2026 Monmouth Football Gameday Preview: Game Two
 
Monmouth Hawks (0-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. Sacred Heart Pioneers (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
Saturday, September 5, 2026 – 2:00 p.m.
Kevin Callahan Field at Kessler Stadium, West Long Branch, N.J.
 
Please find attached PDF labeled 'Monmouth/Sacred Heart/CAA Notes' for full notes.
 
Watch
Live: FloCollege & NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tape Delay: SNY
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Emory Hunt
Sideline: Brandon London
 
Ticket & Parking Information
Click HERE to buy tickets and parking


Game Promotions
Kevin Callahan Field Dedication, Monmouth Football Alumni Day and Beer Garden (162739)

Monmouth vs. Sacred Heart: 20th All-Time Meeting
Monmouth and Sacred Heart meet for the 20th time Saturday, with MU holding a 13-6 advantage in the all-time series and an 8-2 mark in the last 10 meetings. The game is also Sacred Heart's first as a member of the CAA.
 
Welcome to Kevin Callahan Field
Monmouth will officially dedicate the playing surface as Kevin Callahan Field during Saturday's home opener, honoring the program's founding head coach. Callahan led the Hawks from their inaugural season in 1993 through 2025, with his name debuting on the 25-yard lines at Kessler Stadium.
 
A Win Would ...
Give Monmouth its second straight win in a home opener.
Be Monmouth's 18th win all-time in a home opener (17-16).
Be Head Coach Jeff Gallo's first career victory.

The Coaching Matchup
Jeff Gallo
1^st Season / 0-1 / 0-0 in-conference
 
Mark Nofri
15^th Season at Sacred Heart / 82-72
 
All-Time Series
Series Record: Monmouth, 13-6
at Monmouth: Monmouth, 5-4
at Sacred Heart: Monmouth, 8-2
Most Monmouth points: 57, 10/31/1998
Most Sacred Heart points: 44, 11/17/2001
Most combined points: 64, 10/31/1998
Biggest Monmouth win: 50, 10/31/1998
Current streak: Sacred Heart, W1
 
20th Meeting with Sacred Heart
Saturday marks the 20th all-time meeting between Monmouth and Sacred Heart, with the Hawks leading the series 13-6. Monmouth has won eight of the last 10 meetings, although the Pioneers took the most recent matchup, 24-21, on Nov. 2, 2013. The Hawks are 5-4 against Sacred Heart at Kessler Stadium and hold a +241 advantage in total points scored across the series.
 
Welcome to Kevin Callahan Field
Monmouth will dedicate Kevin Callahan Field prior to Saturday's game, honoring the program's founding head coach and architect. Callahan guided the Hawks from the inaugural 1993 season through 2025, winning 197 games along the way; his name will now be featured on the 25-yard lines at Kessler Stadium.
 
Callahan & Football Alumni Day
Saturday's home opener will feature Coach Callahan & Football Alumni Day, along with the dedication of Kevin Callahan Field. A beer garden will also be located behind the east end zone for the event.
 
A New Era Begins with Gallo
Jeff Gallo takes the reins for his first home game as Monmouth's head coach, marking the first time someone other than Kevin Callahan will lead the Hawks into battle. Gallo has spent the previous 21 seasons on the Monmouth sideline, first as a player from 2000-03 before joining Callahan's staff in 2005. During his time as offensive coordinator, Gallo helped produce four straight CAA Offensive Players of the Year from 2022-25 and 23 All-CAA selections since Monmouth joined the league in 2022.
 
The Hawks in Home Openers
Monmouth improved to 17-16 all-time in home openers with its victory over Villanova in 2025, ending a four-game home-opening skid. Saturday is also serving as Coach Callahan & Football Alumni Day.
 
First CAA Game for Sacred Heart
Saturday marks Sacred Heart's first game as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association. The Pioneers join the league after competing in the NEC and enter the matchup as one of Monmouth's CAA opponents in 2026.
 
