2025 Monmouth Football Gameday Preview: Game Four
 
No. 18/21 Monmouth (2-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. No. 12/11 Villanova (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
Saturday, September 20, 2025 – 1:00 p.m.
Kessler Stadium, West Long Branch, NJ
 
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: Dean Heidel
Analyst: Nick Giannantonio
 
Ticket Information
Click HERE to buy tickets

Kessler Stadium & Parking Information
For directions and parking information HERE
 
Game Promotions
Celebrate Family Weekend and Youth Day with the Hawks

A Farewell to the 'Cats
#18/21 Monmouth takes on #12/11 Villanova, one of three top 25 showdowns across FCS this week, on Saturday in the 2025 home opener at Kessler Stadium. The Hawks are 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats, as they meet as CAA foes for the final time in the regular season.
 
They Nearly Did It Again
Quarterback Derek Robertson did all he could to try and pull an upset of FBS Charlotte last week in North Carolina, throwing for 410 yards and four touchdowns on 36-of-49 passing. The Hawks took the 49ers down to the final possession, aided by a +3-turnover differential, but Charlotte fans exhaled at the end of the night, narrowly escaping with a 42-35 victory.
 
A Win Would ...
- Be Monmouth's fourth win in four tries against the Wildcats.
- Mark the third consecutive victory over a ranked opponent.
- Be Head Coach Kevin Callahan's 191st career victory.

The Coaching Matchup
Kevin Callahan
33rd Season / 190-149
 
Mark Ferrante
9th Season / 58-34
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: Monmouth leads 3-0
at Monmouth: Monmouth leads 1-0
at Villanova: Monmouth leads 2-0
Most Monmouth points: 49, 9/24/25
Most Villanova points: 42, 9/24/25
Most combined points: 91, 9/24/25
Biggest Monmouth win: 11, 9/17/11
Current streak: Monmouth, W3
 
Victories Over Villanova
Monmouth has never lost to Villanova in three tries all-time. This year's matchup is the second consecutive season the Wildcats make the trip to the Jersey Shore after falling 40-33 in 2024 as a top 10 team in the nation. The Hawks are 2-0 as CAA rivals, as a 49-42 road victory in 2022 marked the first win for the Hawks in the league. Monmouth also took the first matchup in Philadelphia back in 2011, 20-9.
 
First Half Fury from the Defense
The Hawks forced three turnovers in the first half at Charlotte last week, helping the squad take a 14-7 lead into the half in front of a stunned sold-out crowd. Jaeden Jones recovered a fumble on an errant pitch and returned it 38 yards for the first takeaway, and then Brendan Bigos hopped on a loose ball where Charlie Sasso forced a fumble when the 49ers were attempting to convert on a fourth-and-short. Ayden Martin snatched his first career interception in the endzone for a touchdown late in the half.
 
Robertson is STILL Rolling
Quarterback Derek Robertson posted one of the top performances in program and CAA history in Monmouth's Week One victory at Colgate. His 491 passing yards are the most in an FCS game this season, and rank as the second-highest single-game total in Monmouth history. Despite throwing a career-high four INTs in the first half, Robertson responded with a near-flawless finish, completing 8-of-9 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter and going 4-of-5 for 105 yards and two scores in the fourth. He finished with a 178.8 pass efficiency rating and produced 191 more yards of total offense than any other CAA player in Week One. He followed up breaking single-game program records for passing touchdowns (6) and total touchdowns (7) in the 21-point win at Fordham. Last week at FBS Charlotte, he set a new career high with 36 completions and threw for 410 yards and four scores.
 
