Monmouth University’s (3-2, 1-0 CAA) football team won its third straight game in barnstorming fashion over Lehigh University (1-4, 1-0 Patriot) on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium.
Junior quarterback Tony Muskett threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-27 passing while sophomore running back Jaden Shirden recorded his fourth consecutive game of 100 or more rushing yards. Shirden’s backfield mate, fifth year Owen Wright, has recorded a rushing score in every single game so far this season. Saturday was the first time Wright did not have multiple rushing scores in a game this season. Muskett passed for three touchdowns in consecutive games and has had the Hawks offense firing on all cylinders; the 35 points the team scored on Saturday was their lowest total of their last four games. In that four game span, the Hawks have outscored opponents 178-107. The Hawks defense also managed a pair of fumble recoveries and recorded six sacks while allowing just seven points. This is the second time this season the Hawks defense has given up just seven points or less.
Monmouth stole the lead on their second offensive possession of the game when Owen Wright capped off a 10 play drive with a one yard touchdown carry, coming with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter. Muskett was driving the ball down the field early, going 3-of-4 passing on the drive and quickly picking up 77 yards. Muskett found junior wideout Dymere Miller for their third connection in the second quarter, resulting in a 39-yard touchdown strike and a 13-0 lead. Monmouth’s lead grew to 21-0 after Muskett found senior receiver Assanti Kearney open in between the hashes for a 52-yard touchdown. Muskett then once again found Miller for another scoring play, this time for the subsequent two-point conversion with 3:08 remaining in the first half.
The Hawks defense picked up where they left off in the first half, forcing a fumble and recovering it at midfield. Lehigh’s quarterbacks struggled to produce much of anything against a staunch Hawks defense, combining for just 199 yards through the air, and completing less than half of their attempts, going 17 of 35. Five plays later Muskett called his own number and scampered for a 10-yard touchdown, adding to the Hawks lead, adding another seven points and making it 28-0 with 10:56 left in the third quarter. Senior pass catcher Darrion Carrington’s first career touchdown reception as a Hawk came with 6:48 remaining in the third, the Hawks’ final score of the game, giving MU a 35-0 lead. The graduate student was a steady contributor, finishing with a season-high four receptions in the game.
At the end of the third quarter, Lehigh ended the Hawks’ shutout bid when Lehigh sophomore running back Gaige Garcia plunged into the end zone from one yard out to cap a six play, 57 yard drive. Garcia’s touchdown carry would be the final score of the game, with neither team adding any points in the 4th quarter. Next up for the Hawks is Albany, who come to visit Kessler Stadium on Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.
