Monmouth University 7-3, 6-0 Big South) at Kennesaw State University (9-1, 6-0 Big South)
Saturday, November 20, 2021; 1:00 p.m.
Fifth Third Bank Stadium (8,300), Kennesaw, GA

Television/Streaming Video: ESPN+/Nextar Networks
                                     Peter Yanity (play by play), John Sonnhalter (analyst), Lauren Kirkley

Monmouth Radio Coverage: MonmouthHawks.com
                               Eddy Occhipinti (Play by Play); Agbai Iroha (Color Analyst)

Ticket Info:
For tickets visit HERE for more information.
                            
Fifth Third Bank Stadium Clear Bag Policy
In an effort to provide a safer environment, enhance fan experience and significantly expedite entry into Fifth Third Bank Stadium, Kennesaw State adheres by a clear bag policy. Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" or one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar) are permitted in the stadium. Individuals may also carry a small clutch purse, no larger than 4.5" x 6.5", with or without a handle or strap. All clear bags and clutch purses will be screened prior to entry into the venue. All bags and purses not meeting the above requirements will not be permitted. Although permitted, childcare items, including diapers, must also be carried in an approved clear bag. Bags needed for medical reasons will be allowed and will need to enter through the Georgia Natural Gas gate to be checked.
 
A LOOK AT THE GAME:

• Today's matchup featured two teams in Monmouth and Kennesaw State that are undefeated in Big South play. As it has been since the 2017 season, the winner of the game between the Hawks and the Owls will be crowned Big South Champions and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Hawks bring in the top scoring offense in the BSC while KSU has the top scoring defense in the league.
• Monmouth has won four consecutive games and have not lost a FCS game on the road this season. With a win, the 2021 team would be the first in Monmouth history to win three consecutive conference championships and be the second group of seniors to win three championships in four seasons.     
• Kennesaw State comes into today's game rnarked in the top-10 in both major polls, riding the back of an eight-game win streak. The Owls are undefeated against FCS teams this season with their lone loss coming against Georgia Tech in September. 
• Today's game is The Ingles Big South Game of the Week  and will air on ESPN+ and the Nextar Networks with Pete Yanity (pxp), Jay Sonnhalter (analyst) and Lauren Kirkley (sideline) on the call.
• Monmouth will provide free audio on MonmouthHawks.com with Eddy Occhipinti (pxp) and Agbai Iroha (analyst) on the call.

 
THE COACHING MATCHUP:
Kevin Callahan, the 2019 and 2020 Big South Coach of the Year, is in his 29th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 173-128 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Coming into the season, Callahan's 170 victories ranks him 6th among active coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision. He is one of two FCS coaches with 150+ wins all at one institution and his 29 years as a head coach is the seventh most among active coaches. The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to six conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2020-21 and its first at-large playoff berth in 2017. Callahan has earned conference coach of the year accolades in 1998, 2003, 2006, 2019 and 2020 and was named as an Eddie Robinson Award finalist in 2017 (10^th), 2019 (4^th) and 2020-21. 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.
 
Brian Bohannon was introduced as the first head coach in Kennesaw State history in March of 2013. In seven years he has turned a brand new program in a nationally-ranked, championship winning team with a 61-17 record. A native of Griffin, Ga., Bohannon has 18 seasons of coaching experience at the FBS and FCS levels, all of which have come while working with Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson. Most recently Bohannon served as quarterbacks/B backs coach at Georgia Tech under Johnson. He has also coached at Navy and Georgia Southern. A four-year letter winner and standout as a wide receiver at Georgia, Bohannon started his coaching career at West Georgia before earning his first full-time position at Gardner-Webb (N.C.) as wide receivers coach in 1996.

VIEW THE GAME WITH OTHER HAWKS FANS AT OFFICIAL "WATCH" LOCATIONS
If you can't make it out to the game, catch Saturday's game with other Hawks' fans, at one of two official watch party locations. You can catch the game at Asbury Ale House in Asbury Park and Jack's Goal Stand in West End, Long Branch. Both locations will host viewing parties for the remainder of Monmouth's games this season, both home and away. 

