FAIRFIELD, Conn.- Monmouth University (4-3, 3-1 NEC) football team remained perfect on the road this season with a 31-17 victory over Sacred Heart (4-3, 2-2) in on Saturday.
The Hawks dominated the second half, scoring on three Julian Hayes (Middletown, Conn./Xavier/The Hun School) runs while sacking SHU quarterback Tim Little six times in the frame. Redshirt junior quarterback Craig Peterson (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) threw for 190 yards on 14-of-20 passing with a touchdown and one interception in his first collegiate start.
"I thought the second half we really came out and established control of the game," said Head Coach Kevin Callahan. "I have to credit to our defensive line for the pressure that they were able to put on their quarterback and that certainly made coverage a lot of easier. We knew that they were an explosive offense that put up a lot of points and yards a week ago so we knew it was going to be a four-quarter game. I was really proud on the ways our guys continued to play hard and take control of the second half."
Monmouth took a 14-10 lead into halftime but surrendered that lead for the only time in the game on Sacred Heart's first possession of the second half. The Pioneers went 66 yards on just seven plays in a drive that ended with a Little to Rich Rossi 25 yard TD. From there on out it was all Hawks as MU scored the final three touchdowns of the game and held SHU to just 69 yards in the final 27:313.
On the second play of the game, Peterson's first pass attempt hung up and was intercepted by SHU's Stephan Thomas but there was no damage done as the Hawk defense forced a punt.
The teams traded punts three times before MU would take the lead on a Peterson touchdown pass. The Hawks took over from their own 15 and went the length of the field on a drive in which Peterson was four-for-four passing. The Hawks faced a fourth and three from the SHU 31 but Peterson tossed his second TD of the year, this time to fullback Justin Pandorf (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey). After fake to the running back, Peterson rolled left and hit Pandorf who picked up a key block by tight end Tyler George (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) and went untouched for 31 yards. The scoring drive went 11 plays for 85 yards and covered 5:48 of game time. The touchdown, which was the first of Pandorf's career, gave MU a 7-0 lead with 46 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Sophomore Steve Barroso (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) ended the ensuing SHU drive with his first career interception, a diving grab on a third and long. The INT gave MU the ball at the Sacred Heart 38. The Hawks drove to the 13 where the drive stalled, prompting a successful 30 yard Eric Spillane (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) field goal attempt. Spillane converted his eighth FG attempt of the year to put MU up 10-0.
Sacred Heart answered right back with a lengthy drive, covering 70 yards on 12 plays. SHU quarterback Tim Little moved out of the pocket on a second and goal from the seven and found running back Greg Moore open to cut the lead to 10-7 with 4:29 to play in the half.
After a Hawk three-and-out Ryan Mohr (West Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) punted back to the Pioneers with three minutes remaining before halftime. Sacred Heart drove down to the MU 30 but freshman Pat Gray (Westfield, N.J./Westfield./Hargrave Academy) stopped the drive cold with his third interception of the year. The interception preserved a 10-7 lead for the Hawks going into halftime.
Sacred Heart opened up the second half with an impressive drive, converting three first downs before Little found a wide open Rossi for a 25 yard touchdown in the middle of the field. The TD pass gave SHU their first lead of the game, 14-10 with 12:31 to play in the quarter.
Late in the third quarter, freshman Eric Macik (Landsville, Pa./Hempfield/Navy Prep) registered his second sack of the game on a third down, forcing a fumble that MU recovered. An unsportsmanlike conduct call at the end of the play set the Hawks up on the SHU 25. Peterson picked up 14 on a run to move the chains and one play later Hayes broke a tackle on the right side and found the endzone for the seventh time this season. The run put MU ahead 17-14 with 2:20 to play in the third quarter.
Back to back plays by sophomore corner Jameson Zacharias (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) forced a three and out for SHU who punted to Pollard. The sophomore wideout had an electrifying return of 19 yards into Sacred Heart territory. On second and 11 Peterson found tight end Mike McLafferty (Morgan, N.J./War Memorial) for 17 yards and Hayes' 18 yard run three plays later that set up the next MU score. Two plays later Hayes walked in from four yards out for his second score of the game to put the Hawks up 24-14.
The Pioneers answered on the next drive with a 34 yard Chris Rogers field goal. The drive appeared to be stopped when back to back sacks by Macik and Chris Luma (Edison, N.J./Bishop Ahr) set up a third and 18. Little threw a pass up to senior Rock Tate for 37 yards to the MU 24, enough yardage for field goal range.
On the ensuing drive, Peterson hit Pollard for an apparent first down, when the sophomore darted left and outran the SHU defense down to the SHU 15 for a 61 yard gain. One play later, Hayes rumbled in to the endzone for his third score of the game and ninth of the season. Spillane added the PAT to put MU up 31-17 with 6:14 to play.
The score would hold up as Monmouth moved to 4-0 on the road this season.
Monmouth finished with 325 total yards, 84 of which came on Hayes' 25 rushes. Pollard led the MU wideouts with two grabs for 68 yards, part of his 86 total yard performance. Defensively linebacker Dan Sullivan (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) led the Hawks with eight tackles, while Macik had five tackles, three for a loss, a forced fumble and two sacks.
Little finished 28-of-46 for 236 with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Moore led the Pioneers on the ground with 46 yards on 13 carries. The Hawks held the Pioneers to 40 yards on the ground total.
Monmouth returns home next weekend for a 1 p.m. game against Duquesne.
