Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University (2-2) lost for just the second time at home since 2017 on Saturday, falling to Holy Cross (3-1) 45-15.
 
The Crusaders scored on four consecutive possessions in the first half, including a 71-yard touchdown pass and a 90-yard drive to take a commanding 28-0 lead into halftime. Monmouth cut the lead to 28-8 on a Tony Muskett to Joey Aldarelli touchdown pass early in the third quarter but the Hawks couldn't get much closer.
 
Holy Cross put the first points on the board on a two-yard Jordan Fuller run. The play was setup by a 53-yard Tyler Purdy run, the longest run from scrimmage the Hawks have had against them this season. The Crusaders pushed ahead 14-0 on an eight-yard Tenio Ayeni touchdown pass completing another long drive for Holy Cross. The visitors pushed their lead to 21-0 on a one-play drive when Marco Siderman hit Tenio Ayeni on a screen for 71 yards and a touchdown.
 
Monmouth's defense got its second stop of the game to start the second half and Muskett guided the Hawks on a 12-play 70-yard drive that ended with a Joey Aldarelli touchdown reception. Lonnie Moore ran in the two-point conversion and the Hawks cut the lead to 28-8 with 7:12 left in the contest.
 
Holy Cross scored 17 straight points following Monmouth's first touchdown before freshman Jaden Shirden scored his first career touchdown on a 75-yard jaunt with 1:15 left in the game.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
""We had a lot of issues all day long right from the get-go. I didn't think we played particularly well on either side of the football and we played a good football team. They made a lot of plays and we didn't and we couldn't generate any response. You have to credit Holy Cross for that and we have to take a good look at ourselves." – Kevin Callahan

"Every player, every coach is responsible and we have to make sure we put ourselves in better positions to have success moving forward. The only way we're going to do that is that we have to stick together, we can't panic or point fingers… we've got to get back to work and correct things and get back to playing the football we all believe we're capable of." – Kevin Callahan
 

• The game was Monmouth's first loss at home since the 2018 season. The Hawks are now 19-2 since Kessler Stadium was built in 2017.
• Monmouth is 3-2 all-time against Holy Cross, with both setbacks coming at home
• The loss snaps an 11-game winning streak against Patriot League opponents for Monmouth
• Jaden Shirden's 75-yard touchdown was the freshman's first collegiate score and the longest play from scrimmage for the Hawks this season
• The game was the second sellout in Kessler Stadium history (Liberty, 2017) and the first time the game was sold out prior to the day of the game
• Eddie Hahn had a pair of sacks in the contest
• The Hawks were paced defensively by Tyler Delgado who had seven tackles and a sack
• Wideout Lonnie Moore IV had 136 all-purpose yards in the game.

NUMBERS CRUNCH

• The two Holy Cross quarterbacks combined for 23-of-30 passing for three touchdowns a 308 yards
• Holy Cross outgained Monmouth 507-254
• Lonnie Moore had nine receptions on 10 targets for 78 yards
• Shirden led everyone in rushing with three carries for 84 yards
• Monmouth punter Ryan Kost averaged 49.4 yards per punt with a career-long of 60 and a pair placed inside the 20

UP NEXT
Monmouth will host Gardner-Webb next Saturday on Homecoming at 1 PM. Tickets are on sale on MonmouthHawks.com for the remaining four Monmouth home contests.