WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University's (6-3, 5-0 Big South) offensive put up 470 yards while the defense recorded three interceptions to propel the Hawks past North Alabama (2-7, 2-3) to a 45-33 victory on Saturday.
 
MU quarterback Tony Muskett threw for four touchdowns, three of which were caught by senior Lonnie Moore IV who compiled 231 all-purpose yards in the win.  Additionally, senior running back Owen Wright recorded three touchdowns, two on the ground and one through the air while running for a season-high 98 yards. It was the 300^th game as the head coach of the Hawks for Monmouth's Kevin Callahan.
 
Before they could blink the Lions found themselves in a 7-0 hole after Eddie Hahn broke up a pass with a crushing hit that sent the ball 10 yards backwards and into defensive lineman Lorenzo Hernandez' hands at the seven yard line. One play later Muskett hit Moore for his first TD of the game, with the wideout making what is becoming for him a routine circus catch. The Hawks jumped out to a 24-7 lead in the first half but the two teams traded touchdowns and the score sat at 31-14 with 1:06 left in the half. North Alabama cut the lead to 10 by marching 72-yards on five plays, scoring with seven seconds left.
 
Monmouth scored 14 third quarter points and held the Lions to just 12. With time winding down Wright broke through for what could've been his third touchdown but showed his wisdom sliding down on the three so that the Hawks could run the clock out and win their third consecutive contest.  
 
Monmouth was unable to slow the UNA passing attack as the Lions scored touchdowns on drives of 75 yards, 90 yards, 92 yards and 92 yards to cut the Hawk lead to 31-27. Lion wideout Dexter Boykin finished with 172 yards on 10 receptions as UNA threw for 318 yards.
 
"I think what you saw today was the ability of players on our team to make big plays. Whether it was explosive plays on offense, big plays in the kicking game, big plays on defense with the three interceptions." Monmouth Head Coach Kevin Callahan
 
"Today was the first day where we felt like as an offense there were a lot of explosive plays all round, and that is something we pride ourselves on." Senior Lonnie Moore IV
 
"I think the defense stepped it up when we had to. We made some mistakes, allowing some big plays. At one point we went out at the start of a drivee and said we needed to make a play, the next play Eddie Hahn intercepted the ball." Monmouth sack leader Lorenzo Hernandez
 

• Moore recorded his third straight 100-yard receiving day, giving him 10 for his career which is third most in Monmouth history (12 by Miles Austin III)
• Moore's nine receptions gives him 201 for his career, placing him third all-time at Monmouth.
• Muskett's interception came when the receiver fell down – it was his first interception since the Gardner-Webb game on October 2.
• The Hawks were flagged for 10 penalties (75 yards), including a number that extended Lion drives. The 10 penalties committed was a season high for the Hawks.
• Punter Ryan Kost hit a career long 64-yard punt in the fourth quarter.
• The Hawks were without Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Juwon Farri and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Anthony Budd in the contest.
• The defense had three sacks and three interceptions while recording nine tackles for a loss in the game.
• Muskett's 20 touchdown passes ties him for third most in a single season with Kenji Bahar in 2018. He needs one more to tie Brian Boland's 2005 mark for second.
• Linebacker Ryan Moran tallied a sack for the fourth consecutive game. Moran is tied for second on the team with 3.5 sacks.

 
NUMBERS CRUNCH

• Muskett threw for four touchdowns in the contest, the second time this season he's thrown four scores in a game
• Jaden Shirden and Owen Wright combined for 180 yards rushing on the ground
• The Hawks were paced by safety Tyrese Wright's 10 tackles
• Monmouth held a 32:25 to 27:35 advantage in time of possession
• The Hawks were 7-8 in redzone scores, with the lone failure being an intention slide at the end of the game to run out the clock
• One week after surrendering eight sacks, Tony Muskett was sacked just once in the contest
• Kost finished averaging 51.3 yards per punt and only punted three times
• Monmouth had 470 yards of total offense compared to 415 for UNA
• Muskett completed 72% of his passes for 294 yards and the four touchdowns

 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will renew its rivalry with Robert Morris next Saturday at 12 PM at Kessler Stadium. Tickets are on sale for that contest at MonmouthHawks.com