National Ranks - Stats
Derek Robertson leads the FCS in nearly every passing statistic through three games, including yards (1,265), touchdowns (14) and completions per game (33.3). Rodney Nelson is eighth in the nation in rushing yards per game (108.7). Josh Derry is tied for the national lead with six touchdown receptions and is third in the country with 357 receiving yards, catching 8.00 passes per game (fourth in FCS). Derry (4, at Fordham) and Gavin Nelson (3, at Colgate) are the one of six players in FCS with 3+ receiving touchdowns in a single game this season. Josiah Graham's 3.5-sack effort at Fordham is the top performance by an FCS player this season, as well. As a team, Monmouth ranks second in FCS in fourth down conversions with eight, to go along with their 535.0 yards per game - a mark that ranks third in FCS.
 
Explosive Offensive Output
Monmouth's high-powered attack has fueled each of the Hawks' last 12 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 608 total points, averaging 50.7 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.
 
Four-Piece for Josh Derry
Junior wide receiver Josh Derry, who led the CAA in yards per game (91.7) last season, posted one of the top games of his career with a 10-catch, 144-yard outing at Fordham. It was his eighth career game crossing the century mark, and his four receiving TDs tied a single-game program record while also being the most receiving scores by an FCS player this season.
 
Josiah Graham & Ryan Russo's Breakout
Defensive end Josiah Graham had 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble at Fordham, as he now sits atop the FCS for the best single-game sack output in 2025. The transfer had five total sacks in his two years playing at Emory & Henry University. Transfer linebacker Ryan Russo (Iowa Central CC / Rutgers) also tallied a monster game versus the Rams - picking up nine tackles, 1.5 TFL, a sack, a fumble recovery and interception.
 
Largest Comeback in Program History
Monmouth's 24-point comeback victory at Colgate stands as the largest in program history. The Hawks trailed 31-7 midway through the third quarter before storming back with 35 unanswered points to secure the 42-31 win. The previous record was a 19-point comeback against Wagner on Sept. 29, 2018, when Monmouth rallied from a 21-2 deficit to win 54-47 in West Long Branch. Quarterback Derek Robertson praised the resilience of the group after the historic win, saying, "There's no quit in this team, and that's why I love every single one of these guys."
 
Nelson Brothers Lead the Way in Week One
Monmouth's offense was powered in Week One by brothers Gavin and Rodney Nelson, who combined for 370 total yards and five touchdowns. Gavin set career highs with 176 receiving yards and three touchdowns, leading all of FCS in receiving scores and pacing the CAA in both receiving yards and touchdowns. Rodney rushed for 169 yards with one touchdown, marking his fourth career 100-yard performance, and added 25 receiving yards. The Maryland natives sat atop the league in all-purpose yards, with Rodney leading the CAA in yards from scrimmage and Gavin being named the CAA Offensive Player of the Week. It was just the second time in their careers they both scored a touchdown in the same contest.
 
Three 100-Yard Receivers
Monmouth featured three 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time in program history during the win at Colgate. Gavin Nelson set career highs with 176 yards, while Josh Derry added 103 and TJ Speight totaled 100. After two weeks, the group ranks first (Derry), third (Nelson), and eighth (Speight) in the CAA in receiving yards. Derry ranks third and Nelson ranks ninth in the FCS, respectively.
 
The Hawks in Home Openers
Monmouth is a steady 16-16 (.500) in home openers throughout its 32-year history but have lost its last four. The Hawks' last home opening win came in the Spring 2021 season when they bested Charleston Southern, 35-17.
 
Monmouth in the Polls
The Hawks enter Week 4 as the nation's #18 team in the AFCA Coaches Poll, while Stats Perform FCS ranked them #21. The Hawks are now 11-8 all-time in games played as a ranked team following the loss at Charlotte.
 
CAA in the Polls
CAA Football has four teams ranked in the second editions of the FCS Top 25 polls. Rhode Island enters as the league's top team ranked #6 in the AFCA poll and #7 in the Stats poll, while Villanova appears at #12 and #11. Monmouth sits at #18 and #21 in the AFCA and Stats rankings, respectively, and New Hampshire checks in at #23 and #25. Three teams, Bryant, Elon and Stony Brook, have each received votes and sit just outside the top 25 rankings.