2025 Monmouth Football Gameday Preview: Game Seven
 
No. 10/11 Monmouth (5-1, 2-0 CAA) at Stony Brook (3-3, 1-1 CAA)
Saturday, October 18, 2025 – 1:00 p.m.
Kessler Stadium, West Long Branch, N.J.
 
Please find PDF of full notes attached.
 
Watch
FloCollege / NBC Sports Philadelphia
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Emory Hunt
Sideline: Brandon London

Listen
WMCX 88.9 FM
Play-by-Play: Dan Yeserski
Analyst: Ne'Asia Davis
 
Tickets and Parking Information
Click HERE to buy tickets and HERE to buy parking

Kessler Stadium Information
For venue information HERE
 
Game Promotions
Celebrate Homecoming with the Hawks

Pushing Perfection Against the Seawolves
The Hawks are eyeing to move to 4-0 all-time versus Stony Brook as CAA foes, as the Seawolves visit West Long Branch for Homecoming weekend on Saturday, October 18 at 1 p.m. In what will be the 13th all-time matchup between the schools, Monmouth holds the all-time series advantage with eight wins to just four losses.
 
The Committee Likes What They See at The Shore
In the Division I FCS Championship Committee's mid-season Top 10, Monmouth settled in nicely at No. 9 - the highest such ranking in school history by the playoff committee's standards. With six games to play, the Hawks are in prime position to contend for a top-8 seed, which would grant them a bye week and a hosted playoff game in early December.
 
A Win Would ...
- Push Monmouth to 4-0 all-time versus the Seawolves as CAA foes.
- Make MU a perfect 6-0 versus FCS opponents this season.
- Be Head Coach Kevin Callahan's 194th career victory.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
33^rd Season / 193-149 / 108-74 in-conference
 
Billy Cosh
2^nd Season / 11-7 / 6-4
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: Monmouth leads, 8-4
at Monmouth: Monmouth leads, 4-2
at Stony Brook: Monmouth leads, 4-2
Most Monmouth points: 56, 11/4/23
Most Stony Brook points: 47, 11/23/24
Most combined points: 102, 11/23/24
Biggest Monmouth win: 39, 11/4/23
Current streak: Monmouth, W3
 
5-1 ... Again
Monmouth improved to 5-1 with the victory at Towson, marking the eighth time in program history the Hawks have sported a 5-1 record to start a season. Of the previous seven, MU won its respective conference title five times and made a single NCAA Playoff appearance in 2017.
 
Ragin' RBs
Running backs Rodney Nelson and Elijah Jennings, both enjoyed big days in the 42-31 victory at Towson, combining for 199 yards and four scores on the ground. Nelson, who finished with 152 yards, became the first Hawk since Jaden Shirden to eclipse the 100-yard mark for a third consecutive contest. He has five 100-yard games this season. Jennings had a breakout performance with three rushing scores - marking the first time the feat has been accomplished by a Hawk since Sone Ntoh had four TDs versus Bryant in 2024.
 
Creating Extra Possessions
The Monmouth defense has already recovered more fumbles (8) through six games this season than they had all of 2024 (6). The Hawks pounced on three loose balls coughed up by the Tigers offense, and those forcing the turnovers were JJ Lewis, Brendan Bigos and JJ Lewis. Monmouth has forced a total of 10 turnovers so far this season, one shy of their 2024 mark of 11.
 
Derek "Mr. Efficient" Robertson
Derek Robertson finished the afternoon at Towson going 27-of-32 with 250 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Completing 84.4% of his passes, Robertson notched his second career game surpassing the 80% mark, joining his 22-of-23 (95.7%) effort versus Villanova last season. The graduate quarterback has now gone 189 straight attempts without throwing an interception.
 
Run, Rod, Run
Running back Rodney Nelson enjoyed a career day in the victory over Delaware State - compiling 203 yards and two scores on the ground on 32 attempts. It marked the first time Nelson eclipsed the 200-yard mark in his career, and the fourth time this season he went over 100. Nelson ranks first in FCS with 144.0 rushing yards per contest entering the game versus Stony Brook.
 
