And so it begins for Monmouth football.
The Hawks’ 30-year rise through the college football ranks enters its most important phase when the program plays its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association game in Thursday night’s season-opener at New Hampshire.
“In a word, it’s exciting,” said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan, who enters his 30th season after starting the program in 1993. “It’s invigorating to take yet another set for our football program. It has excited everyone on our staff, everyone in our administration here at Monmouth.
“We know it is a significant step, we’re being asked to take but I think it’s a step we’re more ready for than the previous steps we’ve taken. We’re excited about the challenges we are going to have on a weekly basis, we’re excited about the associations we’re going to have with some great football programs.”
Here’s a look at what to expect in the opener.
Monmouth Hawks (0-0) at New Hampshire Wildcats (0-0)
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Where: Wildcat Stadium, Durham, New Hampshire
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TV/Radio: Flo Sports/Monmouth Digital Network
Series: First meeting.
When New Hampshire has the ball
First-year head coach Rick Santos will start QB Max Brosmer, who suffered a preseason knee injury and missed the 2021 season. Brosmer has played just one game since leading the Wildcats to the FCS Playoffs in 2019, with the Wildcats playing a single game during the pandemic-impacted 2020 spring season.
The Wildcats will try to establish the run against an undersized Monmouth defensive front, with RB Dylan Laube, who averaged 6.3 yards on 80 carries last season, and Isaac Seide, who averaged 5.1 yards on 36 carries. Laube is also a dangerous receiver, catching 22 passes in 2021. The Wildcats return their top three receivers in Brian Espanet (7 TDs), Sean Coyne (35 catches) and TE Kyle Lepkowski (25 catches).
Monmouth’s ability to stop the run will be critical. The return of LB Da’Quan Grimes, who missed last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, will help. Grimes had 115 tackles in 2019, his last full season. S Tyrese Wright was their leading tackler last season, and will be near the line of scrimmage. The Hawks’ strength is their secondary, with starting CBs Eddie Morales and Mike Reid returning, while the addition of Temple transfer Thomas Joe-Kamara at safety will help.
When Monmouth has the ball
The Hawks have plenty of weapons on offense. What they lack is experience along the line, with five new starters. RT Justin Szuba was a first-team All-Big South selection in 2020, but missed last season with an injury. He’ll be joined by RG Greg Anderson, C Tyler Williams, LG Oliver Jervis and LT Jordan Hall. Their ability to function against an experienced Wildcat defensive front, led by DE Josiah Silver, who topped the CAA with 12.5 sacks last season, will be the key. The Wildcats also return their top two LBs in Ryan Toscano and Bryce Shaw.
QB Tony Muskett was a preseason All-CAA selection, and the passing game will function much better if they can establish the run behind a trio of backs. Juwon Farri has 2,249 career yards, including 705 in an injury-plagued 2021 season. He’s joined by hard-running Owen Wright and speedster Jaden Shirden. The Hawks lost their top three receivers and will look to Dymere Miller, Yale graduate transfer Darrion Carrington, Virginia graduate transfer Ugo Obasi and Assanti Kearney to make plays downfield. The Wildcats’ secondary includes S Noah Stansbury (3 ints.) and CB Randall Harris (2 ints.)
Special teams
Monmouth has a potential all-conference punter in Ryan Kost, but is expected to look to PK Vincenzo Rea to step in. Morales is a dangerous threat as a punt returner, while it’s vitally important for Monmouth to not give up big plays on special teams on the road.
The Wildcats had just two field goals last season, with PK Sean Lehane hitting both of them. P Aidan Cadogan averaged 41.7 yards.
Prediction
It’s a tough first assignment – on the road against a storied program in the first CAA game – but look for them to play well.
New Hampshire 31, Monmouth 27.