Monmouth University Athletics

Final Score
Monmouth (4-2, 3-0 CAA) – 41
Towson (0-6, 0-2 CAA) – 40
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University football survived a wild fourth-quarter finish, holding on for a 41-40 victory over Towson on Saturday afternoon at Kevin Callahan Field at Kessler Stadium. The Hawks improved to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in Coastal Athletic Association play, taking sole possession of first place in the conference heading into the bye week.
 
Towson (0-6, 0-2 CAA) pulled within one with 1:41 remaining when Andrew Indorf found Cleveland Charlton for an 8-yard touchdown on fourth down. After a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed the extra point attempt back, Zaydaan Faridi's 35-yard kick sailed wide right, allowing Monmouth to maintain its one-point lead.
 
The Hawks had taken the lead on the previous possession, as Frankie Weaver connected with Gavin Nelson for a 41-yard touchdown with 5:09 remaining. Nelson finished with eight catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Monmouth receiver this season with two scores in a game. It was the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career.
 
Monmouth's defense delivered a pivotal play early in the fourth quarter. On Towson's first possession of the period, freshman Amori McNeil intercepted Indorf and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown, giving the Hawks a 34-27 advantage. The pick-six was the first interception of McNeil's career and marked the program's second interception return for a touchdown this season.

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Towson answered with a 1-yard Xavier Pugh touchdown run to tie the game at 34, setting up Nelson's go-ahead score.
 
The Hawks overcame a 10-point deficit in the third quarter after Towson scored on an 8-play, 75-yard drive to open the half. Weaver connected with Nelson for a 13-yard touchdown to cap Monmouth's ensuing 13-play drive, and Sky Sholder added a 36-yard field goal late in the quarter to even the score at 27.
 
Monmouth had trailed by double digits in the second half and came back to win just three times previously in program history: against Saint Peter's in 1993, Wagner in 2018 and Colgate in 2025.
 
Weaver completed 18-of-27 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns, his second game this season with three passing scores. He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three consecutive games, all Monmouth victories. The Hawks also leaned on their ground game, rushing for a season-high 198 yards. Elijah Jennings ran for 92 yards on 16 carries, while Kenny Smith Jr. added 82 yards on 17 carries and a 4-yard touchdown on the opening drive.
 
Defensively, Jaeden Jones led Monmouth with 11 tackles, his fourth game this season with at least 10 stops. Hunter Watson recorded a sack and two tackles for loss, extending his sack streak to three straight games.
 
The win was Monmouth's first over Towson at home in five meetings as CAA opponents and improved the Hawks to 4-9 all-time against the Tigers. It was also the program's first 41-40 victory since beating Fordham in 2016.
 
"Our guys fought until the end," head coach Jeff Gallo said. "We've had a knack for winning these kinds of games, and I'm proud of the effort and really just those guys coming together in the fourth quarter again and finding a way to win."

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Notes
- MU is 4-2 overall entering the bye week. 3-0 in CAA and in sole possession of first place in the conference
- MU is now 4-9 vs. Towson all-time
- First win by a home team in the five meetings as CAA foes
- MU is 4-0 in one-possession
- Hawks did not allow a sack for the fourth time this season. Last sack Monmouth has allowed was the first play from scrimmage at Western Michigan.
- The last time Monmouth recorded two interception returns for touchdowns over a three-game span was in 2009. It is the program's first season with a pair of pick-sixes in the same season since 2014. It was Amori McNeil's first career INT.
- Before today, Monmouth had overcome a double-digit second-half deficit to win three times in program history: Saint Peter's (1993), Wagner (2018) and Colgate (2025). Today was the fourth time.
- Frankie Weaver had his second game with three passing TDs this season.
- Weaver, who completed 19-of-27 passes today (66.7%) has completed at least 60% of his throws in four straight games. He has multiple TD passes in three consecutive outings (all Monmouth wins).
- Greg Genross snagged his first career touchdown grab as a Hawk.
- Gavin Nelson became the first Monmouth receiver this season to record a two-touchdown game. Nelson's fourth career 100-yard game.
- Elijah Jennings (92) and Kenny Smith Jr. (82) became the first Monmouth duo to each rush for at least 82 yards since three Hawks ran for over 100 against Fordham in 2024.
- Monmouth's 198 rush yards are a season high and the most since gaining 268 rush yards against N.C. A&T last season.
- The Hawks have rushed for at least 107 yards in every game this season. They have eclipsed 145 yards on the ground in four straight games.
- Jaeden Jones had 11 tackles, his fourth game this season with at least 10 stops. Jones leads the team with 61 total tackles this season.
- Hunter Watson has a sack in three straight weeks, becoming the first Monmouth player to record sacks in three straight games since Lemont Lester in September 2025.
- Watson, a redshirt sophomore, leads the team with 3.0 sacks.
- Monmouth's only previous 41-40 win in program history came against Fordham in 2016.
 
Numbers Crunch
- Monmouth had more first downs, 25-24.
- Towson ran more offensive plays, 72-66.
- The Hawks outgained the Tigers, 416-375.
- Towson had more time of possession, 31:37-28:23.
- MU was 4-of-9 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down.
- Towson went 9-of-16 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down.
- Both teams were perfect in the redzone. Monmouth was 5-of-5 on redzone chances, and Towson went 6-of-6.
- Monmouth won the sack battle, 3-0. The Hawks totaled 30 yards in sacks.
- There was a total of 16 penalties for 186 yards – MU had 10 for 110, while Towson had six for 76.