Robertson Runs the FCS
Quarterback Derek Robertson is FCS's active passing leader with 10,591 passing yards. He is the current subdivision leader with 2,278 yards, 24 touchdowns and 173 completions through the air. The New York native continues to cement his strong case for being the Walter Payton Award frontrunner, as he has now gone 189 consecutive passing attempts without an interception.
 
Sellout Crowd Fuels Statement Win
Monmouth played in front of a sellout crowd of 4,200 fans at Kessler Stadium in its 51-33 victory over #12/11 Villanova. The Family Weekend and Youth Day atmosphere marked the Hawks' largest home crowd since the September 2021 opener against Holy Cross. Feeding off the energy, Monmouth built a lead as large as 24 points in the first half on the way to its first CAA win of the season.
 
Success Against Villanova
Monmouth improved to 4-0 all-time against Villanova with its 51-33 victory at Kessler Stadium. The Hawks have defeated the Wildcats in back-to-back seasons on the Jersey Shore, including last year's 40-33 win over a top-10 Villanova team. Since joining the CAA, Monmouth is 3-0 against the Wildcats, highlighted by a 49-42 road triumph in 2022 that marked the program's first-ever league victory. The series began in 2011 with a 20-9 Monmouth win in Philadelphia.
 
Scary Derry
Wide receiver Josh Derry has emerged as one of the top playmakers in the nation, leading the FCS with eight receiving touchdowns. He ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game (107.3) and third in yards (644) while eclipsing 100 yards in each of the Hawks' first four games. Derry's explosiveness was on display when he hauled in a 75-yard touchdown on the second play of the win over the Wildcats. A go-to option for quarterback Derek Robertson, Derry's 44 receptions are 13 more than any other Hawk this season.
 
Palmer's Breakout Against the 'Cats
The Hawks may have found an X-factor in the secondary with true freshman Chris Plamer Jr. The Philadelphia native subbed in early in the first half at the corner position, limiting the Villanova passing attack and collecting four tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. It was Palmer's first significant playing time of his career, and his performance earned him the CAA's Rookie of the Week honor. He made his first career start versus Delaware State.
 
Star Safeties
Safeties Jaeden Jones and Deuce Lee have been flying around on defense for Lewis Walker's defensive unit early in 2025. Jones (56) and Lee (42) currently lead Monmouth in total tackles and have accounted for 25% of the unit's solo tackles. Lee set a new career high with 14 total tackles in the win over Delaware State.
 
Keeping Robertson Upright
Monmouth's offensive line has provided steady protection for Derek Robertson, allowing zero sacks in seven of his 18 career starts. The Hawks are a perfect 7-0 in those games, including this season where the unit has given up just 1.2 sacks per contest through six games — the best mark in the CAA and 19th best mark in FCS.
 
National Ranks - Stats
Tagging along with Robertson and Derry's video game numbers, Rodney Nelson is first in the nation in rushing yards per game (144.0). Josiah Graham's 7.0 sacks ranks fourth in the nation, as well. The Hawks offense continues to shine, ranking first in FCS with 554.3 total yards per contest.
 
Monmouth in the Polls
The Hawks enter Week 8 as the nation's #10 team in the AFCA Coaches Poll, while Stats Perform FCS ranked them #11. The Hawks are now 14-8 all-time in games played as a ranked team following the win over the Tigers.
 
CAA in the Polls
Monmouth is now the conference's top-ranked team at #10/11. Villanova and Rhode Island land right next to each other at #14/15 and #15/16, respectively. Elon is the lone CAA team outside of the Top 25 polls receiving votes.
 
A 33rd Season Under Callahan
Kevin Callahan is currently the longest-tenured head coach in the FCS and has amassed the most wins by an active FCS head coach with 193. The veteran has been with the program since its inception in 1993 and is a five-time conference Coach of the Year (3x NEC, 2x Big South). The 2025 campaign is Callahan's 33rd with the program.