Monmouth University (1-0, 0-0 Big South) at Delaware State University (0-1, 0-0 MEAC)
Saturday, September 10, 2016; 5:00 p.m.
Alumni Stadium (7,000), Dover, DE



Radio Coverage:
 Shore Sports Network, WOBM 1160AM and 1310AM, shoresportsnetwork.com; Matt Harmon (Play by Play); Eddy Occhipinti (Color Analyst); Suzi Mellano (Sideline)

Ticket Info:
For tickets call (302) 857-8499 (TIXX)or visit HERE for more information.

Directions to Alumni Stadium:
For directions visit HERE

Television:
N/A

Streaming Video:
DSUHornets.com (Free)

**A full game preview will be available at www.MonmouthHawks.com Wednesday**

A LOOK AT THE GAME:
Today’s game marks the second game of the season for by the Hornets and Hawks. Monmouth will be looking to open the season with back to back wins for the first time since 2014 while Delaware State is looking for its first since the season finale last year. The Hawks are coming off a win over Lehigh in Bethlehem, Delaware State fell to instate rival Delaware in the season’s opening weekend. The game marks the second of three straight road games to start the season for the Hawks as Delaware State welcomes Monmouth for the first of four home games this season for the Hornets. This is the second meeting between the Hawks and Hornets and just the second time in the 24 seasons that Monmouth has played a game in the state of Delaware (2007).

Monmouth won for the sixth time in a season opener at Lehigh last weekend and did so in defensive fashion. The Hawks dominated the first 30 minutes of play, despite only holding a 7-0 lead at halftime. Monmouth’s defense and ground game punished Lehigh, holding a 236-40 advantage in yards at halftime. The defense, led by safety Mike Basile’s nine tackles, held the explosive Mountain Hawk offense off the board until the 4:53 mark of the third quarter. By that time MU had built a 14-0 lead on a pair of short touchdown runs by running backs Lavon Chaney and Zach Welch. Lehigh seemed to take the momentum with two unanswered TDs but a career-long field goal by Matt White and Chaney’s second touchdown gave the Hawks a 23-14 lead with just over eight minutes to play. Lehigh answered by driving 84 yards in just over four minutes but the Hawk offensive line led the way for three first downs on the ground to run out the clock.

Delaware State fell behind by six scores to the perennial power house Blue Hens- the first five came courtesy of Delaware’s ground attack. Junior quarterback Daniel Epperson threw a pair of touchdown passes in the final 22 minutes of the game, one to Mason Rutherford and one to running back Brycen Alleyne. Six turnovers, including four interceptions, doomed the Hornets as Delaware was able to turn them into 28 points. Delaware State allowed 395 yards on the ground last week, which may feed well into a Monmouth rushing attack that amassed 215 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against Lehigh. The Hornets are looking for their first season-opening win since 2012 when they defeated then Big South member VMI, 17-10.

THE COACHING MATCHUP:

Kevin Callahan begins his 24th season at Monmouth as the Hawks’ head coach. Callahan owns a 132-108 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Coming into the season, Callahan’s 131 victories ranked him 13th among active coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision. The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to five conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006. Callahan has earned conference 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.

Delaware State is led by Kenny Carter, who is in his second season as the head coach of the Hornets. Carter owns a 1-12 overall record in one-plus seasons at Delaware State. In his short time Carter has instituted a change in culture, focusing on academics and recruiting locally. Prior to taking over the reigns at Delaware State Carter spent one year at Youngstown State. Prior to there, he spent four years on Charlie Strong’s staff at Louisville, winning two Big East Championships and making four bowl appearances. Carter won a BCS Championship as running backs coach with the Urban Meyer coached Florida Gators in 2009. Carter played inside linebacker for The Citadel.
HEAD TO CJ McLOONES IN SHREWSBURY FOR THE OFFICAL MU FOOTBALL VIEWING PARTY 
Can’t make it to the game this Saturday against Delaware State at 5pm? You can watch the Hawks on the big screen TV’s at CJ McLoone’s in Tinton Falls (560 Shrewsbury Avenue) all season long! Food and drink specials available during the game! No RSVP is required, just come and wear your BLUE and Fly Hawks!

INSIDE THE MU-DSU SERIES

  • Today marks the second meeting between Delaware State and Monmouth and the first at Del State’s Alumni Stadium
  • Monmouth leads the series 1-0 after downing the Hornets 52-21 in the first game of the 2014 season
  • Delaware State’s Aris Scott returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a TD to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead
  • Monmouth’s defense forced a trio of turnovers while limiting the Hornets to just 29 yards rushing, including one yard in the first half
  • KB Asante ran for 152 yards on 22 carries with three first half touchdowns. Lavon Chaney also had a 100-yard rushing day, with 127 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown. Brandon Hill tossed a pair of TDs while Neal Sterling led the Hawks with nine receptions for 77 yards
  • The defensive unit held Delaware State off the scoreboard for the final 39:32 of the game

MONMOUTH AGAINST THE MEAC

  • Monmouth owns a 2-1 record against Mid Eastern Athletic Conference members, playing Morgan State twice and Delaware State once
  • Morgan State defeated Monmouth 35-20 in the 2002 season, scoring in all three phases of the game
  • The Hawks would have revenge four years later at Kessler Field, defeating the Bears 26-9. Mike McLelland and Dave Sinisi scored first-half touchdowns for the Blue & White while the defense allowed just six second half points and a total of 151 yards in the victory
  • Monmouth will face MEAC member Howard for the first time ever on October 8 at 1 PM

 CHANEY ROLLS TO 193 ALL PURPOSE YARDS AGAINST LEHIGH

  • Senior Lavon Chaney recorded 119 yards on a career-high 25 carries in Monmouth’s season opening win over Lehigh.
  • The senior back also registered a career-high 74 receiving yards to give him 193 all-purpose yards on the day
  • With the score deadlocked at 14-14 and Monmouth facing a third and four, Chaney took a swing pass out of the backfield, broke through two tackles and raced 52 yards to the Lehigh 26
  • Eight of his 25 rushes were good for Monmouth first downs, with two of his other rushes reaching the end zone.
  • All together Chaney was responsible for 10 first downs against the Mountain Hawks
  • Chaney’s 2,773 career all purpose yards is 18th nationally among active players- the only Big South Player with more is CSU’s Darius Hammond (3,292)

 WELCOME BACK 

  • Both starting defensive ends for the Hawks- Darnell Leslie and Zach Talley recorded sacks against the Mountain Hawks
  • Leslie now has 13 career sacks- good enough for ninth all-time at MU
  • Both Talley and Leslie missed significant time last year- Talley missed the final eight games while Leslie missed the entire season

 DID YOU KNOW?

Both Monmouth running backs Lavon Chaney and Zach Welch averaged 4.8 yards per carry against Lehigh. Each set career-highs in carries, Chaney with 25 and Welch with 18 carries on the day.

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