INSIDE THE MU-KSU SERIES
Seventh Overall Meeting
Overall Record: KSU 4-2
                  West Long Branch: KSU 2-1
                  Kennesaw, GA: KSU 2-1
First Meeting: Oct. 31, 2015
Last Meeting: Apr. 10, 2021
Longest MU Win Streak: 2 gm
Longest KSU Win Streak: 4 gms
Largest MU W Margin: 25 pts
Largest KSU W Margin: 37 pts
Smallest MU W Margin: 24 pts
Smallest KSU W Margin: 9 pts
Shutouts: ---
Overtime Games: ---


MONMOUTH AGAINST THE BIG SOUTH

• Since starting up Big South league play in 2014, Monmouth owns an 26-14 conference record, however is 22-2 since 2017.
• The Hawks own a 7-1 record against Gardner-Webb, 3-0 against Campbell, 5-1 against CSU and 2-4 vs Kennesaw State. The Hawks are also 1-0 against Hampton (3-0 overall) in conference competition. MU is 2-0 against North Alabama and 1-0 against North Carolina A&T.
• The Hawks won their first Big South Title in 2019 going undefeated for the first time since joining the league.
• MU was 0-3 against members of the Big South prior to joining the league, including dropping a home and home series with Coastal Carolina and a non-conference tilt with the Flames. The Hawks were also 4-2 against PC.
• With the win over North Alabama Monmouth has won six consecutive conference games for the second time in program history (matching 2019).

 
INSIDE THE MONMOUTH-KENNESAW STATE SERIES

• Today's game marks the seventh time that Kennesaw and Monmouth have met, with KSU owning a 4-2 advantage.
• The winner of this matchup has decided the Big South Champion every year dating back to the 2017 season
• Last season the Hawks topped KSU at home holding the second-ranked rushing attack in the country to 161 yards on 48 carries while forcing a pair of turnovers and recording six sacks. Tony Muskett throwing for 290 yards on 19-of-23 passing with a career-high four TDS. Redshirt sophomore Juwon Farri had 179 yards on the ground and a pair of scores
• Monmouth defeated the fourth-ranked Kennesaw Owls on the road in 2019, sprinting out to a 31-7 lead on Tymere Berry's pick six with one minute left in the half. The Hawks would scored two more to take a 45-7 lead before KSU scored on a pair of 50+ yard plays.
• The teams first met in 2015 down at Kennesaw. The Hawks struck first on a 12 yard Darren Ambush TD but KSU held Monmouth out of the endzone for the next 46+ minutes building a 23-7 lead in the process. KSU had 341 yards rushing with two 100+ yard rushers on the day.

 
HAWKS RETURN TO THE NATIONAL POLLS
For the first time since week 6, Monmouth has cracked the top-25. The Hawks were ranked 24th in the most recent AFCA Coaches' poll and is receiving votes in the STATS Perform poll. The Hawks were recently named as the Athlon FCS Team of the Week after defeating North Alabama for the program's 16th consecutive Big South victory. Monmouth is 3-12 all-time against ranked opponents with two of those wins coming against the Owls.
 
MONMOUTH IN THE MIDST OF BIG SOUTH STREAKS
The Hawks have won 16 consecutive Big South games, which ties Liberty's run from 2006-2009 for the longest streak in conference history. Monmouth has won nine-straight Big South road games, which surpassed the old conference record of eight held by Kennesaw State from 2017-19. Meanwhile, the Hawks have scored 30-plus points during their 16-game Big South win streak - the longest in league annals and bettering the old mark of 13 established by Liberty from 2009-11.
 
MUSKETT AND SHIRDEN EARN BIG SOUTH PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MU quarterback Tony Muskett was named Big South Offensive Player of the Week and running back Jaden Shirden earned his second Big South Freshman of the Week honors this past week after the RMU game.
 
For the second straight week and third overall, Muskett threw four touchdowns in a game. The Springfield, VA native completed 17-of-25 passing for 232 yards and the four scores. Muskett engineered scoring drives of 75, 80, 80 and 88 yards but his most impressive might have been the final drive of the game. Muskett connected with seven different receivers, throwing touchdowns to four of them in the victory.
 
Shirden led all players in rushing and all-purpose yards, finishing with a career-high 156 yards on 16 carries for a 9.8 average. On Monmouth's first run Shirden took the handoff made a cut and raced 75 yards for Monmouth's first touchdown of the game. The 75-yard run tied his career long set earlier this season against Holy Cross.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
Monmouth's senior group has won 38 games since their freshman years in 2017, the most wins by any senior class in school history. The 2006 seniors held the previous record of 36 victories, winning three championships in four years for the Blue & White.

MU Football Social Media Links:
MU Football on Instagram & Twitter: www.twitter.com/MUHawksfb
MU Football on facebook: www.facebook.com/MUfootball
MU Athletics on YouTube: www.youtube.com/monmouthawks