PITTSBURGH- Monmouth University's (1-3, 1-0 NEC) defense ruined homecoming for Duquesne University (3-2, 1-1 NEC) with a record six interceptions en route to a 44-17 victory, the first of the season for the Hawks.
Monmouth sprinted out to a 31-0 lead with three minutes left in the second quarter but Duquesne answered with 10 straight points after big kick returns left them with short fields. MU used three second half interceptions to secure the 44-17 win. The Hawks 44 points are the most since hanging 47 in a win over St. Francis in 2007.
"I am happy to come out to Pittsburgh and go home with a win," said head coach Kevin Callahan. "We started fast on offense and were able to put points on the board while the defense also made plays. We played well in the secondary and the defensive line got good pressure on the quarterback. The defensive backs did a good job of seeing the ball and the quarterback while making good breaks on the ball."
MU racked up a season-high 440 yards on offense, over a 130 more than Duquesne was allowing going into the game. For the second straight week Monmouth's defense held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing, holding the Dukes to 77 yards on 28 carries. MU's six interceptions set the new school record, breaking the old record of five which was set against LaSalle in 2003.
After a three and out by the MU offense, the Hawks got the ball right back with a interception on Duquesne's first play from scrimmage Two plays later wideout/defensive back Chris Hogan (Ramapo, N.J/Ramapo/Penn State) hauled in a 41 yard pass from Kyle Frazier (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) setting up a first and goal from the Duke 1. On the next play from scrimmage L.J. Caprio's (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex/Richmond) second effort got the fifth year senior into the endzone, giving MU a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Duquesne answered with an 11-play 59 yard drive of their own but Eric Duale's 30 yard field goal attempt sailed right and the Hawks held on to their seven-point lead. Monmouth marched down the field, converting a key third and long on a Frazier to Ryan Folsom (Somerdale, N.J./Triton Regional) 27 yard screen pass, which gave the Hawks the ball on the Duquesne 14. Two plays later Frazier found a wide-open Tyler George (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) five yards deep in the endzone to extend the lead to 14-0 with 2:16 to play in the first quarter.
On the next DU drive Don Brooks III (Newark, Del./Caravel Academy) snuffed out a third down screen pass to force Duquesne's first punt of the game. The ensuing drive took just three plays to give MU a three touchdown lead. After Frazier passes of 18 and 25 yards, Caprio capped off the thirty-five second drive with a three yard TD run to put MU up 21-0 with 13:02 to play.
A freak play gave MU its fourth TD, with Duquesne QB Sean Patterson throwing a swing pass behind his running back who kicked the ball up in the air where it was snatched by defensive end Dave Ogden (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills). The senior sprinted 31 yards for his first career touchdown.
A 20-yard Eric Spillane (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) field goal gave MU a 31-0 lead with just over three minutes to play in the first half. Duquesne got a spark on offense on the ensuing drive, with backup quarterback Marty Mitchell connecting with Sean Bunevich for 50 yards on blown coverage by the MU. Two plays later Mitchell hit Conor Dixon in the right corner of the endzone to cut the Hawk lead to 31-7. The TD completion was the true freshman's first collegiate scoring pass.
Trailing 31-7 at halftime, Duquesne freshman Ryan Ho took the opening kickoff 85 yards down to the MU one yard line. The Hawks defense stiffened, stopping the Dukes on three straight runs inside; forcing a 22 yard Duale field goal.
Freshman Eric Spillane booted a career-long 45 yard field goal with 7:03 remaining in the third frame to extend the MU lead 34-10.
Ho returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards to the MU 21, setting up Duquesne's second TD. Blown coverage allowed Mitchell to toss his second TD pass of the game, this time to Joe Cangilla. The score cut the lead to 34-17 with 6:46 to play in the third frame.
Hogan, in at cornerback, made a spectacular grab for his first career interception on the next Duquesne possession but Monmouth gave it right back when a tipped ball was snagged by Duke safety Khiry Carter. The pick was Frazier's first the season and fifth overall. No damage was done as sophomore Brad Harris (Damascus, Md./Damascus) tossed Mitchell for an eight-yard sack on third down to force a punt for the home squad.
On third and 20, fifth year senior Bobby Giles (Burlington, N.J./Burlington) took a handoff off the left side and went untouched for the first 15 yards then made three guys miss over the last five to give the Hawks a first down. MU moved down to the Duquesne 18, where Spillane came on to boot a 34 yard field goal. Spillane's third field goal of the game gave the Hawks a 37-17 lead with 11:36 showing.
Hogan's second interception stopped the next Duquesne drive, giving Monmouth five for the day, which tied a record set in a 2003 game against LaSalle. Under the direction of Andrew Mandeville (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan), the Hawks moved deep into Duquesne territory but George fumbled into the endzone where it was recovered by the Dukes.
With under a minute to play Kenny Amsel (Demarest, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) recorded Monmouth's sixth interception of the game, returning it to the house to ice the 44-17 win.
Frazier finished 15-of-29 for 232 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Mandeville was four-for-four passing for 59 yards. Giles finished with 20 carries for 95 yards for an average of 4.8 yards per rush. Monmouth's offensive line did not allow a sack in the game. Folsom led all receivers with six catches for a career-high 88 yards while George had career highs in both catches (6) and yards (79). Hogan had just the one catch for 41 yards but had two crucial INTs in the game.
Safety Kendall Haley (Olney, Md./Good Council) had two interceptions on the day to go along with three tackles. Linebacker Jon Rogers (Barnegat, N.J./Barnegat) led the team with six tackles, while freshman Jimmy Lawson (Manchester, N.J./Manchester) had a trio of tackles, including his first collegiate sack and another for a loss. Spillane finished with 14 points after going 3-for-3 on field goals and converting five extra points.
Larry McCoy led Duquesne in rushing with 18 rushes for 74 yards and a long of 25. Mitchell was 10-of-18 for 135 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Patterson went six of nine with two picks and 29 yards. Serge Kona led the Dukes with eight total tackles.
Monmouth makes a return trip to the Pittsburgh area next weekend when they face Robert Morris at 12 p.m.
