Final Score
Monmouth (3-2, 2-0 CAA) – 31
Dartmouth (0-2, 0-0 Ivy) – 28
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HANOVER, N.H. – Monmouth football saved its best for last Saturday, rallying from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit before
Sky Sholder drilled a 25-yard field goal with 1:09 remaining to lift the Hawks to a thrilling 31-28 victory over Dartmouth at Buddy Teevens Stadium.
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The win marked Monmouth's first over an Ivy League opponent since 2014, moved the Hawks to 4-3 all-time against Ivy League programs and gave the program its 200th victory. It was also Monmouth's first-ever meeting with Dartmouth. The Hawks improved to 3-2 on the season, with all three wins coming by one possession.
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"I love the fight they had," Monmouth head coach
Jeff Gallo said about his team. "When we had to get a stop, we stopped. When we had to close the show, we closed the show."
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The Hawks set the tone on the afternoon with quick and efficient 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by an
Elijah Jennings one-yard run on the game's opening possession. Monmouth redshirt sophomore quarterback
Frankie Weaver was a perfect 7-of-7 with 66 yards on the opening drive.
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Monmouth and Dartmouth were tied 21-21 at halftime after Weaver connected with
Christian Harrison and
Tra Neal for touchdowns in the second quarter. Weaver turned in his best performance of the season, completing 33-of-42 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Harrison established career highs with nine receptions for 79 yards and his first FCS touchdown reception, while Neal added three catches for 55 yards and a touchdown. Neal has now found the endzone in three straight contests.
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Dartmouth took control in the middle portion of the contest by first scoring with nine seconds remaining in the second quarter and opening the second half with a 75-yard touchdown drive, taking its first lead of the afternoon when quarterback Grayson Saunier scored on a 3-yard run with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter. The Big Green carried a 28-21 advantage into the fourth.
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The Hawks responded immediately. Monmouth marched 50 yards on nine plays, with
Kenny Smith Jr. finishing the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 28 with 12:56 remaining. Smith Jr. finished with a career-high 93 rushing yards on 23 carries – the first time any Monmouth back has surpassed 20 carries in a single game this season.
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Monmouth's defense then delivered the pivotal sequence.
Hunter Watson sacked Saunier for a 19-yard loss and forced a fumble that
JJ Lewis recovered at the Dartmouth 40. The Hawks eventually turned the possession over on downs, but Dartmouth managed only 13 yards on its next drive before punting.
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With 5:50 remaining, Monmouth put together a 13-play, 56-yard drive that featured a series of punishing runs from Smith Jr. and
Nazir Treadwell. The Hawks ran the ball 10 straight times for 44 yards before Monmouth turned to Sholder, who banked one in off the right upright from 25 yards with 1:09 remaining, giving Monmouth the 31-28 advantage.
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Dartmouth got one final chance, reaching the Monmouth 42 with seven seconds left. Dartmouth kicker Owen Zalc's 59-yard field-goal attempt came up short as time expired.
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"When you win on the road and beat an Ivy school, especially a win on the road, I love that for our program," Gallo said. "This was about getting some respect. Playing well against a quality team, getting a quality win."
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"And now it's about: we're back to 0-0. If you look too far ahead or too far behind, it doesn't do you any favors. We're going to be really locked in on what this challenge is this week. Learn from this – hopefully build some confidence off of it – but learn from it. And see if you can take another step here at home."
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The Hawks return home for Homecoming weekend as they host CAA foe Towson on Saturday, October 3. The game will be broadcasted live on FloCollege and Monumental at 1 p.m.
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Notes
- Monmouth wins the first all-time matchup with Dartmouth.
- The win marked the 200
th in program history for the Hawks.
- It is Monmouth's first win over an Ivy League opponent since 2014.
- The Hawks are now 4-3 all-time versus Ivy League programs.
- This was Monmouth's smallest margin of victory since defeating Colgate 42-39 in the 2025 season opener.
- All three of MU's wins in 2026 have been decided by one possession.
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Sky Sholder's bank-shot 25-yarder off the right upright with 1:09 remaining stood as the game-winner.
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Christian Harrison had career bests nine catches for 79 yards and a score – his first touchdown at the FCS level.
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Greg Genross set a new career high with 79 receiving yards.
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Frankie Weaver had his best game of 2026, finishing 33-of-42 for 313 yards and two scores.
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Kenny Smith Jr. set another career high with 93 rushing yards and added a fourth quarter touchdown to tie the game at 28.
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Elijah Jennings found the endzone for the third time this season.
- True freshman running back
Justin Griffin made his first career on MU's first drive of the game.
- 44 team carries matched a season high for the Hawks (44 at Western Michigan).
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Ryan Russo had 11Â tackles to set a new career best.
- The Hawks defense has had five or more tackles for loss in all three wins this season.
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Numbers Crunch
- Monmouth had more first downs, 31-25.
- Monmouth ran more offensive plays, 86-71.
- The Hawks outgained the Big Green, 483-383.
- Monmouth had more time of possession, 31:59-28:01.
- MU was 8-of-15 on third down and 3-of-4 on fourth down.
- Dartmouth went 11-of-17 on third down and 0-of-0 on fourth down.
- Monmouth was 4-of-5 on redzone chances, and Dartmouth went 3-of-3.
- Monmouth won the sack battle, 2-0. The Hawks totaled 20 yards in sacks.
- There was a total of six penalties for 62 yards – MU had four for 37, while Dartmouth had two for 25.
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