PITTSBURGH, Pa.- Sophomore Julian Hayes' (Middletown, Conn./Xavier/The Hun School) 23 yard run on third and 18 with just over a minute remaining in regulation preserved Monmouth's 28-27 victory over Duquesne (5-4, 3-2 NEC) on Saturday afternoon.
Monmouth took a 21-7 halftime lead but the Dukes scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to take their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter. It was Hayes' two-yard touchdown run with 9:40 left in the fourth quarter that put MU back ahead 28-24 after Duquesne had taken the lead for the first time in the game on a six yard Sean Patterson touchdown pass on the previous Duke drive.
"It was a great game, both games competed and played really hard," said Monmouth Head Coach Callahan." We got ourselves out to an early lead, Duquesne, like a good football team that they are, fought to get back in it. Our players showed the ability to finish the game today. With a lead in the fourth quarter, playing with some short fields, we were able to get some stops. At the end of the game with a one-point lead we needed a first down to be able to run out the clock and I thought Julian Hayes did a very good job really fighting for extra yards to get the first down."
The Monmouth win snapped a 10-game home win streak for the Dukes, dating back to 2010. Duquesne closed to within one on a 25 yard field goal with 8:09 remaining but the MU defense was able keep the Dukes out of the endzone the rest of the way.
Hayes finished with a season-high 158 yards on 36 carries with a two touchdowns. Kyle Frazier (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) finished 15-of-23 for 141 yards and a touchdown pass to Neal Sterling (Belmar, N.J./Manasquan). With his 14th completion of the day he surpassed former Hawk Brian Boland for first all-time in completions with 628. Tight end Michael McLafferty (Morgan, N.J./War Memorial) led MU through the air with 68 yards on three catches.
Defensively, true freshmen Joe Johnson (Manchester, N.J./Manchester) and Anthony McDonnaugh (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic/Salisbury) led the way with 10 and nine tackles, respectively.
Duquesne needed just five plays to cut MU's lead to 21-14 on a drive that lasted just 1:58 to cover 65 yards. Duke signal caller Sean Patterson threw a fade pass to wideout Gianni Carter for 15 yards after connecting on throws of 23 and 15 yards earlier in the drive and the Hawk lead was slashed to one score.
The Dukes added a 29 yard field goal with 5:23 to play but MU was still in command, 21-17. Duquesne's defense dominated the quarter as the Hawks went three and out on three possessions and were able to muster just eight yards on offense.
Disaster struck early in the fourth quarter for the Hawks in the form of a bad snap on a punt, with punter Ryan Mohr (West Orange, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) covering the ball on his own 17. Patterson gave his team their first lead of the game four plays later on a six yard slant to Sean Brady pushing the Dukes ahead of Monmouth 24-21 with 12:18 to play.
Frazier and the offense came to life on the ensuing drive with the fifth-year senior driving the Hawks 75 yards on seven plays. Frazier was 3-of-3 for 65 yards, including a 30 yard pass to tight end Mike McLafferty (Morgan, N.J./War Memorial) to set up a first and goal from the Duquesne 4. Three plays later, Hayes crossed the goalline for the second time on the day, putting MU back ahead 28-24 with 9:40 to play.
Duquesne's Charlie Leventry cut the lead to one with a 25 yard field goal with 8:09 remaining in regulation.
After Duquesne's defense forced a three-and out on the games' opening possession, Mohr sent a booming punt to Duquesne sophomore returner Dave Thomas. With coverage bearing down, Thomas muffed the ball where it was recovered by sophomore tight end Evan Ruane (West Long Branch, N.J./Shore Regional) on the Duquesne 31 yard line.
On first down wideout Eric Sumlin (Dover, Del./Dover) found Mike McLafferty (Morgan, N.J./War Memorial) on a trick play for 25 yard completion down to the Duquesne six. Two plays later Asante gave the Hawks a 7-0 lead when he cut back into the middle of the field for a two yard touchdown just under three minutes in the game.
The Hawks went up 14-0 when Julian Hayes (Middletown, Conn./Xavier/The Hun School) rumbled around left side for a 10 yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter. The play capped a 18-play 93 yard drive that ran 7:37 off the clock. The Hawks dominated the first 15 minutes of play, outgaining Duquesne 127-17.
The Dukes followed the MU touchdown with a big drive of their own, getting down to the MU 23. The Hawks appeared to get an interception on fourth and 2 but a defensive holding call gave the Dukes new life at the MU 13. Two plays later Patterson connected with Thomas for a nine yard touchdown and Duquesne cut the lead to 14-7 with 9:33 to play in the second quarter.
MU's defense held on another fourth down attempt by Duquesne and Hayes put the Hawks on his back, punishing defenders as Monmouth drove the length of the field. On first and goal from the eight Frazier connected with Neal Sterling (Belmar, N.J./Manasquan) on a jump ball to put Monmouth up 21-7 with 3:22 to play in the half. Hayes eclipsed the 100-yard plateau on that drive, carrying it 21 times for 108 yards in the first half.
McCoy, who became Duquesne's all-time leading rusher on a four-yard third quarter run, finished with 116 yards on 29 carries. Patterson finished with 259 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-43 passing. Brady had seven catches for 110 yard s to lead all receivers.
Monmouth returns to Kessler Field for the first of a two-game home stand, beginning with a showdown against Central Connecticut State on Nov. 3, 2012.
Nest Notes:
- Fifth year senior Reggie Hildebrandt Jr. (Seat Pleasant, N.J./Eleanor Roosevelt) made a pair of touchdown saving pass breakups
-The Hawk defense recorded eight tackles for a loss, including two from McDonnaugh
-Linebacker Dave Damirgian (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock) had five tackles and two pass breakups in the game
-Fifth year senior tight end Tyler George (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Gov. Livingston) had his 40 consecutive games starting streak snapped when he missed the Duquesne game.
-Duquesne outgained Monmouth 389-313
-Monmouth was 4-4 in red zone opportunities, pushing their NEC leading numbers to 30-of-33 on the season
-Monmouth led in time of possession for the sixth time this season, 32:14-27:46
-Kyle Frazier is now Monmouth's all-time leader in pass completions with 628
