Monmouth University Athletics

Final Score
#20/23 Monmouth (5-2, 4-0 CAA) – 42
New Hampshire (2-6, 1-4 CAA) – 21
 
DURHAM, N.H. – No. 20/23 Monmouth University football dominated on the ground Saturday, rushing for a season-high 326 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-21 victory over New Hampshire at Wildcat Stadium. The Hawks improved to 5-2 overall and 4-0 in Coastal Athletic Association play, earning their first-ever win over the Wildcats and their first victory as a nationally ranked team this season.
 
"On the road, winning a CAA game is huge," head coach Jeff Gallo said. "We wanted to come up here and be the more physical team, the more energized team. The o-line and running backs set the tone early and often."
 
And Monmouth did indeed set the tone early, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter to take a 21-0 lead. After the defense began the day forcing a UNH three-and-out, Nazir Treadwell opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown run before Kenny Smith Jr. added a 6-yard score. Frankie Weaver connected with Tra Neal for a beautiful 35-yard touchdown strike late in the quarter, and Weaver found Shane Garrett for a 3-yard score with 21 seconds remaining in the first half to give the Hawks a 28-0 advantage. Garrett's score was the first of his career.
 
"He's a program kid. He works his butt off. He's everything you want in a player," Gallo said. "Shore kid, great family, son of a coach. He comes to work every day, and he does all the dirty work. And when we throw it to him, he's going to catch it."
 

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Smith Jr. delivered a career performance, finishing with 175 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. His 175 yards, two scores and 39-yard long run were all career highs. Elijah Jennings added 126 yards and a score on 28 carries, also a career best, as Monmouth produced its first game with two 100-yard rushers since 2024. The Hawks' 326 rushing yards were their most since totaling 328 against Bryant on Oct. 19, 2024.
 
Monmouth finished with 521 yards of total offense, 29 first downs and 62 rushing attempts, the second most by any FCS team this season. Weaver completed 16-of-25 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Neal led the receiving corps with five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, giving him four receiving scores this season and 18 for his career.
 
Freshman Jaylen Carter provided a special teams highlight by blocking a punt in the first quarter, Monmouth's first blocked punt since 2021.
 
The defense complemented the offensive outburst by limiting New Hampshire to 295 yards and 14 first downs – both season lows. The Hawks forced two turnovers, including an interception by Jaeden Jones, who leads Monmouth with two picks this season. JJ Lewis and Mounir Keshen each recorded a sack, while Ryan Russo added a forced fumble. New Hampshire gained 139 yards in the fourth quarter after the Hawks had controlled the game for much of the afternoon.
 

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Monmouth's victory marked its first in five meetings with New Hampshire. The Hawks also extended their streak to four consecutive games without allowing a sack and improved to 5-0 when scoring first.
 
"It's great for our alumni, it's great for our university, it's great for our fans," Gallo said. "It's a good program win."
 
Monmouth returns to action Saturday, Oct. 24, traveling to Hampton for another CAA contest. The game will be streamed live on FloCollege and Monmouth Digital Network.
 
Notes
- Monmouth picks up its first victory over New Hampshire, improving to 1-4 all-time.
- It was the first win this season by multiple scores for the Hawks.
- Monmouth is 5-0 this season when scoring first.
- The offensive line, ranking first in the FCS in sacks allowed, pitched another shutout making it five straight contests without allowing a sack.
- Monmouth's 326 rushing yards are the most since running for 328 versus Bryant in 2024.
- It's the second most rushing yards by a CAA team this season.
- The Hawks ran the ball 62 times – a season high and second most by any FCS team in 2026.
- The Hawks's 521 total yards of offense ranks fourth by a CAA team in a single game this year.
- Monmouth picked up 29 first downs on offense, bringing their league-leading total to 170 this season.
-The Hawks defense forced a pair of turnovers for the second time in a game this season.
- Jaeden Jones leads MU with two interceptions and has three for his career.
- Jaylen Carter's blocked punt was the first by a Hawk since 2021.
 
Numbers Crunch
- Monmouth had more first downs, 29-14.
- Monmouth ran more offensive plays, 87-52.
- The Hawks outgained the Wildcats, 521-295.
- Monmouth had more time of possession, 38:29-21:31.
- MU was 9-of-17 on third down and 3-of-6 on fourth down.
- UNH went 2-of-11 on third down and 1-of-1 on fourth down.
- Both teams were perfect in the redzone. Monmouth was 4-of-4 on redzone chances, and New Hampshire went 2-of-2.
- Monmouth won the sack battle, 2-0. The Hawks totaled 11 yards in sacks.
- There was a total of eight penalties for 53 yards – MU had four for 28, while New Hampshire had four for 25.

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