WEST LONG BRANCH -- It was a well-deserved week off, but it was also an eventful bye week for Monmouth football.
The Hawks entered the top 25 of the FCS coaches' poll last week after beating Towson, and are now included in both FCS polls going into Week 7 as they check in at 20th in the AFCA poll in addition to occupying the 23rd spot of the media poll. Monmouth is still the only CAA team that is 3-0 in conference play. FCS is the second-highest level of college football.
But now is not the time for the Hawks (4-2) to rest on their laurels. Now is the time to set a new precedent against familiar foe on Saturday.
"The motivation first is it's a CAA game, it's a conference game. That's one," Monmouth head coach Jeff Gallo said. "Two, this is a team we haven't beaten. It's a tough, physical team and we haven't beaten them. So that adds a layer into it."
Since joining the Coastal Athletic Association in 2022, Monmouth has played New Hampshire every year. All of those matchups have ended in a loss. But as the Hawks look for their first ever win over the Wildcats, the outlook for this season's matchup is as favorable as it has ever been.
Where to watch New Hampshire vs. Monmouth
Game: Monmouth at New Hampshire
Date and Time: Saturday Oct. 17, 1 p.m.
Where: Wildcat Stadium - Durham, N.H.
Watch: FloSports
Despite being a playoff team last year, New Hampshire (2-5) has struggled since head coach Rick Santos moved on to Penn and standout quarterback Matt Vezza transferred to Ohio. The Wildcats come into the matchup after losing a hard-fought battle to North Carolina A&T 30-27 in overtime. For fifth-year Hawks like standout center Kevin Shriner, it's time to right the wrongs of the past four years.
"I thought about this last night, definitely," Shriner said. "I've been here for all these losses. My family's seen it. I mean, it really bites me. My uncle played for UNH, so I'd really love to stick it to them. It's always been a heartbreaker. We work so hard, I know the coaches got a good game plan down. So I feel like as long as we keep putting our best foot forward—working hard Wednesday, Thursday, Friday—we'll be ready for it."
If the Hawks do come away with the road win on Saturday, it will be the latest testament to the hard work of Shriner and his colleagues on the offensive line. After the bye week, Monmouth was tied with No. 4 Lehigh for the fewest sacks allowed in the FCS with just two conceded in six games. It's an astonishing new standard for pass protection midway through the season, considering last year's line allowed 19 sacks over the course of the 12-game season.
Last year's offensive line graded out as one of the best in the country, a testament to the Hawks' dominant run game of 2025. But with new four starters, two on either side of the lone returner Shriner, Monmouth has once again emerged as a power in the trenches.
"Honestly, it's all just guys buying into Coach Gabe and just buying into the program," Shriner said. "I've seen no drop off. It feels the same out there regardless of who's to my left, who's to my right, who's rotating in, who's rotating out. We all play at the standard of what Coach Gabe wants us to play at."
This year's recipe for success up front is creating abundant results for the offense, but New Hampshire was the kryptonite against last year's Monmouth offense. The Hawks allowed five sacks in the 34-13 loss to the Wildcats, which was the team's first defeat against a conference foe or FCS opponent. There has been turnover and the matchup looks more favorable this time around, but there are no guarantees amidst the chaos of a college football Saturday. And UNH is always an agent of chaos.
"The (UNH) offense has improved because they've gotten some players back. And they utilize the backfield, the slot, boundary receiver, mixture of inside zone, counter, one-back power with motions," Gallo said. "They blocked two punts last week against (North Carolina A&T). So they do a good job all around, They've been in some tight games. They haven't pulled them out, but they've been right there. They fight to the end."
The record may not be stellar for the Wildcats, but four of their last five games have been decided by one touchdown or less. It's shaping up to be battle down to the wire for the Hawks. It would be poetic justice if the offensive line's lone blemish from 2025 was corrected with a mauling effort to pave the way for Monmouth first-ever victory over New Hampshire in 2026.
"We see the vision," Shriner said. "We've just got to give them our best and it's going to show on Saturday."
UNH offense doesn't have world-beaters but can't be underestimated
The pedigree of the New Hampshire offense doesn't pop off the page, but the passing game in particular is going to be the key element to watch against Monmouth. The Hawks conceded 279 yards and four touchdowns to Towson last week, and the Wildcats have found a rhythm in their passing game and will likely try to exploit the secondary.
