No. 23 Monmouth University (9-2, 4-1 Big South) at No. 21 Northern Iowa (7-4, 6-2 MVFC)
Saturday, November 25, 2017; 5:00 p.m.
UNI Dome (16,324), Cedar Falls, IA

Television/Streaming Video: ESPN3
                                    Shawn Keeney (Play by Play); Al Groh (Color Analyst)

Monmouth Radio Coverage: Shore Sports Network (Shoresportsnetwork.com, Andriod/IOS App/ 1310 AM)
                               Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Brian Sweeney (Color Analyst)

Ticket Info:
For tickets visit HERE for more information.

Directions to the UNI Dome:
For directions visit HERE
                            
A LOOK AT THE GAME:

• Monmouth comes to Cedar Falls, Iowa for its first playoff game in the 25 year history of the program.
• The Hawks are ranked for the fourth consecutive week, holding a #23 spot in the latest FCS Coaches Poll. For the 10th consecutive week, Monmouth is receiving votes in the STATS FCS Poll
• The Hawks have nine wins for the fourth time in school history and the first time since 2006
• Northern Iowa also earned an at-large playoff berth, the 19th time the Panthers have participated in the FCS playoffs. UNI was 7-4 overall, with losses only to FBS foe Iowa State and three ranked FCS programs.
• The Panthers have won four of their last five games and have forced nine interceptions in the last four games
• Today's game can be viewed on ESPN3, with Shawn Keeney (pxp) and Al Groh (analyst) on the call.
• Fans can also listen on the ShoreSportsNetwork, with Matt Harmon and Brian Sweeney on the call.

 
THE COACHING MATCHUP:
Kevin Callahan is in his 25th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 144-117 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Coming into the season, Callahan's 144 victories ranks him 11th 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.
 
Mark Farley is in his 17th season at the helm of the Panthers, the team in which he played linebacker for from 1983-85. In Missouri Valley Football Conference play, Farley has guided the Panthers to a record of 88-40 for an impressive .712 winning percentage in league play. Farley is the MVFC's all-time coaching wins leader with 88 league victories. Included in that 16-year run for Farley and the Panthers are seven conference championships, 10 playoff appearances, 12 top-25 final rankings, three national semifinal appearances and one national title game appearance in 2005. Farley holds the UNI record for postseason coaching victories with 13 with an overall playoff record of 13-9. Farley's 16 years, UNI has won at least a share of seven MVFC titles.

HEAD TO CJ McLOONES IN SHREWSBURY FOR THE OFFICAL MU FOOTBALL VIEWING PARTY
Can't make it to the FCS Playoff game this Saturday against Northern Iowa at 5:00pm? 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!

For all the ways to watch the game visit here

INSIDE THE MU-UNI SERIES
First Overall Meeting
Overall Record: ---
                  West Long Branch: ---
                  Cedar Falls, IA: ---
First Meeting: Nov. 25, 2017
Last Meeting: ---
Longest MU Win Streak: ---
Longest KSU Win Streak: ---
Largest MU W Margin: ---
Largest KSU W Margin: ---
Smallest MU W Margin: ---
Smallest KSU W Margin: ---
Shutouts: ---
Overtime Games: ---


MONMOUTH MAKES IT FOUR WEEKS NATIONALY RANKED

• Three weeks after cracking the top-25 for the first time in school history, Monmouth moved up two spots to #23 in the FCS Coaches Poll after last weekend's loss to Kennesaw State
• The Hawks have earned votes numerous times over the past 11 seasons, including 10 straight weeks in the STATS FCS poll this season.

 
MONMOUTH AGAINST THE MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

• Today's game is the first time in 25 years that the Hawks will play a team from the MVFC.
• The MVFC is widely known as one of the top two conferences in FCS football, with five of the 10 teams earning playoff bids this season.

 
MIKE BASILE EARNS CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Basile, the conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year, earns his fourth First Team All-Big South honor. The former Freshman of the Year, set the conference record for career-solo tackles, set the Monmouth record for career tackles and led the Big South in tackles this year with 113. Basile also had 9.5 tackles for a loss and four passes defended. He is the only player to earn first team honors four consecutive years in Monmouth history, joining MU greats Jon Nalbone, Dave Sinisi and Shawn Wright as the only four-time all-conference Hawks. Additionally, the Buck Buchanan Award finalist was selected to the Big South All-Academic Team, currently on track to graduate in the Spring with a 3.27 grade point average.
 
PETE GUERRIERO NAMED CO-FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Monmouth also boasted the Co-Freshman of the Year in running back Pete Guerriero with the speedster earning First Team All-Big South honors in two spots, running back and kick returner. Guerriero earned weekly honors from the conference four times, including two rookie of the weekly awards, one offensive player of the week and one freshman of the week. The Jerry Rice Award finalist had six 100-yard games, led the Big South in all-purpose yards (135.2) and became the first MU back to register 1,000 yards since the 2013 season. Against Liberty, Guerriero entered the Monmouth record books with a 95 yard kickoff return for a touchdown and averaged 38 yards per return on the season.
 
CALLAHAN NAMED AS EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD FINALIST
Monmouth University Head Football Coach Kevin Callahan has been named as a finalist for the 31st STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Award, which honors the FCS Coach of the Year. Callahan, the only coach in Monmouth's 25 year history, has guided the Hawks to a 9-2 record and their first FCS playoff appearance. Monmouth, ranked 23rd in the most recent FCS Coaches' Poll, went 4-1 in the Big South after going 5-1 in non-conference play. Monmouth's offense averages 35.2 points per game and the Blue & White opened the new Kessler Stadium by going 5-0 in 2017 and outscoring opponents 226 to 113 at home. The Hawks, which had never been ranked in either major poll, climbed to as high as No. 22 in the Coaches' Poll and have received votes for nine consecutive weeks in the STATS FCS poll.
 
HAWKS EARN 12 SPOTS ON ALL-BIG SOUTH TEAMS
On Tuesday the Big South announced that the following players earned all-league honors, the most since Monmouth joined the league in 2014.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
Monmouth starting quarterback Kenji Bahar needs 204 passing yards in today's game to break Kyle Frazier's 2012 single season record of 2,431 yards. Bahar's 190 completions ranks fifth with Brandon Hill's 2014 mark of 201 within striking distance for second place in the Monmouth annals.
 
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 Shore Sports Network application to listen to all of the action.

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