FINAL SCORE
Towson 26 (4-4, 2-2 CAA)
Monmouth 14 (4-4, 2-2 CAA)

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — The Monmouth University football team dropped a 26-14 decision to visiting Towson in a CAA matchup at Kessler Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks now stand at 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while Towson also moves to 4-4 and 2-2 in the CAA.

The first quarter was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find the end zone. Towson broke the stalemate early in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown run by Tyrell Greene Jr., capping off a 7-play, 40-yard drive. Monmouth responded on its next possession, orchestrating a 9-play, 69-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Sone Ntoh, tying the game at 7-7. Towson connected on a 23-yard field goal with just under two minutes left in the half, putting the Tigers up 10-7, and intercepted a Hail Mary attempt to take that lead into intermission.

Towson struck again in the third quarter with quarterback Sean Brown finding Carter Runyon for a 3-yard touchdown pass, extending Towson's lead to 17-7. Monmouth countered with a sustained 13-play, 86-yard drive capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass from Derek Robertson to Gavin Nelson, narrowing the deficit to 17-14. Nelson's catch was a highlight in a stellar performance, as he totaled 133 yards on nine receptions.

However, Towson's efficient offense regained control with another Vaughan field goal, this time from 22 yards, to make it 20-14 late in the third quarter. The Tigers put the game away in the fourth quarter with Brown connecting with Runyon again on a 6-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 26-14.

Robertson finished with 305 passing yards, completing 28 of 46 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. Despite the strong aerial attack, Monmouth struggled on the ground, totaling only 56 rushing yards on the day. Justin Bennin led the Hawks' defense with a game-high 14 tackles, while Sam Korpoi added nine.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"It's a disappointing afternoon for us. We had been playing really good football of late and our goal was to continue that out there today. I don't think we were at our best today and when you play a good football team in this conference and you don't play your best it makes winning very difficult. We did some good things at times but we could never find the consistency on either side of the ball to play the way we have been playing."
Head Coach Kevin Callahan

The Hawks moved to 3-3 at home this season.
Monmouth is now 2-9 all-time against Towson.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
Justin Bennin led Monmouth with a career-high 13 tackles, the most for a Monmouth player in a game this season.
Charlie Sasso set  a new career high with six tackles, including four solo stops.
Derek Robertson finished with 305 yards passing on 28-for-46 with a touchdown and an interception.
Robertson now has 2,577 yards passing on the season, the fifth most in a single season in Monmouth history.
Sone Ntoh has scored 18 touchdowns on the season and 32 in his career. He is now tied for third with Julian Hayes (2011-13) in career rushing touchdowns.
Ntoh's 18 TDs are tied for third in a single season in MU history with Pete Guerriero's 2019 campaign.
Gavin Nelson set new career-highs with 133 yards receiving on nine receptions, including a 33-yard touchdown.

UP NEXT
Monmouth hits the road next Saturday for a matchup with Rhode Island. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Meade Stadium in Kingston, RI.