WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Mitchell Pollard (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) made a career high 10 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown, but the Monmouth University football team fell to Robert Morris, 23-20, Saturday afternoon at Kessler Field. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 2-2 (1-1 NEC), while the Colonials improve to 1-3 (1-0 NEC).

The Hawks were done in by their 13 penalties for 136 yards, none bigger than a fourth quarter procedure penalty which gave RMU's offense a first down instead of a punt.  The Colonials drove down the field and took the lead on a Jeff Sinclair to Shadrae King 21 yard TD pass.  Monmouth had 14 total penalties coming into the contest.

"We hurt ourselves too many times with penalties on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game," said MU Coach Kevin Callahan.  "It either dramatically changed field position, extended their drives or made it very difficult for some of our drives in terms of getting out of a big hole. When you do those things against a quality opponent like Robert Morris, it makes it very difficult to win.  It negates many of the very good things that are going on out there."

The Colonials got on the board first at the 5:46 mark of the first quarter, when Sinclair found King for a 19-yard touchdown reception to cap an eight-play, 72-yard drive.

After the Hawks' next drive stalled, Reggie Hildebrandt, Jr. (Seat Pleasant, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt [Morgan St.]) forced and recovered a fumble at the Colonials' 35. The turnover led to a six-yard touchdown connection from Frazier to Pollard with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.

RMU's Greg Langer kicked a 34-yard field goal to briefly give the Colonials a 10-7 advantage at the 11:45 mark of the second quarter. Monmouth's Eric Spillane (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) evened the score at 10-10 with a 29-yard field goal with 7:51 remaining in the first half.

Momentum swung the Hawks' way early in the second half, when a botched snap on a Robert Morris punt led to a fumble recovery and runback for an 11-yard touchdown by Pat Gray (Westfield, N.J./Hargrave Military Academy/Westfield).

After the Hawks took the seven-point lead, 17-10, Monmouth's defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back early in the third quarter. But Frazier's pass on 1^st-and-12 on the Hawks' second play of the drive was intercepted by Cameron Chadwick and run back to Monmouth's nine yard line. Justin Brooks ran it in on the next play to tie the game, 17-17.

The Hawks bounced back on the next drive, moving 52 yards on nine plays to push within field-goal range for Spillane, whose 36-yard attempt was true to put Monmouth back on top, 20-17.

After each team punted twice and the Colonials stalled on three plays on their next possession, Robert Morris lined up to punt. But a substitution infraction against the Hawks on 4^th-and-4 gave the Colonials new life. Robert Morris marched down the field on the next six plays to take the lead on King's 21-yard touchdown catch from Sinclair on 3^rd-and-6. Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy) blocked the extra point to keep it a three-point game, 23-20.

The Hawks moved 41 yards to the Robert Morris 32 yard line on their next possession, setting up a 49-yard field-goal attempt. Spillane's kick, though on line, fell short at the back line of the end zone with 2:18 remaining in regulation.

The Monmouth defense did their job and got the Colonials to go three-and-out giving the Hawks the ball back with 1:36 left on the clock. Monmouth drove to the Robert Morris 36, but Frazier's Hail Mary at the final buzzer was batted away in the end zone to secure the Colonials' 23-20 victory.  

Kyle Frazier (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) threw for 241 yards and a touchdown, completing 27-of-39 attempts, throwing two interceptions. Neal Sterling (Belmar, N.J./Manasquan) made six catches for 71 yards, while Julian Hayes (Middletown, Conn/Xavier/The Hun School) rushed for a team-high 41 yards.  Pollard's 10 catches were a career-high and the sophomore  became the first MU player to record a 10 receptions since Adam San Miguel did it against Stony Brook in 2006.

The Monmouth defense was led by sophomore Dan Sullivan (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) with nine tackles.  The Hawks had 11 tackles-for-a-loss, forced four fumbles and had four sacks.  Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy) had eight tackles, a forced fumble, a blocked extra point and a pass breakup.  The MU defense held RMU to 14 yards rushing on the day.
 
Sinclair led Robert Morris with 211 yards and two touchdowns through the air, both caught by King, who finished the day with nine catches and 104 yards.

The Hawks return to action next Saturday, Oct. 8, when they play host to Colgate. Kickoff from Kessler Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.