WEST LONG BRANCH -- Late October is the peak of the midseason grind. The playoffs are not quite in sight, and any attempt to peer ahead could derail the current journey. Monmouth football learned that lesson the hard way last year, but this year's group is uniquely equipped to embrace the grit in the make-or-break middle stretch of an arduous campaign.
The FCS No. 18 Hawks need to avoid any let downs as two big conference matchups against Bryant and Campbell loom on the horizon and could decide the CAA champion. First, they must go on the road in a notoriously loud environment this Saturday and take care of business against 1-6 Hampton.
The grind in football is eternal and the growth for many doesn't always fortuitously arrive under the spotlight. But the Hawks' win over New Hampshire this past week was that moment for two players that have embraced the process without the guarantee of a payoff.
"It's just coming in every day and consistency putting in the work," fourth-year tight end Shane Garrett said. "I'm confident in myself putting in that work that, if I block my butt off every play, the ball will find me eventually. And even if it doesn't, I'll be okay. I'm just good doing what the team needs. So whatever they ask me to do, I'll do it. That's been my mindset the whole time I've been here."
On Saturday, Garrett's mindset paid off the end zone. His work rotating in as a lead blocker helped pave the way for Monmouth's 326 rushing yards, but it also set up a wide-open catch as an outlet for a third-down conversion. Moments later, all that blocking set up a wide-open catch in the flat on an RPO for his first career touchdown.
"You definitely get a little excited when you hear that play call," Garrett said. "It's definitely a read, we like to implement that a lot, giving the quarterback options of what to do. And it just happened to go my way that time and the read came to me and I made the most of it."
Where to watch Hampton vs. Monmouth
Game: Monmouth at Hampton
Date and Time: Saturday Oct. 24, 2 p.m.
Where: Armstrong Stadium - Hampton, VA
Watch: FloSports
Shane Garrett, JJ Lewis have their moments
Garrett's touchdown was an early dagger, giving Monmouth a 28-0 lead at halftime before eventually rolling to the 42-21 win. Setting up that advantage was a heads-up play by another gritty difference-maker, as defensive lineman JJ Lewis jumped on a fumble forced by Ryan Russo to set up that decisive Hawk possession. It's just the latest flash play from Lewis, who has persevered through injuries since joining the program last year as a transfer from D-II University of Findlay in Ohio.
"Last year, during camp, I had a little concussion. I got back week two against Fordham and I had a grade two calf strain," Lewis said. "Once I came back in week six, I was kind of still recovering from that. So last year really wasn't like the best year for me, but I felt it was a decent year. And then to come back this year, I really maintained my body."
Managing the work load is certainly one key for Lewis, as it's clear what he can do when he's fresh and able to operate at his best. His tied for second on the team with three sacks and also leads Monmouth with two fumble recoveries this fall. The senior defensive tackle is yet another success story under the guidance of defensive line coach Codey Cole.
"Not gonna lie, it's from Coach Cole. I've known him for three years," Lewis said. "He brought me here because he saw the potential in me. He really knew how to use my twitch and really upgrade my ability to use my twitch to make plays. With him, my whole game has changed a lot."
The emergence of Lewis could be the x-factor for the Monmouth defensive line, which is now able to generate disruptive plays from the interior and exterior with more depth across the fronts. Lewis and defensive end Hunter Watson bring a palpable power rushing presence in addition to being reliable run defenders, along with senior anchors Brendan Bigos and Bryce Rooks. With edge rushers like Mounir Keshen, Donovan Dyson and Jahide Lesaine, this year's line has more variance.
Even coming off Monmouth's best defensive performance of the season against New Hampshire, there's still room to grow after allowing 21 points to the Wildcats. The upcoming matchup with Hampton could be a prime opportunity for the defensive line to truly show their ability and take the game over. The Pirates are 1-6, and the lone win was against a non-NCAA opponent. And all of the six losses have been by two touchdowns or more.
But this weekend's matchup on the Virginia coast is also homecoming for Hampton, and the energy behind that occasion will be harnessed towards the potential of a momentous win over a ranked opponent. The Hawks won't be deviating from their season-long mantra as they look to avoid the road upset.
"You stay consistent but urgent in your approach. It's a one-game season" Monmouth head coach Jeff Gallo said. "We are fully focused on Hampton. It's their homecoming. It's going to be a great environment. They have weapons. We show our guys, these are where the issues are. Show them lots of tape from last week: here's how we have to improve. And then your work with an urgency and a purpose every day. You work with an edge because you want to keep your head sharp as you head into these games."
But the underlying temperament of this year's team understands that the external factors, even the opponent, aren't as important as the internal process. The reward of a highlight moment can be a fun reward, but the true fulfillment lies within the consistency of the process. This week is another chance for the Hawks to revel in the joy of the journey.
