With the 15th season of Monmouth football kicking off this August, www.GoMUHawks.com will revisit the 15 greatest football victories of the past 14 years, with one game released each week until the Hawks open the season against Maine on Sept. 1, 2007.
MU FOOTBALL 7th GREATEST VICTORY: Oct. 16, 2004
Senior kicker hits 23-yarder with :00 on the clock in 25-24 win over Albany.
Steve Andriola booted a 23-yard field goal as time expired, as Monmouth University rallied for a 25-24 Northeast Conference victory over the University at Albany on Saturday afternoon at University Field.
"This was a typical Monmouth-Albany game that went back and forth for four quarters,” said Head Coach Kevin Callahan. Finally in the fourth quarter, we put together a great drive that ended with a Steve Andriola field goal as time expired."
“We were used to winning close games because we had done it so often,” said Austin. “We could will ourselves to victory because we went into every game thinking we could win.”
Monmouth (6-1, NEC 3-1) trailed 24-22 midway through the fourth quarter, but put together a 15-play, 86-yard march to set up the winning kick. Quarterback Brian Boland threw five consecutive completions to the Albany 14, and the drive was aided by a third-down defensive holding penalty.
Albany (2-5, NEC 2-1) took a 21-10 lead with 6:15 left in the third quarter, when quarterback Nicholas Bazan finished off an 11-play drive with a 5-yard option run around left end. Bazan ran 26 times for 91 yards, and completed 10 of 15 passes for 99 more.
The Hawks came back with the help of a 57-yard kickoff return by David Jiles to the Albany 29. Boland, who connected on 8 of 12 passes for 83 yards, hooked up with wide receiver Miles Austin for a 17-yard touchdown completion three plays later. The two-point pass was intercepted, and Monmouth was still behind, 21-16.
Monmouth, who shared the conference title with Albany last year, forced a turnover on the next series, when defensive tackle Brian Sweeney picked off Bazan's attempted screen pass in the middle of the field at the Great Danes 17. Five plays later, running back Joe Migliore scored over right tackle from one yard out for a 22-21 lead.
Bazan appeared to put his team back in front on his team's next possession, when he raced 30 yards to end zone. But a downfield holding call wiped out the touchdown, and the Great Danes were forced to punt. However, cornerback Ryan Chrobak intercepted Monmouth reserve quarterback Brendan Kennedy near midfield. The turnover set up a nine-play sequence that resulted in freshman Chris Lynch's 33-yard field goal, and a 24-22 lead with 7:45 remaining.
“Tim Hiltwine made a huge third down catch to extend the drive late and our offense really did the job moving the ball down the field to set up Steve Andriola,” said Austin.
"We showed both character and composure on that last drive," said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan, whose team also won on the last play against Robert Morris earlier that season. "I thought a huge turning point came when we stopped them on fourth-and-inches inside our 10-yard line trailing 14-nothing. It gave us a big boost, we went and scored a couple of possessions later, and then the game went back-and-forth."
Albany jumped out to a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter. Senior tailback Dustin Wilson, who rushed for 149 yards on 15 carries, scored on a 45-yard scamper, before fullback Dan Biegel reached the end zone on a one-yard run. The Hawks got back into the contest behind Austin's 4-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, and Andriola's 46-yard field in the third period.
Safeties Matt Hill and Nick Castellano each had 14 tackles for the Hawks, who are ranked third in both Division I-AA mid-major national polls. Albany linebacker Colin Disch had 11 tackles, while Brian Becker added seven hits and an interception.
"There were many really big plays throughout the game, and I was happy with the way our team played,” said Callahan. “The win allowed us to capture our second consecutive NEC Championship, and finish the year as Sportsnetwork's Mid-Major National Champion."