A Tough Opener in Cookeville
Monmouth opened the season with a 38-14 loss at No. 15/14 Tennessee Tech, with the Golden Eagles pulling away after the Hawks led early in the contest. Elijah Jennings and Kenny Smith Jr. each scored a rushing touchdown, while Jaeden Jones led the defense with 12 tackles. Jones added another double-digit tackle performance to his program-record pace from 2025.
 
Defense Shows its Teeth
Despite the loss at Tennessee Tech, Monmouth's defense held the Golden Eagles to just 2.9 yards per rushing attempt on 37 carries and recorded five tackles for loss. Defensive ends Jahide Lesaine Jr. and Donovan Dyson each registered a sack in their Monmouth debuts, while the Hawks did not allow a sack on defense.
 
Jones Continues to Lead the Way
Preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year Jaeden Jones opened his junior campaign with 12 tackles at Tennessee Tech, matching his career high. It marked the sixth time in his career - and second straight game - that Jones has recorded 12 tackles.
 
A Busy Night for the Offensive Line
Seven different Monmouth offensive linemen saw significant action in the season opener, with Matt Fries, Collin Goetter, Kevin Shriner, Michael Petito and Josh Duran starting from left tackle through right tackle. Reed Collins and Brady O'Hara rotated into the lineup, with O'Hara seeing time at both tackle spots and Duran also working on both sides. Goetter, Shriner and quarterback Frankie Weaver were the only Hawks to play every offensive snap.
 
The Offense is Still Finding its Footing
Monmouth entered 2026 after producing the FCS' top total offense in 2025, averaging 498.7 yards and 40.0 points per game. The Hawks managed 302 total yards in the opener at Tennessee Tech, including 184 passing yards, and will look to establish more consistency Saturday in their first home game of the season.
 
Gallo: The Offensive Guru
Monmouth enters 2026 looking to follow up on the nation's No. 1 total offense in 2025. The Hawks averaged 498.7 yards per game, including 322.5 through the air and 176.2 on the ground, while their 40.0 points per game ranked fifth nationally and first in the CAA. Gallo has been at the center of that production, with his offense ranking among the FCS' top 12 in total offense in six of his seven seasons as offensive coordinator.
 
The CAA in the Polls
Rhode Island is the CAA's lone nationally ranked team this week, sitting No. 8 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 6 in the STATS Perform poll. Monmouth and Elon received votes in both polls, while Maine and Campbell received AFCA votes and UAlbany received votes in STATS Perform.
 
No Longer Ranked, but Still in the Mix
Monmouth fell out of both major national Top 25 polls following the season-opening loss to Tennessee Tech, ending a streak of being ranked from start to finish in 2025. The Hawks are still receiving votes in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and STATS Perform poll, while Tennessee Tech moved up to No. 13 in both.
 
Five Home Dates at Kessler
Saturday begins a five-game home slate for the Hawks in 2026. Following Sacred Heart, Monmouth will host Towson on Oct. 3, Bryant on Oct. 31, North Carolina A&T on Nov. 7 and Merrimack on Nov. 14.
 
The Road Slate Ahead
The Hawks opened the season with one of three scheduled road flights in 2026, but their next two road contests after Saturday are another pair of significant trips - to Western Michigan and UAlbany. Six of the Hawks' first eight games are on the road in 2026. Monmouth's schedule features seven road games and five at home.
 
A New Wave of Transfers
The new additions made an immediate impact in the opener, with Greg Genross catching four passes and Jahide Lesaine Jr. and Donovan Dyson each recording a sack in their Monmouth debuts. The Hawks added 17 transfers this offseason, including seven from the FBS, as part of a roster turnover designed to maintain depth across both sides of the ball.
 
The Next Man Up on Defense
The Hawks will lean on a number of players poised for larger roles in 2026. Hunter Watson enters his second season after recording 4.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman, while Christian Palmer Jr. steps into a leading role in the secondary alongside a young group that includes 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman Elijah Mathis and Richmond transfer Mir Haskett. With Jones anchoring the unit and FBS transfers adding depth, Monmouth expects its defense to continue its upward trajectory.
 