"Coming in and doing the work every day for four years, it's tough. But I love doing it," Garrett said. "It's coming, doing the same thing, getting better each and every day. And we rep these plays every day at practice. So when that moment came, I knew I was ready."
Hawk defense can tee off against vulnerable Hampton
One noteworthy element is that Hampton has developed a habit of strong starts, scoring first in each of their last five games. The Pirates will certainly look to do that again to energize the home crowd for their upset bid, and they've shown the ability to hang around against quality opponents. They were tied 13-13 against Campbell at halftime back in September.
It would be a strong statement for the Monmouth defense to force a stop and set up the offense to strike first. But even if the Hawks can't seize control with the first score, they should be able to contain a Hampton offense that has frequently fallen into ruts. The Pirates rank 110th in the FCS in scoring, and are still looking for answers in individual playmakers.
Hampton's leading rusher is Amari Pryear (25 attempts for 214 yards), who hasn't played since Sept. 19. And aside from him, the team is averaging an abysmal 2.5 yards per carry with just 523 total rushing yards. The Monmouth defense might lean into more shell coverage to defend against the wide-range of passing weapons given the lack of threats on the ground, barring a return of Pryear to the lineup.
The Pirates utilize two quarterbacks: senior Tre'Von Taylor and freshman Xavier Brookins. Taylor is the primary signal caller, and he has thrown for 783 yards on 64-for-119 passing with five touchdowns and five interceptions. Hampton split the two passers the most last week against Sacred Heart and Taylor had his best performance of the season, going 7-for-9 for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Brookins struggled through the air (8-for-15 for 98 yards), but did have 44 rushing yards.
The overall struggles are reflected in the numbers, but both passers have been demonstrably better over the past two games against SHU and Howard. There some intriguing athletes in the passing game for Hampton, led by 6-foot-2 and 212-pound Isaiah Smith (204 yards on 16 catches with two TDs) and the speedster Chaz Portis (16 catches for 194 yards with one TD), who is the son of former NFL star Clinton Portis. Noah Colon and Sejhe Jackson, who had a touchdown last week, have also proven to be reliable options at receiver.
Overall, the biggest threat to Monmouth might be the emergence of one of those receivers with a more fully honed Hampton passing game, but the Hawks should be able to sit back and potentially even experiment with different coverage looks as they try to find more stability in their own secondary at corner.
Monmouth running game poised to dominate again
A week after the Hawks ran for a season-high 326 yards against New Hampshire, they'll face another defense that is vulnerable against the run in Hampton. Although truly, the Pirates have looked vulnerable against just about everything in the past two games. Sacred Heart ran for 181 yards and passed for 198, while Howard ran for 120 and threw for 267.
Although it would be intriguing to test out some passing concepts and find a rhythm for quarterback Frankie Weaver in the air after he navigated the difficult windy conditions at New Hampshire, there's no reason for Monmouth to deviate from the strong rushing attack.
Hampton does have a few defensive playmakers that the Hawks should be prepared to attack. Safety Cam Sturdifen leads the team with 64 total tackles and two forced fumbles. On the interior of the defensive line, 6-3 and 300-pound Javen Johnson is a transfer from Coastal Carolina that is tied for the team lead with six tackles for loss. Linebacker Temond Marcus has also tallied six TFLs this fall.
There is some ability for the Pirates to generate negative plays, but the Hawks should be able to have a field day. As the running game gets going, Monmouth should be able to set up plenty of big passing opportunities with Gavin Nelson and Tra Neal, both mismatches against the Hampton corners.
Prediction: Monmouth 42, Hampton 10
As previously noted, the Pirates have scored first in their last five games. But many of those points have been field goals, and it's worth assuming that Hampton can continue that streak against Monmouth. But that's unlikely to snowball against the Hawks.
Monmouth answers with 35 unanswered points. Elijah Jennings and Kenny Smith Jr. always find ways get their yards, and one of them surpasses the century mark for the second straight week, possibly in the first half.
The first start of Frankie Weaver's career was last season against Hampton, and he didn't have much on his plate as he guided the offense to a 28-10 win. This time, he seizes on the chance to let it rip. He finds Nelson, Neal and Middleton for touchdowns. This game is a palette cleanser for the core weapons of the Monmouth offense.
Hampton answers with a touchdown in the second half and Monmouth gets on more to put it away, possibly with Nazir Treadwell or Christian Harrison. The Hawks' defensive line wreaks havoc against a weak running game and vulnerable pass protection, amassing five sacks in the win. There are no letdowns going into next week's big home matchup against Bryant on Halloween.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Surging Monmouth football aims to avoid upset at Hampton homecoming | preview