Saint Francis University (3-6, 2-4 NEC)
at Monmouth University (4-4, 3-2 NEC)
Saturday, November 10, 2012; 12 p.m.
Kessler Field, West Long Branch, N.J.
Radio Coverage:
Shore Sports Network, WOBM 1160AM and1310AM, shoresportsnetwork.com
Eddy Occhipinti (Play by Play); Ed Sarluca (Color Analyst)
Television Coverage:
Today's game will be televised LIVE
on Fox College Sports Atlantic, Direct TV channel 623
Fox 8 (Western Pa.) TAPE DELAY: Root
Sports Pittsburgh (Monday 11/12 at 7 p.m.)
Broadcasters: Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Steve Levy (Color
Analyst)
Streaming Video Information:
Free streaming video is provided by ESPN3 and can
be access by clicking the following link:
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/639513/st-francis-vs-monmouth
Ticket Info:
For tickets call 732-263-6889 or visit www.gomuhawks.com
for online sales
Day of game tickets can be purchased at the MAC's ticket window.
Military Appreciation Day:
Today's game is Military Appreciation Day- Free admission to all current/former
members of the military and half price admission ($4 per person) to all family
and friends with a military member
MU Football to be
featured on SNY
Monmouth's
football team and the recovery effort from Hurricane Sandy will be featured on
the SNY show SportsNite, airing on Friday, 11/9 at 10:30 P.M.
Below is a teaser which aired on 11/7 http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=25473971&topic_id=6479520
A look at the game:
Monmouth and Saint Francis are both
coming off of bye weeks, with Monmouth's coming unexpectedly due to the
cancellation of the game with Central Connecticut State. The Hawks (4-4, 3-2
NEC) most recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a 28-27 road win
over Duquesne while the Red Flash (3-6, 2-4 NEC) are looking to snap a three
game losing streak, most recently falling to CCSU by a score of 32-30. The Red
Flash started out the season with a 2-2 record, losing to nationally-ranked
James Madison and Towson but have since mustered just a 10-3 win over Robert
Morris in week six. Today's game will be televised on Fox College Sports Atlantic
(FCS)
Monmouth's running game,
which had been struggling heading into the Duquesne game, exploded behind a
career day from sophomore Julian Hayes. Hayes had a personal best 158 yards
rushing on a career-high 36 rushes. The Middletown, Conn. native recorded a
pair of touchdowns, including a fourth quarter TD which proved to be the game
winner. Quarterback Kyle Frazier completed 15 passes in the contest, with his
14th completion giving him 628, which moved him past Brian Boland for first
all-time at Monmouth. Frazier leads the league's highest rated pass attack,
averaging 249 yards per contest. The Hawks are second in the league in scoring
offense, averaging 29.6 points per game. MU owns the league's best rush
defense, allowing 110.75 yards per game, which also ranks 11th in the NCAA.
The Red Flash boast the
league's top rushing attack, averaging 225 yards per game despite losing talented running back Kyle
Harbridge to a season-ending injury in the preseason. Senior Keion Wade
averages 96.75 yards per game on the ground while dual threat quarterback John
Kelly's 76 rushing ypg is eighth in the NEC. Kelly, a senior, has been
efficient under center throwing nine touchdowns compared to four interceptions.
The Red Flash defense is a young group, without a senior listed on the depth
chart. SFU is ranked eighth in the NEC in total defense (416 yards allowed per
game) while giving up 30.89 points per game which is seventh in the NEC.
The coaching matchup:
Kevin
Callahan
is in his 20th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 113-90
career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Callahan is one of 23 head coaches
in the FCS with over 100 career victories.
The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to
five Northeast Conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006.
Callahan has earned NEC Coach of the Year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006.
Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as defensive coordinator
at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his
coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79)
and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981.
Saint Francis is led by third-year
head coach Chris Villarrial, who
brings a 6-25 career record into today's contest. Villarrial was named the
program's 25th head coach in December of 2009 after spending the season as the
offensive coordinator of the Red Flash. Last season, Villarrial coached two
players to All-American honors and three
to All-NEC teams. A native of Hershey,
Pa., Villarrial spent 11 seasons in the NFL as an offensive lineman with the
Chicago Bears (1996-2004) and the Buffalo Bills (2004-06). While playing for
IUP, Villarrial was a three-year All-American and three-year all-conference
player. He played in the 1993 Division II National Championship game, and
received the Jim Langer Award for Best Lineman in Division II in 1996.
Inside the MU-SFPA series:
Today marks the 20th time that
Monmouth and Saint Francis have matched up, with the Hawks owning a 17-2
advantage in the series. Both Red Flash wins have come at home, where Saint
Francis is 2-7 all-time against MU. Last season, the Hawks won a shootout at
DeGol Field, 48-45, which featured Craig Peterson throwing for 316 yards.
Julian Hayes had a big day, rushing for 128 yards and 4 touchdowns for the
Hawks. Kyle Harbridge rushed for 197 yards and three scores for SFU, part of a
295 yard rushing day for St. Francis. The teams combined for 945 yards of total
offense on the afternoon.
Monmouth Against the Northeast
Conference:
Today’s game marks the sixth league contest of the year for Monmouth, after edging Duquesne 28-27 two weeks ago. While a member of the NEC the past 16 seasons, the Hawks own a 68-44 record. Monmouth’s best winning percentage comes against Saint Francis (Pa.), whom the Hawks are 17-2 against all-time. Albany (4-11) and Robert Morris (7-10) are the only NEC teams that the Hawks have a losing record against. Head Coach Kevin Callahan has led his squad to a record-tying five NEC Championships, earning Co-Champion honors in 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2004 while winning the outright championship in 2006.
Did You Know?
Monmouth
snapped Duquesne's 10-game home winning streak with its 28-27 victory against
the Dukes last weekend. Last year the Hawks went up to CCSU's Arute Field,
where the Blue Devils were winners of 15 consecutive games, and defeated
Central 24-12 in week three.
Social Media Links:
Follow
the Hawks all season long on twitter (@MUHawksFB), Facebook
(facebook.com/MUFootball) and on Monmouth's YouTube page
(YouTube.com/monmouthhawks).
