MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa.- After a defensive battle dominated the first half, Monmouth University scored 10 fourth-quarter points to defeat Robert Morris by a score of 16-7.
The Hawks capitalized off of two fourth quarter RMU miscues, turning on into the go-ahead touchdown to improve to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
“It was a great effort today by our team, particularly the defense,” said MU Head Coach Kevin Callahan. “They [Robert Morris] kept coming up in big situations and we really rose to the occasion. Robert Morris has a great football team so this was a tremendous win for us on the road.”
The Colonials took the opening kickoff then ran the ball five consecutive plays, picking up a first down along the way at the 30 yard line. On third and five MU senior Dan Sizelove (Brick, N.J./Brick), sacked RMU quarterback Cwalinski to force a RMU punt. The Hawks moved the ball well on their first drive, moving into Colonial territory before two penalties backed MU up to their own 36 where they would punt.
On their second drive, Robert Morris used a mix of runs and passes to get into Monmouth territory for the first time in the game. With the ball on the 40, the Hawks defense held on third down and the MU offense started their second drive on their own 10. A seven yard Brian Boland (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) run picked up a first down but the Blue & White was forced to punt three plays later.
The Monmouth defense continued to harass Cwalinski, forcing a fourth and long when senior Erik Yngstrom (Freehold, N.J./Freehold) drilled the signal caller and forced a fumble that was recovered by a Colonial.
MU started its first drive of the second half on its own four yard line. Boland converted back-to-back third downs with his legs to move the ball out to the 24. Monmouth punted for the third straight time a few plays later as both team's defense was impressive.
Robert Morris moved the ball to the Hawks 25 yard line on a Moises Hernandez third down run that went for 27 yards. After an incomplete pass, the Hawks hit Cwalinski on successive plays including a big third down sack by junior Chris Reed. Colonial kicker Michael Walser lined up for 45-yard field goal attempt but the kick sailed wide right to preserve the score at 0-0.
With just under five minutes to play in the half, Monmouth converted a third-down pass when Boland hit junior Steve Dowens (Red Bank, N.J./Middletown South) who powered through a pair of Colonials for the first down. After a holding call on first down gave the Hawks a first and 18, Boland took a designed draw up the middle to gain back about 12 of those yards. Monmouth was unable to convert on the ensuing third down as the Blue and White punted the ball away with 1:28 left in the half.
MU senior punter Sean Dennis (Westampton, N.J./Holy Cross) continued his impressive special teams play, pinning the Colonials on their own 10 yard line for the second time in the first half. The Blue & White defenders held on the possession, forcing RMU to punt from their own 18 with 39 seconds left in the first half. Monmouth's offense took over at the home team's 48 yard line but burned 25 seconds in the huddle before running an Adam San Miguel (North Bergen, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) reverse that went for a first down. With 5.7 seconds remaining Boland was flushed out of the pocket where he picked up minimal yardage, with the first half score resting at 0-0.
A personal foul called after the whistle on the last play of the first half had the Colonials kicking off at their own 20 yard line. MU took over at their own 33 yard line, starting the half with a pair of runs. A holding call negated a five yard run on second down and the Hawks punted for the fifth time after two unsuccessful plays.
The Hawks regained possession of the ball after the Blue & White defense held, despite RMU starting their first drive the second half from their own 44. After two unsuccessful plays on first and second down, Boland hit Shane Sharpley (Oakridge, N.J./West Milford) for a 17 yard gain and a first down. On second and long, Hawk ball carrier David Sinisi (Ceder Grove, N.J./Ceder Grove) ran for 10 hard yards to give the Hawks a manageable third and eight. Boland hit San Miguel for the first down and for the first time MU was in Colonial territory. On second and five, San Miguel split out left and sprinted down the field where Boland hit him in stride for a 39 yard touchdown to put Monmouth up 7-0. The nine-play, 78 yard drive took 4:25 off of the clock. The scoring pass was Boland's 53rd of his career, setting a new Monmouth University record.
The Colonial offense took over with just under six minutes to go in the third quarter, putting together two straight pass completions for a first and 10 from their own 42. A holding call coupled with an incomplete pass had RMU facing a third and 14 with 3:22 left in the quarter. Cwalinski tried to hit Alvin Hill on a deep fly but Monmouth defensive back David Jiles (Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro) had solid coverage as the ball fell harmlessly to the turf.
