WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth fifth-year senior quarterback Kenji Bahar (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall) has been named Big South Offensive Player of the Week, league officials announced on Monday afternoon.
 
Bahar, the Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, earns his second conference player of the week honor after leading the Hawks to a 45-21 win over fourth-ranked Kennesaw State last weekend.
 
Bahar guided the Monmouth offense to 45 points and 517 yards (almost double what Kennesaw State had been giving up this year) in the Hawks upset of the No. 4 Owls. After the Hawks fell behind 7-3 in the first, Bahar and the offense scored on six consecutive drives – including a 65 yard touchdown run from the senior. He also threw for 332 yards and a touchdown on 20 of 27 passing. The Baltimore, MD native ran the ball six times for 92 yards to finish with 424 total offensive yards. Kennesaw State came into the game allowing an average of 14.3 ppg and hadn't lost a regular season home game since the 2016 season.
 
Monmouth, who has outscored conference opponents 174-62, has won three consecutive offensive player of the week awards. Bahar has thrown for a touchdown in 26 of his last 27 games and is two passing touchdowns away from claiming the Monmouth career record. The Hawks currently rank 12^th in the NCAA in total offense averaging 460.6 yards per game and the Big South's top passing offense.
 
Bahar and the Hawks are back in action this Saturday when they host North Alabama at 12 PM. Visit MonmouthHawks.com for tickets.