WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Coming off of its 45-21 win over No. 4 Kennesaw State, Monmouth University's football team earned a number of national honors on Sunday.
The Hawks were named STATS FCS National Team of the Week while fifth-year senior quarterback Kenji Bahar (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall) has earned CFPA National Performer of the Week for his part in leading Monmouth to the pivotal victory.
Monmouth is now 7-2 overall and 4-0 in Big South play, outscoring conference opponents 174-62. The Hawks have won five straight contests with their only setbacks coming against Western Michigan in the first week of the season and a loss against No. 8 Montana in Missoula. Bahar threw for 393 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the game against the Griz, which was a six-point contest with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Hawks have been receiving votes in both the STATS Poll and the AFCA Coaches Poll in seven out of the 10 weeks this season.
Bahar finished with 424 total offensive yards, including 332 yards passing and a touchdown. The Hawks stunned the Owls by scoring 42 unanswered points in the second and third quarters after KSU took a 7-3 lead late in the first. During that span Bahar ran for a 65-yard score and connected with Zach Tredway for an 92 yard touchdown pass – the longest pass play in Monmouth history.
It was Monmouth's first win over Kennesaw State, who came into the game ranked first in the NCAA in total defense (259.0 ypg), and third in both scoring offense (41.4 ppg) and scoring defense (14.3 ppg). Monmouth's defense allowed just 292 yards on the ground while the offense churned out 517 yards including 185 on the ground.
The game marked the first time in 13 games the Owls were handed a conference loss and was also KSU's first regular season setback at home since Oct. 15, 2016 – snapping a streak of 17 consecutive wins.
Bahar, the Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and a Walter Payton Award candidate, recently set Monmouth records for passing yards, total offense, completions and attempts. The Baltimore, MD product has thrown 17 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions this season and has 57 career scoring strikes, one shy of tying the Monmouth record.
The Hawks return home to face North Alabama at 12 PM on Saturday. For ticket information visit MonmouthHawks.com. The game can be also be viewed on ESPN+.
