MONMOUTH HAWKS (2-2, 1-1 CAA) AT LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (1-3, 1-0 PATRIOT)
Saturday, October 1, 2022; 12 p.m.
Goodman Stadium, Bethlehem, PA

BROADCAST INFORMATION
ESPN+ / Service Electric 2
Steve Degler (Play-by-Play); Mike Yadush (Color Analyst); Kristi Fulkerson (Sideline)
 
Monmouth Digital Network Audio
Eddy Occhipinti (Play-by-Play); Gary Kowal (Color Analyst)

TICKET INFORMATION
For tickets click HERE for more information.

HAWKS ON THE ROAD
Join fellow Hawk fans pregame for a Blue/White Club tailgate.
Click HERE for more information.

OPENING KICKOFF
Monmouth wraps up its non-conference schedule against Lehigh, coming off of its first CAA win last weekend against ninth-ranked Villanova. Lehigh continues its trend of playing challenging non-conference opponents in 2022, with four of its first five games coming against teams ranked or earning votes in the national polls.
 
A WIN WOULD
A win would even Monmouth's record at Goodman Stadium at 3-3 and put the Hawks one-game back from being able to even up the series with the Mountain Hawks. A win would also give Monmouth a winning record against FCS non-conference opponents for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
 
COMMON OPPONENTS
The two teams will share three opponents when the season is all said and done, with both teams securing wins over Georgetown. Lehigh dropped a 45-17 game against Villanova in Week 1 and will play Fordham next Saturday, a team that Monmouth dropped a 52-49 shootout to in the 2022 home opener.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Lehigh leads 5-3
Last Meeting: 9/9/17 W, 46-27 at Monmouth
at Lehigh: Lehigh leads 3-2
Streak: W3

DID YOU KNOW?
With his three touchdown passes against Villanova, Tony Muskett moved past Kyle Frazier for fourth most touchdown passes in school history with 41. Muskett has thrown those TDs in 19 games, while Frazier threw 38 touchdowns in 38 career games played. Muskett will need 12 more to move past Dan Sabella (51) for third place. Brian Boland sits in third (58) while Kenji Bahar - the last starting quarterback before Muskett - finished his storied carrier with the current school record of 70 touchdowns in 48 career games played.
 
MONMOUTH IN THE RED ZONE
Monmouth's offense has been among the best in the country through four games when it enters its opponents' 20-yard line. The Hawks are sixth in the FCS in red zone offense, scoring on 94 percent of its drives. Monmouth has come away with points on 17 of its 18 red zone opportunities, highlighted by touchdowns on 16 trips. The Hawks were 5-for-5 on red zone chances at Villanova.
 
THE LAST THREE GAMES
Monmouth has scored at least 45 points in three consecutive games with 143 total points during the offensive hot streak. The last time the Hawks scored at least 45 in three straight games was the end of the 2019 regular season when they had four-straight 45-plus point performances en route to wrapping up the program's first Big South title. That season Monmouth had six games with at least 45 points.
 
CAA LEADERS
Monmouth has the top scoring offense in the CAA at 41 points per game. The Hawks also lead the conference with 23 total touchdowns, 16 rushing touchdowns, yards per rush (6.41), and in total offense at 501 yards per game.
 
Individually, Jaden Shirden is tops in rushing yards per game (166) and Owen Wright leads the conference in scoring (60) and total touchdowns (10).
 
FCS ELITE
Monmouth ranks in the top 10 in the FCS in three offensive categories. The Hawks are fifth in total offense (501 yards per game), ninth in rushing offense (243.8) and ninth in scoring offense (41 ppg),
 
Individually, Jaden Shirden is first in rush yards per carry (11.45), first in total rushing yards (664) and rushing yards per game (166), and fourth in all-purpose yards per game (169). Owen Wright leads the FCS in total touchdowns (10) and rushing touchdowns (9).
 
