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Monmouth University Athletics

Monmouth Football vs. Delaware State 10-4-25 AK
Anya Kazmierczak

No. 11/12 Monmouth Takes Weekend Trip to Towson Eyeing 2-0 CAA Start

October 09, 2025

No. 11/12 Monmouth Takes Weekend Trip to Towson Eyeing 2-0 CAA Start
The Hawks are looking for their second all-time 2-0 start in CAA play as they take on Towson on Saturday, October 11 at 2 p.m.
 
2025 Monmouth Football Gameday Preview: Game Six
 
No. 11/12 Monmouth (4-1, 1-0 CAA) at Towson (3-3, 1-1 CAA)
Saturday, October 11, 2025 – 2:00 p.m.
Johnny Unitas Stadium, Towson, Md.

 
Please find PDF of full notes attached.
 
Watch
FloCollege / Monumental Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Spiro Morekas
Analyst: Gordy Combs

Listen
MonmouthHawks.com
Play-by-Play: Matt Harmon
Analyst: Zach Fabel
 
Ticket Information
Click HERE to buy tickets

Johnny Unitas Stadium Information
For venue information HERE

Eyeing a Fast Start in the CAA
Monmouth is looking for a 2-0 start to the season in CAA play for the second time since joining the conference back in 2022. The Hawks travel to Towson this Saturday, October 11, for their first road game in nearly a month. In its last contest away from Kessler Stadium (September 13), MU was edged out by FBS Charlotte, 42-35.
 
Second-Highest Ranking Ever
Monmouth enters Week 7 with a #11/12 ranking in the AFCA Coaches and Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Polls, respectively. It marks the second-highest ranking ever in program history - just behind the #10/10 ranking in Spring 2021. The Hawks are off to their first 4-1 start since 2017 - a year they made the FCS postseason bracket.
 
A Win Would ...
- Maintain MU's status as the only one-loss team in the CAA.
- Make MU a perfect 5-0 versus FCS opponents this season.
- Be Head Coach Kevin Callahan's 193rd career victory.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
33rd Season / 192-149 / 107-74 in-conference
 
Pete Shinnick
3rd Season / 15-4 / 10-8
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: Towson leads, 9-2
at Monmouth: Towson leads, 6-0
at Towson: Towson leads, 3-2
Most Monmouth points: 48, 10/29/22
Most Towson points: 52, 10/29/22
Most combined points: 100, 10/29/22
Biggest Monmouth win: 19, 9/9/23
Current streak: Towson, W1
 
Best Start Since 2017
Monmouth defeated Delaware State, 49-38, last Saturday to improve to to 4-1 for the first time since 2017. It marks the eighth time the Hawks have started 4-1 in program history. Monmouth has won its respective conference title three times (2003, 2004, and 2006) and has advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs once (2017) when starting a season 4-1.
 
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 146.2 rushing yards per contest entering the game at Towson.
 
Robertson Runs the FCS
Quarterback Derek Robertson is FCS's active passing leader with 10,341 passing yards. He is the current subdivision leader with 2,038 yards, 22 touchdowns and 146 completions through the air. The New York native continues to cement hsi strong case for being the Walter Payton Award frontrunner, as he has now gone 157 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 despite Monmouth's bye week. He ranks second nationally in receiving yards per game (115.4) and fourth in yards (577) 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 38 receptions are 11 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 (49) and Lee (38) currently lead Monmouth in total tackles and have accounted for 27% of the unit's solo tackles. Lee set a new career high with 14 total tackles in the win over Delaware State.
 
Derek > Sawyer
Quarterback Derek Robertson continues to post eye-popping numbers at both the FCS and national levels. He leads the subdivision with 2,028 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, totals that remain unmatched even after Monmouth's bye week. Robertson's touchdown tally edges out Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, a Heisman candidate at the FBS level, while his passing yards per game average is 113 yards higher than any other FCS quarterback and 62 more than the FBS leader. After throwing five interceptions in his first 86 attempts, he has gone 157 consecutive passes without a pick. Robertson also owns a 183.1 passer efficiency rating, fourth-best in the FCS. Robertson's 506 passing yards in the Week One win at Colgate are the second-most in an FCS game this season and was his second 500+ yard effort during his time with the Hawks.
 
Keeping Robertson Upright
Monmouth's offensive line has provided steady protection for Derek Robertson, allowing zero sacks in six of his 17 career starts. The Hawks are a perfect 6-0 in those games, including this season where the unit has given up just 1.4 sacks per contest through four games — the best mark in the CAA.
 
Explosive Offensive Output
The Hawks put up 51 points versus Villanova, marking the seventh time they have scored 50+ since joining the CAA. Monmouth's high-powered attack has fueled each of the Hawks' last 14 victories, with the team scoring 40 or more points in every win dating back to the start of the 2023 season. During that span, the Hawks have piled up 708 total points, averaging 50.6 points per game. The production has come under the direction of Offensive Coordinator Jeff Gallo, who was recognized as a finalist for the 2024 FootballScoop.com FCS Coordinator of the Year Award.
 
Monmouth in the Polls
The Hawks enter Week 7 as the nation's #11 team in the AFCA Coaches Poll, while Stats Perform FCS ranked them #12. The Hawks are now 13-8 all-time in games played as a ranked team following the win over the Hornets.
 
CAA in the Polls
Monmouth is now the conference's top-ranked team at #11/12. Villanova and Rhode Island land right next to each other at #17/18 and #18/17, 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 192. 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.
 
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