Defense on the Rise
Monmouth's defense took a significant step forward in 2025, recording 31 sacks and allowing 5.7 fewer points per game than the previous season. While the Hawks return just 10.5 of last year's 31 sacks, the core of the unit remains intact, led by Preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-American Jaeden Jones, who recorded 118 tackles in 2025 - the third-highest single-season total in program history. Linebackers Ryan Russo, Spencer Kishbaugh and Charlie Sasso also return after combining for 168 tackles, while Hunter Watson, Donovan Dyson and Jahide Lesaine Jr. give the defensive front a mix of returning production and FBS transfer talent.
 
Replacing Rodney & Company
The Hawks must replace 85 percent of their 2,114 rushing yards from 2025, with Rodney Nelson accounting for the vast majority of the lost production after transferring to Miami (Ohio). Monmouth will turn to a pair of homegrown backs in Elijah Jennings and Kenny Smith Jr., with Union Beach native Nazir Treadwell providing a physical option in goal-line and short-yardage situations. Through the air, 71 percent of last year's receiving yards departed via graduation or transfer, putting added emphasis on returners Gavin Nelson and Tra Neal. Nelson averaged 17.1 yards per catch with 514 yards and six touchdowns in 2025, while Neal has found the end zone seven times in each of the last two seasons.
 
A Smooth QB Transition
While the Hawks lose record-setting quarterback Derek Robertson, the position has already seen meaningful experience from his successor. Frankie Weaver stepped into the starting role for five games in 2025 and finished 103-of-156 for 1,355 yards, 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His 66 percent completion rate and six-touchdown, 428-yard performance at North Carolina A&T provided a glimpse of what the redshirt sophomore can bring to the offense in 2026. Weaver began his 2026 season going 21-of-42 with 184 yards and an interception in Week 0 at No. 15/14 Tennessee Tech.
 
Toys at Tight End
Marcus Middleton enters 2026 as one of the CAA's premier returning tight ends after earning Phil Steele Fourth Team All-America and All-CAA recognition in the preseason. He is joined by intriguing options in the transfer-heavy tight end room, including 6-foot-7 graduate student Greg Genross, who previously played at West Virginia. Burke Mickelsen is a proven product from UT-Martin, while Shane Garrett, who grew up only a few miles down the road, is back for his redshirt-junior season. A staple of the Hawks' dynamic rushing attack over the past decade, expect to see plenty of 12 personnel from the Hawks again in 2026.
 
The Hawks are Traveling
Week 0's trip to Cookeville was one of three flights Monmouth will make during the 2026 season. The Hawks will also fly to Western Michigan and Campbell, while their seven-game road slate includes trips to UAlbany, Dartmouth, New Hampshire and Hampton that will total up to over 6,100 miles of travel.
 
New Numbers, Same Hawks
Several familiar faces will sport new numbers in 2026, including a few of the team's biggest returning stars. Gavin Nelson moves from No. 2 to No. 0, Ryan Russo from No. 11 to No. 1, Jaeden Jones from No. 30 to No. 2, Elijah Jennings from No. 29 to No. 3 and Hunter Watson from No. 41 to No. 4. Other notable changes include Kenny Smith Jr. to No. 6, JJ Lewis to No. 8, Luke Schabel to No. 9, Keshawn Mister to No. 10 and Christian Palmer Jr. to No. 22.
 
In Loving Memory of Louis DiRienzo Jr.
The 2026 season is being played in memory of defensive coordinator Louis DiRienzo Jr., who passed away unexpectedly in June. DiRienzo was promoted to defensive coordinator in January after helping transform the Monmouth defense in his first season with the program, and he coached the Hawks through spring practice in his new role. A devoted father, husband and coach, DiRienzo's presence will continue to be honored throughout the season, including helmet stickers bearing his initials and the team's CGT mantra: Connection. Growth. Toughness.

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