Monmouth University (5-1, 0-0 Big South) at Presbyterian College (4-3, 1-1 Big South)
Saturday, October 25, 2014; 2:00 p.m.
Bailey Memorial Stadium (6,500), Clinton, S.C.
Radio Coverage: Shore Sports Network, WOBM 1160AM and 1310AM, shoresportsnetwork.com
Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Eddy Occhipinti (Color Analyst)
Ticket Info:
For tickets call 864-833-8240 or visit HERE for more information.
Directions to Bailey Memorial Stadium:
For Directions to Bailey Memorial Stadium visit HERE
Television:
N/A
Streaming Video:
The game can be viewed for free online on The Big South Network
A LOOK AT THE GAME:
Monmouth University officially accepted an invitation to join the Big South Conference as an associate member in the sport of football in February 2013, and will play in a Big South Conference game for the first time this afternoon against the Blue Hose. The Hawks have won three in a row, beating Lehigh and Robert Morris on the road before defeating Columbia two weeks ago on homecoming which preceeded a bye week. Presbyterian comes in after a road win over a ranked Charleston Southern squad last week, 7-3. Monmouth hosts those same Buccaneers next week on ESPN3.
The Hawks have won three straight, beating Lehigh for the first time in school history on a late Eric Sumlin touchdown before dominating Robert Morris 51-20 in Moon Township. The last time out, the Hawks scored 61 points on Columbia in a homecoming rout at Monmouth Stadium. Sophomore Payton Minnich became the first Hawk ever to intercept three passes in a game, picking off Lions QB Brett Nottingham three times in the second quarter to set up three touchdowns. Ed Royds and Lavon Chaney both rushed for over 100 yards, and Lamar Davenport caught a pair of touchdowns from Brandon Hill, who threw for 300+ yards for the third straight week. Monmouth is 5-1 for the first time since the 2006 season when the Hawks opened up with four wins, lost one and then won six straight.
Presbyterian is 4-3 this year and is fresh off of a 7-3 win at Charleston Southern, who at the time was ranked No. 22. DeMarcus Rouse broke a 48-yard touchdown run barely three minutes into the game, and thats all the PC defense would need, holding CSU to 97 yards passing, 250 yards of total offense and just three points. The Blue Hose also won a low-scoring contest against a ranked team earlier this season, defeating then No. 12 Furman 10-7 on September 13. Rouse leads the team in rushing with 484 yards and three touchdowns while preseason all-league selecton Tobi Antigha is the Blue Hose leading wideout with 29 grabs for 313 yards in 2014.
THE COACHING MATCHUP:
Kevin Callahan is in his 22nd season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 125-98 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Callahan is one of 20 active head coaches in the FCS with over 100 career victories and his 125 victories ranks 13th among active FCS coaches. The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to five conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Callahan has earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as defensive coordinator at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79) and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981.
Harold Nichols is in the midst of his fifth season as head coach of Presbyterian football. Nichols began his coaching career in 1992 at Georgia Southern, and over the years he landed assistant coaching jobs at Presbyterian, Rhode Island, and Bucknell. He helped guide the Georgia Southern team to the 1993 Southern Conference title and two Division I-AA playoff berths (1993, 1995). In 2006 Coach Nichols earned the Michael Campbell Top Assistant Coach Award by the All-America Football Foundation during his coaching time at Rhode Island. He holds a career record of 13-47 as head coach at Presbyterian, where he was a 1989 graduate. Heading into this game, he has led the Blue Hose to a 4-3 record.
INSIDE THE MONMOUTH-PRESBYTERIAN SERIES:
Today marks the first meeting between the Blue Hose and the Hawks.
MONMOUTH AGAINST THE BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE:
In February of 2013 Monmouth University officially accepted an invitation to join the Big South Conference as an associate member in the sport of football. Today, the Hawks will play in a Big South Conference game for the first time as they open the conference slate against the Blue Hose.
MU is 0-3 all-time against members of the Big South with losses to Coastal Carolina in 2008 and 2009 and Liberty in 2013. In the '09 contest at Coastal, a Mike Avent 4th quarter interception set up a Kyle Frazier touchdown pass to Ron Lauch to put MU within seven, but the Hawks were unable to get any closer. The 2008 game between the Hawks and Chanticleers in West Long Branch saw Dave Sinisi go for 79 yards in defeat. Last season at Liberty, tight end Mike McLafferty nabbed three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown, and TE Zach Fabel caught his first career score.
CALLAHAN NOTCHES 125TH CAREER WIN
With Monmouth's 61-28 win over Columbia on October 11, Head Coach Kevin Callahan earned his 125th career victory. The only coach in Monmouth's 22-year history, Callahan has five conference titles to his credit as he leads the program into the Big South Conference this season. Callahan earned his first career win at Saint Peters on October 10, 1993 with a 44-42 victory over the Peacocks. Win #25 came four years later over Saint Francis (Pa.), and his 50th win was, fittingly enough, a 50-0 rout of LaSalle in 2003. He grabbed win 100 on October 31, 2009 with a 10-6 win over Bryant before picking up his 125th against Columbia two weeks ago. He is a three-time conference coach of the year, and has placed several players in the NFL, including two-time Pro Bowler Miles Austin and current Buffalo Bills wideout Chris Hogan.
HAWKS RECEIVING VOTES IN SPORTS NETWORK POLL
When The Sports Network FCS national media poll was released on Monday, October 20, Monmouth was receiving votes for the first time since September 2012, when MU received votes after a home win over Sacred Heart. Monmouth joins four other Big South teams in the rankings, with Charleston Southern, Liberty and Presbyterian receiving votes and Coastal Carolina ranked third in the nation.
DID YOU KNOW?
Monmouth senior quarterback Brandon Hill moved into a tie for sixth place on MU's single-season passing touchdowns list with his four TD throws against Columbia. He needs just two to move into fourth, and is just six behind the single-season record set by Brian Boland with 21 touchdowns in 2005.
LISTEN TO THE GAME ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE OR TABLET FOR FREE
Fans with a mobile phone or tablet using Apple's IOS or Googles Android operating systems can download the FREE Radio Pup app, then select 1160 WOBM-AM as the station and you are set to go!
HEAD TO CJ McLOONES IN SHREWSBURY FOR THE OFFICAL MU FOOTBALL VIEWING PARTY
Can't make it to the game this Saturday against Robert Morris at 3pm? You can watch the Hawks take on the Presbyterian Blue Hose on big screen TV's at CJ McLoone's in Tinton Falls (560 Shrewsbury Avenue) all season long! Food and drink specials available during the game! No RSVP is required, just come and wear your BLUE and Fly Hawks!
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