Monmouth University (1-1, 0-0 Big South) at Charleston Southern University (1-0, 0-0 Big South)
Saturday, September 18, 2021; 6:00 p.m.
Buccaneer Field (4,000), North Charleston, SC

Television/Streaming Video: ESPN+/Ingles Game of the Week on Nextar Networks
                                     John Ellis (play by play), Jay Sonnhalter (analyst) and Marilyn Payne (Sideline)

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

Ticket Info:
For tickets visit HERE for more information.

Directions to Buccaneer Field:
For directions visit HERE
                            
A LOOK AT THE GAME:

• Today's game is the Big South season opener for both Monmouth and Charleston Southern with each team coming off of wins last week. The Hawks will be looking to keep their four-game win streak against the Bucs going while CSU is looking for its first win in the series since the 2016 season.
• Monmouth, which is ranked 20th in both major polls, looks to wrap up its three-game road swing to open the fall 2021 season with wins against both its FCS opponents. Last weekend the Hawks defeated Fordham in the Bronx by rolling up 468 yards of offense and forcing a pair of Ram turnovers. 
• Charleston Southern opened up its 2021 campaign with a convincing win over cross town rival The Citadel, 38-21. QB Jack Chambers threw four TDs to wideout Garris Schwarting, who also threw one himself.   
• The game will air on ESPN+ and locally on Nextar with John Ellis, (pxp) Jay Sonnhalter (analyst) and Marilyn Payne (sideline) on the call.
• Monmouth fans can listen to Eddy Occhipinti (pxp) and Gary Kowal (analyst) call the game digitally on MonmouthHawks.

 
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 167-126 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Coming into the season, Callahan's 166 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.
 
Former Notre Dame standout Autry Denson was named the fifth head coach in Charleston Southern program history in January 2019. In his first full season as head coach, the Buccaneers finished strong, winning five of their final six games to finish 2019 with a 6-6 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the Big South. Last spring, CSU went 2-2, defeating Robert Morris and Gardner-Webb at home, while losing on the road to Kennesaw State and the Hawks. Denson came to Charleston Southern after four seasons as the running backs coach at his alma mater, helping the Fighting Irish reach the FBS College Football Playoff in 2019. He also spent time as an assistant at South Florida, Miami (Ohio), and Bethune-Cookman. Denson finished his playing career as the all-time leading rusher in Notre Dame school history with 4,318 yards. He was selected in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and the CFL's Montreal Alouettes.

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 Jack's Goal Line Stand the official watch party location for this weekend's game at CSU.  Jack's is located at 149 Brighten Ave in Long Branch.


INSIDE THE MU-CSU SERIES
Eighth Overall Meeting
Overall Record: MU 4-1
                  West Long Branch: MU 2-1
                  Charleston, SC: MU 2-0
First Meeting: Nov. 1, 2014
Last Meeting: Mar. 27, 2021
Longest MU Win Streak: 4 gms
Longest CSU Win Streak: 1 gm
Largest MU W Margin: 34 pts
Largest CSU W Margin: 28 pts
Smallest MU W Margin: 3 pts
Smallest CSU W Margin: 28 pts
Shutouts: None*
Overtime Games: ---
 
INSIDE THE MONMOUTH-CHARLESTON SOUTHERN SERIES

• Today's game marks the eighth time that the Hawks and Buccaneers will meet, with Monmouth owning a 4-1 record. Monmouth is 1-1 at home and 2-0 on the road with the Hawks winning three straight in the series.
• Charleston Southern had won the first two matchups in convincing fashion but an NCAA ruling required the Buccaneers to vacate those wins.
• In a 2018 Monmouth win, Juwon Farri ran for 100 yards and Kenji Bahar threw for three touchdowns. The Hawk defense allowed its fewest points since a shutout over Albany in 2006.
• Last season the Hawks built a 21-3 lead in the second quarter with Tony Muskett hitting Terrance Greene for a 70 yard touchdown on the sixth play from scrimmage. Juwon Farri ran for three touchdowns and the Hawks led 35-10 before allowing a fourth quarter TD.

 
MONMOUTH AGAINST THE BIG SOUTH

• Since starting up Big South league play in 2014, Monmouth owns an 21-14 conference record, however is 17-2 since 2017.
• The Hawks own a 6-1 record against Gardner-Webb, 2-0 against Campbell, 4-1 against CSU and 2-4 vs Kennesaw State. The Hawks are also 1-0 against Hampton (3-0 overall) in conference competition. MU is 1-0 against North Alabama as well and has never faced 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 Campbell in 2019, Monmouth won four consecutive Big South games to start Big South play for the first time in school history.

 
HAWKS SELECTED FIRST IN BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
For the second consecutive season Monmouth University was selected to finish first in the 2021 Big South Preseason Poll. The Hawks recorded 16 of a possible 18 first place votes with Kennesaw State and Charleston Southern each earning a first-place vote.
 
2021 Big South Preseason Poll
1. Monmouth (16 votes)                        141          
2. Kennesaw State (1 votes)                 117
3. North Carolina A&T                           100
4. Charleston Southern (1 vote)              85
5. Campbell                                             82
6. Gardner-Webb                                     59
7. Hampton                                              35
8. Robert Morris                                       29
 
LONNIE MOORE SETS KICKOFF RETURN YARD RECORD
With his final kickoff return of the Fordham game, Lonnie Moore became Monmouth's all-time leader in kickoff return yards and now has 1,372 yards on 61 returns (previous record was set on 62 returns). Moore surpassed former defensive back Michal Avent, who set the previous record of 1,355 on 62 career returns. Moore averages 22.5 yards per return and has a 93 yard kickoff return for a touchdown to his name. Recently the South Jersey native moved into fourth place all-time in all-purpose yards and is 15 away from upending Lavon Chaney for the third spot.
 
COACH CALLAHAN SIXTH IN BIG SOUTH HISTORY
Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan is sixth all-time in Big South history with 47 wins during his time in the conference, and needs three to become the fourth with 50 victories. He is looking to become the third-fastest Big South coach to 50 wins.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
Monmouth owns a 5-2 record all-time in Big South opening games. The Hawks lost their first game in the league in 2014, and suffered two setbacks to CSU (although only one would end up counting) the next two years. Since then, Monmouth has won four consecutive conference openers. Last season MU opened with a 35-17 win over CSU.
 
TICKETS FOR MONMOUTH HOME GAMES ON SALE NOW!
Season tickets, group tickets and individual tickets are on sale now for Monmouth's five home contests in 2021 Visit www.MonmouthHawks.com/Tickets for more information

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