The Football team dominated Rhode Island on Saturday 41-6 to improve their record to 1-1 on the season.
Kyle Frazier had one of the best games of his career. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 264 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He took control of the game with his feet as well, rushing seven times for 57 yards. Frazier didn’t even play in the fourth quarter.
On the Hawks’ first possession, Frazier led a 13-play, 85-yard drive for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The fifth year senior quarterback was six of seven passing for 58 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball once for ten yards.
The Blue and White had lost their previous eight games at home, so starting strong got the crowd involved and confident for the first time in a while at Kessler Field.
Monmouth’s offense was able to do whatever they wanted against the Rams (0-1) for the entire game. Everyone was involved and the team was clicking on all cylinders.
The Hawks totaled 539 yards of offense, with 272 coming on the ground.
Pete Nagy led MU with 82 yards rushing on eight carries, despite losing a fumble at his own 12-yard line on the team’s second possession. K.B. Asante carried 14 times for 64 yards, a healthy 4.6-yard average. Sophomore Julian. Hayes took the ball 12 times for 59 yards and a pair of touchdowns, his second and third scores of the season.
Hayes, however, didn’t take much credit. “A running back is nothing without an offensive line. They did a phenomenal job. I honestly feel that they are the core of this team,” said the second-year running back. “When they are punishing people and putting them on the ground, it makes all our jobs easier. The line was more physical than them today, they out-manned them and that allowed us to get behind them and they carried us to the finish line.”
Just like the running backs, a plethora of receivers contributed in Saturday’s win. Frazier spread the ball around and nine different receivers had at least one reception.
Neal Sterling and Tristan Roberts combined for eight catches and 85 yards, but neither of the two bookends got into the endzone. Lemar Davenport had three catches for 44 yards and his first career touchdown. Asante was on the receiving end of a touchdown as well. Mike McLafferty had one catch for a 25-yard touchdown, which may have been the most entertaining play of the day.
With 5:57 left in the second quarter, the Hawks looked to extend their 17-3 lead and put the nail in the coffin. The Rams generated some pressure, but Frazier was able to avoid the rush and throw across his body to a wide-open McLafferty in the endzone.
“I had to shed away a defensive tackle and scramble a little bit and I heard Mike scream and wave his arms,” Frazier said. “I turned my head and saw him standing wide open in the endzone and thankfully I got it to him.”
“It was originally designed to go to the right side. I didn’t even think the ball would be coming my way. There was no one overtop of me so I found myself in the endzone,” McLafferty said. “I saw Kyle was just scrambling so I tried to wave my arms, get his attention. I think I shouted at him, he said he heard me so it worked out.”
The MU defense played a dominant brand of football as well, holding the URI offense to 197 total yards.
“Our defense did a very good job throughout the day,” said Head Coach Kevin Callahan. “Other than the field goal at the end, the only other points they had was on an early turnover inside our 15.”
The defense forced three turnovers on the day, including a forced fumble by cornerback Elijah Phillips and the first interception of linebacker Dan Sullivan’s career.
Monmouth hopes to keep the ball rolling when they travel to Wagner next week for their first Northeast Conference (NEC) game of the season.
PHOTO COURTESY of MU Photography