CAN'T CATCH SHIRDEN
As a rookie in 2021, Shirden had a pair of 75-yard touchdown runs against Holy Cross and Robert Morris and six of his eight career touchdown runs have been at least 55 yards in length after a 56-yarder against Villanova. Shirden's 649 rushing yards over the past three games are the most in a three-game span since Pete Guerriero ran for 697 yards in three games late in the 2019 season. Guerriero had games of 237 (Campbell), 240 (Hampton) and 200 (Holy Cross) to set the program's three-game record. Shirden's 649 ranks second only to Guerriero's 697. Shirden's three-straight 100-yard games are first for a Monmouth back since Juwon Farri did it during the Spring 2021 season. The last time a back had four straight 100-yard games was Guerriero to end the 2019 season, when he totaled 804 yards over the final four contests.
 
JADEN MAKES MORE HISTORY
Jaden Shirden became the 16th player in Monmouth history to rush for 1,000 career yards – achieving the feat in just 15 games with his 211-yard performance against Villanova. The sophomore's 211-yard effort was the 14^th 200-yard game in Monmouth history and the first by a Villanova opponent since 1995 (Jerry Azumah). Shirden became the third Hawk with multiple 200-yard games, joining Pete Guerriero (five times) and David Sinisi (four times).
 
SHIRDEN RUNS PAST RAMS
Jaden Shirden was named the CAA Football Co-Offensive Player of the Week on September 12 after his scintillating effort on the ground against Fordham. The sophomore back set a program record with 299 rushing yards on 12 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns on runs of 80 and 95 yards, respectively. His 299 yards are the most rushing yards in an FCS game this season, they eclipsed the previous single-game record of 247 set by David Sinisi in 2008 and the 200+ yard performance was the most since Pete Guerriero ran for 220 against Holy Cross in 2019. Shirden averaged 24.9 yards per carry in the game, setting the program record for per game average with a minimum of 10 carries. Shirden had four explosive runs in the game, with carries of 35, 37, 80 and 95 yards, which is the longest run in an FCS game this season.
 
SHIRDEN'S RECORD RUN
Sophomore Jaden Shirden's 95-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Fordham is the longest run in the FCS this season. Shirden's touchdown scamper also the third longest run in school history. Former backs David Sinisi (2007) and Jim Varick (1994) own the Monmouth record of 99-yard runs, each done against Sacred Heart. Pete Guerriero's 93-yard touchdown run in the 2019 NCAA Second Round against JMU was the most recent 90+ yard rush by a Hawk. Monmouth's defense has allowed just one 90+ yard run, in the 2013 opener against Montana State (90).
 
OWEN WRIGHT: TD MACHINE
Running back Owen Wright has been a touchdown machine through the first four games of 2022 with an FCS leading 10 total touchdowns. Wright scored twice at New Hampshire, had three rushing touchdowns against Fordham, two rushing and one receiving in the win over Georgetown and two more rushing scores at Villanova. His three rushing touchdowns against Fordham are the most for a Monmouth player in a game this season. Wright has 11 career rushing touchdowns at Monmouth after running for two in 2021.
 
MONMOUTH AGAINST THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
Monmouth has three Patriot League opponents on its 2022 schedule. The Hawks dropped a shootout with Fordham, 52-49, in their home opener and are 3-2 all-time against the Rams. Monmouth has won all three meetings against Georgetown after a 45-6 win this season, and the hawks are 3-5 all-time against Lehigh. In total, Monmouth owns an 18-13 record against the conference.
 
MUSKETT'S STREAK CONTINUES
Tony Muskett has thrown at least one touchdown pass in every game of his career dating back to the Spring 2021 season. He has at least two touchdown passes in 12 of his 19 career games and has 41 career touchdown passes to go along with just 12 career interceptions. Muskett ranks fourth among active FCS players in career passing efficiency (146.71) and seventh in total offense per game (247.9 yards). Muskett set a new career standard with 78 rushing yards at Villanova.

MUSKETT CLIMBING THE MONMOUTH RANKS
Tony Muskett, who has started 19 consecutive contests for the Blue & White will continue his assault on the Monmouth record books this season. The junior is sixth all-time in passing yards, career completions and total offense and fourth in passing touchdowns. His 41 touchdowns and 12 interceptions already ranks him top in passing efficiency and his 63.7 percent completion percentage is second all-time behind former Hawk Brett Burke (2005-08).
 
CAA COACHES PRESS CONFERENCE
Audio Replay

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