midfield and Monmouth scored on its first three possessions of the third quarter to open up a 49-21 lead.
The Hawks drove 65 yards in nine plays following the second half kickoff with Asante scoring on a 14-yard run. After holding the Hornets, they went 78 yards in nine plays, capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Darren Ambush.
Once again, the Hornets were unable to move the ball and Chaney finished off a 7-play, 78-yard march with a 4-yard run and a 49-21 lead.
Santangelo closed out the scoring with a 31-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining in the game,
“Our offensive line is still coming together,” Callahan said. “We had a few breakdowns, but we did a good job overall from start to finish.”
Monmouth’s Neal Sterling caught nine passes for 77 yards and passed NFL star Miles Austin for second place in school career receptions.
Monmouth will have a bye week Saturday, Sept. 6, and then will play host to Wagner.
