FINAL SCORE
Delaware 42 (5-0, 2-0 CAA)
Monmouth 35 (3-3, 1-1 CAA)

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Monmouth's valiant fourth-quarter comeback attempt fell just short as the Hawks dropped a thrilling 42-35 contest to undefeated Delaware in a CAA clash on Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium.

The Blue Hens jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal by Nate Reed just four minutes into the game. Monmouth, however, answered with a methodical 13-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 6-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Robertson to Tra Neal.

Delaware took control in the second quarter, going on a 14-play, 71-yard drive highlighted by Marcus Yarns' 1-yard rushing touchdown and a successful two-point conversion that pushed Delaware ahead 14-7. On Monmouth's next offensive play Robertson's push pass to T.J. Speight went for an electrifying 87-yard touchdown, leveling the game at 14-14. Speight was big for Monmouth, hauling in six catches for 133 yards and the long touchdown.

The second half opened with a long, clock-chewing 15-play drive from Delaware, resulting in a 5-yard rushing score from quarterback Zach Marker to make it 21-14. Monmouth responded quickly on the next play from scrimmage when Robertson connected with Gavin Nelson for a 72-yard touchdown, tying the score again at 21. Nelson had a breakout performance, finishing with five receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, Delaware regained the lead with Marker throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Phil Lutz, extending their advantage to 35-27. Moments later, the Blue Hens stretched their lead to 42-27 when Yarns took a short pass 86 yards to paydirt.

The Hawks, however, refused to go down quietly. Robertson led a late 8-play, 60-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Sone Ntoh, followed by a successful two-point conversion.

Monmouth got the ball back with just over two minutes remaining after turning Delaware over on downs, but Robertson was unable to connect with Nelson on fourth down inside Delaware territory as the Blue Hens held on for the win.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"The number one thing that comes to my mind is disappointment. We put ourselves in position to win the game, we played extremely hard all the way through, as did Delaware, and I think that is one that got away from us. Not to take anything away from the University of Delaware, they are a great team, they are going to be a FBS team, and I thought we did enough good things to win, but made some mistakes that kept us from winning."
Head Coach Kevin Callahan

Delaware snapped Monmouth's three-game winning streak.
The Hawks are now .500 in 2024.
Delaware improved to 3-0 all-time against Monmouth.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
TJ Speight's 87-yard touchdown was his fifth-career play of 69 yards or more. Speight had a career-high 133 yards with six catches.
Gavin Nelson set a new career high with 131 yards receiving and finished with five catches, including a career-long 72-yard touchdown.
Monmouth had two receivers over 100 yards in the same game for the first time this season.
Derek Robertson threw for 361 yards, his fifth game above 350 yards this season.
Ryan Moran went over 200 tackles for his career after leading the Hawks with 10 stops in the game.
Isaiah Rogers also made a career-high 10 stops to lead the Monmouth defense.
Rodney Nelson led Monmouth in rushing with 76 yards on 14 carries.
Sone Ntoh scored his 13th touchdown of the season and the 27th of his career. He is now alone in eighth in program history in career rushing touchdowns.
Tra Neal caught a 6-yard TD pass from Robertson for his third receiving touchdown of the season.
K-Shawn Schulters had two pass breakups in the game.

UP NEXT
Monmouth has its bye week and returns to action on October 19 against Bryant. The Hawks' homecoming game will kick off at 1 p.m. and tickets are available at MonmouthHawks.com/tickets