Monmouth University Athletics

Final Score
Merrimack (5-6, Independent) – 29
#14/14 Monmouth (8-3, 7-0 CAA) – 28
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth football secured its first Coastal Athletic Association championship on Saturday, earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs despite a 29-28 Senior Day loss to Merrimack at Kessler Stadium. The Hawks' championship was clinched later in the day when Campbell fell to Elon, 28-24, giving Monmouth the outright title in its first season eligible to win the CAA crown since joining the league in 2022.
 
Monmouth (8-3) finished its conference schedule unbeaten at 7-0, claiming its eighth conference championship overall and first since joining the CAA. The Hawks will make their fourth FCS playoff appearance and first since the spring 2021 season. Merrimack improved to 5-6 with the victory.
 
"First and foremost, this is a tremendous moment for our program, our alumni, the university and the entire Monmouth community," head coach Jeff Gallo said. "Winning our first CAA championship is a testament to the standard that has been built here. While today didn't go the way we wanted, you can't take away the fight this team has shown all year."
 

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Gallo acknowledged the disappointment of the loss, adding, "We did not play to our standard. Credit to Merrimack and their coaching staff. We still have everything in front of us, so we have to get right back to work."
 
The Hawks overcame an early 6-0 deficit with three consecutive touchdown drives in the second quarter. Frankie Weaver connected with Tra Neal for scores of 19 and 16 yards, while Elijah Jennings hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass. Monmouth took a 21-12 lead into halftime after controlling the ball for 20:32 in the first half.
 
Weaver finished with a season-high 361 passing yards and four touchdowns on 28-of-47 passing. Neal caught 10 passes for 139 yards and two scores, reaching 20 career receiving touchdowns to become the sixth Hawk to achieve the mark. Gavin Nelson added seven catches for 97 yards and a 32-yard touchdown, while Jennings finished with 95 all-purpose yards and a receiving score.
 
Merrimack quarterback AJ Hairston completed 17-of-21 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns. Austin Palmer caught five passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard score in the second quarter that briefly cut Monmouth's lead to 14-12.
 
After Merrimack took a 19-21 deficit into the fourth quarter, Weaver found Nelson for a 32-yard touchdown to put the Hawks ahead 28-19. Merrimack answered with Palmer's 61-yard touchdown reception, then got the ball back after a late interception. Mike Ryan connected on a 39-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to give the visitors the one-point victory.
 
Monmouth's offense totaled 450 yards and 28 first downs but managed just 89 yards on the ground – a season low. Kenny Smith Jr. rushed for 40 yards on 17 carries, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the season and becoming the 13th Hawk to reach the milestone in a campaign. Jaeden Jones led the defense with eight tackles, including a sack, while Charlie Sasso forced a fumble that Mir Haskett recovered in the red zone.
 
Senior Brendan Bigos said the defeat was difficult to accept, particularly after another Senior Day loss. "It's a hard pill to swallow right now, but as Coach Gallo said, everything we want is still right in front of us," Bigos said. He emphasized the need for accountability heading into the final week, saying the team cannot afford complacency and must make every practice rep count.
 
Monmouth closes the regular season next Saturday at Campbell. The game will no longer determine the CAA champion but will remain important for FCS playoff seeding.
 
Notes
- Campbell's 28-24 loss at Elon clinched Monmouth's first CAA Championship in program history, giving the Hawks the outright title.
- Monmouth's first CAA title is its eighth conference championship overall and first since joining the league in 2022.
- The Hawks secured the CAA's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs, earning their fourth NCAA postseason appearance and first since Spring 2021.
- Monmouth's regular-season finale at Campbell next week will no longer impact the CAA title race but remains important for FCS playoff seeding.
- Kenny Smith Jr. surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season, becoming the 13th Hawk to reach the milestone in a single campaign.
- Tra Neal recorded his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and career, finishing with 139 yards after totaling 97 in the first half.
- Neal caught two touchdown passes to reach 20 career receiving scores, becoming the sixth Hawk in program history to reach the mark.
- Frankie Weaver threw for a season-high 361 yards and four touchdowns, the most TD passes he has recorded in a home game.
- Weaver attempted a season-high 47 passes, including a career-high 28 in the first half, the most attempts he has recorded in a single half.
- Weaver now has 2,508 passing yards this season, marking the sixth time a Monmouth quarterback has surpassed 2,500 yards in a season.
- Weaver's late interception snapped a streak of 167 consecutive pass attempts without a pick.
- Monmouth's 89 rushing yards were a season low and marked the only time this year the Hawks failed to reach 100 yards on the ground.
- The Hawks possessed the ball for 37:46, their second-highest time of possession this season.
- Monmouth scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives to close the first half after opening the game with a missed field goal and a punt.
- The touchdown drive capped by Jennings' reception covered 94 yards in nine plays, Monmouth's second-longest scoring drive by yardage this season.
- Gavin Nelson scored his first touchdown in more than a month, dating back to his two-touchdown performance against Towson.
- Monmouth committed seven penalties for 80 yards, its third game this season with at least 80 penalty yards.
- The loss was Monmouth's first at home this season, dropping the Hawks to 4-1 at Kessler Stadium.
- Jaeden Jones led the Hawks with eight tackles and now has 92 on the season.
- Charlie Sasso forced his second fumble of the season inside the red zone, with Mir Haskett recovering for Monmouth.
 
Numbers Crunch
- Monmouth had more first downs, 28-16.
- Monmouth ran more offensive plays, 83-45.
- The Hawks outgained the Warriors, 450-414.
- Monmouth had more time of possession, 37:46-22:14.
- MU was 8-of-17 on third down and 3-of-3 on fourth down.
- Merrimack went 2-of-8 on third down and 0-of-0 on fourth down.
- Monmouth was 2-of-4 on redzone chances, and Merrimack went 0-of-1.
- Both teams recorded three sacks on the afternoon.
- There was a total of 12 penalties for 125 yards – MU had seven for 80, while Merrimack had five for 45 yards.
 
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