Monmouth University (2-3, 0-0 Big South) at Charleston Southern (3-1, 0-0 Big South)
Saturday, October 10, 2015; 12:00 p.m.
Buccaneer Field (4,000), North Charleston, SC
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 1-843-863-7213 or visit HERE for more information.
Directions to Buccaneer Field:
For Directions to Buccaneer Field visit HERE
Television:
N/A
Streaming Video:
Big South Network
**A full game preview is be available at www.MonmouthHawks.com**
A LOOK AT THE GAME:
Monmouth heads to North Charleston for the first time in program history to face Charleston Southern in the Big South opener for each team. The Hawks are coming off a 31-24 win over preseason Northeast Conference favorite Bryant University while Charleston Southern had a bye week to prepare for MU. Today's game begins a three-game stretch in which Monmouth will face the top-three teams from the Big South over the past three seasons, including a pair of ranked opponents in Liberty and Coastal Carolina. The Hawks took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter against the Bulldogs but found themselves tied up at 24-24 late in the fourth quarter. Monmouth broke the tie with 1:16 to play on a 50 yard touchdown pass from Cody Williams to Reggie White Jr.. Charleston Southern, who comes into today's game with a 3-1 record, recently overcame a halftime deficit to defeat rival The Citadel on September 26.
The Hawks begin their second season in the Big South today after finishing the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 2-3 overall record. Junior running back Lavon Chaney is coming off his best game as a Hawk, finishing with 170 total yards of offense and a career-high 140 rushing yards. The opportunistic Hawks defense has forced 12 miscues on the season, including three interceptions in last week's game against Bryant. Safety Mike Basile and linebacker Payton Minnich continue to anchor the Monmouth defense, with the duo ranking second and ninth in the Big South in tackles, respectively. MU was selected sixth in the Big South preseason coaches poll after finishing 1-4 in the league last season.
Charleston Southern is looking to remain undefeated at home this season, having outscored Division II North Greenville and FCS startup East Tennessee State 88-21 in their previous two home contests. Offensively, Coach Jamey Chadwell's unit is second in the league and seventh in the NCAA with 272 yards per game on the ground. CSU has averaged 34.3 points per game in 2015, which is third in the Big South and 22nd among FCS teams. The Bucs' defense, led by preseason all-conference selection Aaron Brown is ranked 10th in the country in total defense, allowing 290.0 yards per game.
THE COACHING MATCHUP:
Kevin Callahan is in his 23rd season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 128-105 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Coming into the season, Callahan's 128 victories ranked him 13th among active coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision. 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 conference 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.
Jamey Chadwell is in his third year as the head football coach at Charleston Southern, owning an overall record of 21-8. In his first season the former ETSU quarterback led CSU as high as No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll, the highest ranking in school history. He led CSU to a school-record 10-3 mark, earning Big South Coach of the Year honors. AFCA Region II Coach of the Year, and a spot as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award. The Bucs spent the final seven weeks of the season in the coaches' poll and finished the year ranked for the first time in school history at No. 22. Chadwell, the third head coach in CSU history, spent five seasons at CSU as an assistant coach prior to his head coaching stints at North Greenville and Delta St.
HEAD TO CJ McLOONES IN SHREWSBURY FOR THE OFFICAL MU FOOTBALL VIEWING PARTY
Can't make it to the game this Saturday against CSU at 12pm? You can watch the Hawks on the 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!
INSIDE THE MU-CHARLESTON SOUTHERN SERIES
Today marks the second time that the Hawks and the Bucs have faced, with Charleston Southern taking the first matchup by a 27-0 score. The game, played in driving rain storm, saw the Buccaneer defense hold Monmouth to 112 total yards of offense. CSU quarterback Austin Brown ran for a pair of scores and was part of a potent rushing attack that racked up 338 yards on the ground. Monmouth quarterback Brandon Hill completed 14 of 28 passes, throwing a pair of interceptions. Running back Lavon Chaney had 13 rushes for 43 yards on the day while Tyler Thompson had a career-high 12 tackles, including nine solo stops.
MONMOUTH AGAINST THE BIG SOUTH
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. The Hawks are looking for their second conference victory after defeating Gardner-Webb in last year's season finale on Kessler Field.
Last season Monmouth went 1-4 in their first season as a Big South member. MU lost in the fourth quarter to both Liberty and Presbyterian, fell to today's opponent Charleston Southern at home before being overpowered by then-number one ranked Coastal Carolina on ESPN3. Prior to joining the league, MU was 0-3 all-time against members of the Big South with losses to Coastal Carolina in 2008 and 2009 and Liberty in 2013.
CODY WILLIAMS PACING BIG SOUTH FR RECORD
Monmouth redshirt-freshman quarterback Cody Williams is second in the Big South with 239.6 yards of offense and third with 199.0 passing yards a game; pacing ahead of the Big South freshman records in both categories. Williams is looking to become the first freshman QB in league history to average 200 yards of offense, while his passing yards per game is ahead of the record of 188.3, set by VMI's Johnathan Wilson in 2003.
CHANEY RECORDS CAREER DAY VS BRYANT
Monmouth running back Lavon Chaney ran the ball 23 times for a career-high 140 yards, with a long of 31 yards. Chaney also had three receptions for 30 yards, including a 25 yard catch and run. It was the first time this season and the fourth overall time Chaney has eclipsed the 100 yard mark. Chaney now has 1,214 career yards, 65 yards away from moving into 10th all-time in rushing yards at MU.
JOHNSON RECORDS SEVENTH CAREER INT
Senior cornerback Joe Johnson recorded his second interception of the season and the seventh of his career, moving him into a tie for six place with former Hawks Mike Pitts and Rob Lamoriello. His 159 career return yards and 22.7 return yard average is tied for third all-time on the Hawks.
BASILE MAKES IT THREE STRAIGHT OF 10+
Safety Mike Basile recorded his third straight game and fourth overall with double digit tackles. The sophomore had 10 tackles against Bryant and currently leads the Hawks with 53. Basile currently ranks second in the Big South in overall tackles.
WHITE SETS FIELD GOAL CAREER MARK
Kicker Matt White booted a career long 40 yard field goal in the third quarter, battling winds that reached 30 mph at times. He also had two of his 3 punts land inside the Bulldog 20 yard line, including one that was downed on the one yard line. That punt set up Sieczkowski's INT return.
DID YOU KNOW?
Through five games Monmouth is ranked first in the Big South and sixth in the NCAA in turnovers gained with 12. The Blue & White have recovered four fumbles and intercepted opposing quarterbacks eight times. The Hawks are -1 on the year in turnover margin.
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