Senior quarterback Brooks Bentley doesn't have the dangerous creating ability of Vezza, but the 6-3 and 215-pound signal caller has more than enough tools to have success. He was previously a D-II standout at Wingate before joining UNH and sitting last year. He has thrown for 1,330 yards and seven touchdowns with four picks this fall, but is coming off his two best performances against the year against NC A&T and Elon.
The Wildcats have capable receiving targets led by Ja'carree Kelly (5-8 and 175) and Logan Perez (6-1 and 188). Kelly is a speed transfer from Delaware who had 52 catches for 503 yards and two touchdowns with the Blue Hens and leads UNH with 32 catches for 361 yards and a score. Perez is a South Jersey product from Washington Township who is coming off a career-high 136 receiving yards last week.
The running game is evenly split between Joquez Smith and Myles Thomason, the latter of whom is a Seton Hall Prep product who burned the Hawks for 99 yards and a score last year. Smith, a Temple transfer, has been the superior back so far with 440 yards and four touchdowns. The results are Jekyll and Hyde for the Wildcat running game. They had 181 yards against Sacred Heart, but were held to just 54 yards on 22 carries against Elon and 93 yards on 39 attempts against NC A&T.
The good news for Monmouth is that UNH lacks the sizable receivers that have created most of the problems in the passing game. A lot will hinge on whether the Hawks can stifle the rushing attack that got loose last year, but should be containable in terms of personnel. Expect some loaded boxes to force the Wildcats to take gambles on the outside in the passing game, especially since Bentley can be turnover-prone as a quarterback. Monmouth is also currently 15th in the FCS in sacks, and this week could be a chance for Hunter Watson, Jahide Lesaine, Mo Keshen and Donovan Dyson (if healthy) to take over.
Wildcat defense hasn't shown ability to shut down offenses
While the sudden surge in sacks was an inflection point of New Hampshire's win over the Hawks last year, 3.5 of those were by Jordan McAllister, who is now at Tulane. The Wildcats have 11 sacks as a team this fall, tied for 72nd in the FCS. But there is one player that will need to be accounted for by the Monmouth offense.
Ethan Aghakhan is a transfer from Iowa who leads UNH with 6.5 tackles for lass and 2.5 sacks so far this fall. The 6-foot-2 and 260-pound defensive lineman must be accounted for by the Hawks' stout o-line. Senior safety Jackson Stone (6-3 and 211) is another player to watch out for on the defense, as he has two interceptions and two tackles for loss.
But the results as a team speak for themselves. New Hampshire ranks right behind Monmouth in scoring defense (83rd and 84th in FCS), and recently allowed 30 points in a loss to the 94th-ranked offense of NC A&T. It's shaping up to be a shootout, and that should favor the Hawks.
This is particularly an opportunity for a banner day for the Monmouth rushing attack led by Elijah Jennings, Kenny Smith and more contributions from the powerful Nazir Treadwell. UNH allowed 158 rushing yards to A&T, 272 yards to Elon, and 243 yards to Sacred Heart over the past three weeks. Even if the speedy duo of Jennings and Smith can't find explosive running lanes, which seams unlikely, the 6-foot-1 and 225-pound Treadwell should be able to find success as the counter punch.
Frankie Weaver will need to be a bit selective with opportunities on the outside as New Hampshire has some capable defensive backs, but this could be a golden opportunity for a breakout game for the tight ends. Greg Genross got in the end zone against Towson, and Marcus Middleton still hasn't been fully unleashed. Shane Garrett and Burke Mickelsen are capable depth pieces, and there should be plenty of bigger formation packages to augment the rushing attack. Monmouth has been adept at unveiling creative looks out of 12 personnel this fall.
Prediction: Monmouth 35, New Hampshire 28
It would be outright irresponsible to project anything other than a one-score game, but the Hawks have the edge here. The running game travels and Monmouth has produced strong ground results on the road against Albany and Dartmouth.
Expect either Jennings or Smith, or both, to surpass the century mark on the ground as the Hawks set the tone with a physical rushing attack. It'll set up play action looks to the tight ends like Genross, Middleton and Garrett, which in turn can create room for a finishing blow on a deep shot to Gavin Nelson or Tra Neal that could create a two-possession cushion in the second half.
The Wildcats will keep pace and push until the final minute, but Monmouth will contain the run game and force risks in the aerial attack. The pass rush will create the negative plays needed to be keep New Hampshire behind the eight ball. UNH cuts it back to one score, but the Hawks are able to finish this off with the run game.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: FCS No. 20 Monmouth football after bye eyes first-ever win over New Hampshire