On a third and one from the MU 44 yard line Boland bounced a sneak outside picking up the first down but the fifth year senior fumbled the ball with RMU recovering. The Colonials threw a flea flicker on the very next play, with Mario Hines grabbing a wide-open 38 yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 50 seconds left in the quarter.
On the ensuing drive the Hawks picked up a first down on a San Miguel reverse, moving the ball out to their own 28. The momentum was completed in the home team's favor when two plays later Boland fumbled on a quarterback draw, with RMU recovering the loose ball on the Hawk 41.
Cwalinski hit Sherrod Evers on a long pass to get to the Hawk 20 but on the very next play he missed a wide-open Hines in the endzone on a ball that was picked off by Jamaal McClintock (Plainfield, N.J./Plainfield) and returned to the 15. MU went three-and-out, forcing a MU punt. Hines returned the ball to the Hawk 38 yard line with 10:58 to play in regulation.
The Blue & White defense responded like they had all afternoon, tossing RMU for two straight losses including a Brian Sweeney (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) sack. On third and long Cwalinski completed a pass but it still left the Colonials six yards short of a first. On the next play Evers grabbed a pass over the middle, taking the ball down to the Hawk 15. On the very next play Colonial running back Brian Harden fumbled and MU safety Matt Hill (Hopatcong, N.J./Hopatcong) scooped up the loose ball.
Boland hit senior Michael McClelland (Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South) on back to back passes, with his second catch going for 39 yards, setting up a first down on the RMU 19. MU was unable to pick up another first as junior Fred Weingart (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) lined up for a 29 yard kick but it was blocked at the line of scrimmage, keeping the score tied at 7-7.
The Colonials took over at their own 20 but the MU defense would not budge, forcing a third and five. On the very next play Hill intercepted Cwalinski on a deflected ball, returning the ball down to the RMU 32 yard line. On third down Boland hit tight end John Nalbone (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) over the middle who carried the ball to the four yard line. One play later Sinisi took the ball around the left side stretching the ball over the goaline for his eighth rushing touchdown of the season. A holding call on the extra point pushed the ball back and the kick was blocked, giving the Hawks a 13-7 lead with 2:58 on the clock.
After Dennis booted the ball through the endzone, the Colonials took over from their own 20 with 2:37 to go. After Hill almost picked off his second ball on first down, the Colonials ran for just one yard on second down. An incomplete on third down set up a fourth and nine for the home squad with under two minutes to go. Cwalinski dropped back and forced a pass that bounced off the chest of Hawk defender Mike Castellano (Freehold, N.J./Freehold).
Robert Morris stopped Sinisi on three straight Monmouth runs, stopping the clock after each one with a timeout. The Hawks faced a fourth and 11 with 1:05 left in regulation, sending out Weingart for a 39 yard attempt. The New Egypt, N.J., native drilled the ball right down the uprights, giving the Hawks a nine point lead with just over a minute left. RMU was able to get to midfield but there was not enough time.
The Hawks outgained the Colonials, who fall to 3-1 in conference play and 5-3 overall, by a 349 to 258 margin. The Hawk defense held RMU to 69 rushing yards on 29 attempts, while MU picked up 126 yards on 39 carries.
Boland led the Hawks in rushing with 11 runs for 51 yards. The Brick, N.J., native was 17-of-30 in passing for 223 yards and a touchdown. San Miguel was second in rushing with 34 yards on five carries and first in receiving with five grabs for 71 yards and a touchdown. McClelland was second on the team in receiving with 59 yards on two catches, both of which came in the fourth quarter.
Hill led the Hawks with 11 total tackles and finished with a fumble recovery and an interception. Ayo Falae (Newark, N.J./Barringer) was second on the team in tackles with eight.
Cwalinski finished 14-of-30 for 189 yards and a touchdown while throwing two interceptions. Hernandez led the Colonials on the ground with 56 yards on 11 carries. Hines was RMU's leading receiver with four catches for 63 yards including the 38 yard touchdown.
The Hawks are back in action next week when they host Central Connecticut at 12:00 p.m. for homecoming. The game will be televised on Fox Sports New York.
