The Monmouth Hawks (4-5) gave up 20 unanswered points to end the game as they dropped their second consecutive game against No. 14 Rhode Island (8-1) on Saturday. After leading 28-24 late in the fourth quarter, the Hawks gave up two late touchdowns that vaulted the Rams to a 37-28 victory.
Monmouth received the opening kickoff, but they were quickly forced to punt. However, on the first offensive play of the game for Rhode Island, quarterback Devin Farrell threw an interception to defensive back Justin Bennin, giving the senior his second INT of the season. With Monmouth now set up in great field position, it wouldn’t take long for their high-flying offense to find the end zone. In a drive that took a little over three minutes, running back Sone Ntoh would cap it off with his 19th rushing touchdown of the season.
The Rams would quickly respond, putting together an 8-play, 88-yard drive that would result in a game-tying touchdown, with Farrell throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marquis Buchanan. Monmouth would get the ball back and respond with another touchdown drive, with quarterback Derek Robertson finding tight end Jack Neri for a 4-yard touchdown pass.
With the Hawks taking a 14-7 lead into the 2nd quarter, Rhode Island would put together a long, 14-play drive that took seven minutes. After stalling in the red zone, the Rams would settle for a field goal, cutting the Monmouth lead to 14-10.
The next drive for Monmouth would once again be successful, with Ntoh rushing for his 20th touchdown of the season to give the Hawks a 21-10 lead. The Rams would once again respond, putting together a quick 4-play touchdown drive. This would mark the sixth consecutive scoring drive by both teams combined. That streak would end with Monmouth punting on its next drive.
The Rams would receive the ball to start the second half looking to keep their momentum going on offense while trailing 21-17. After driving into Monmouth territory, the Rams would try to pull some trickery on first down, but Hawks defensive lineman Miles Mitchell was able to break through the trenches and steal the ball as the Rams tried to do a backwards pass. Mitchell would return the ball into Rhode Island territory, setting up the offense in great field position once again. The Hawks offense would take advantage, only taking three plays for Robertson to find wide receiver Tra Neal for an 11-yard passing touchdown.
The Rams would once again find themselves in Monmouth territory on its next drive, but Farrell would throw his second interception of the game to defensive back K-Shawn Schulters, giving the senior his first interception of the season. The offense would drive into Rhode Island territory, but Ntoh would be stuffed on a 4th & 1 rushing attempt, giving the Rams the ball back. They would waste no time, only taking four plays to go 65 yards and score a touchdown, cutting the Monmouth lead to 28-24 heading into the 4th quarter.
After a punt by Monmouth, Rhode Island would once again drive deep into Monmouth territory. After getting stalled in the red zone once again, a 26-yard field goal try would be blocked by Monmouth defensive back Jaeden Jones, keeping the score at 28-24.
A three and out for the Monmouth offense would give Rhode Island the ball back. They would once again drive inside the Monmouth redzone, but running back Malik Grant would be stuffed on 4th & 1 by the Hawks defense.
Another Monmouth punt would give Rhode Island another chance, and this time they would take advantage. An 8-play, 69-yard drive was capped off by Farrell’s second touchdown pass to Buchanan. The touchdown would give Rhode Island its first lead all day late in the 4th quarter.
With the Monmouth offense needing a response, they would get to midfield before Robertson would fumble the ball, turning it over to the Rams for the first time in the game. Monmouth still had all three of its timeouts, and they were able to stop the Rams offense and give themselves one more chance. In desperation mode, trapped deep in their own territory with fourteen seconds remaining, Monmouth would fumble the ball and Rhode Island would return it for a touchdown with zeros on the clock, ending the game with a final score of 37-28.
Robertson threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Rodney Nelson led the team in rushing with 46 yards on 13 carries. Ntohs two rushing touchdowns put him at twenty total on the season. Wide receiver Josh Derry led the team in receiving, with 100 yards on six receptions.
The Hawks (4-5) will once again travel to New England to take on the New Hampshire Wildcats (5-4) next Saturday, Nov. 9. Rhode Island (8-1) looks to remain undefeated in CAA play as they travel to Newark to take on the Delaware Blue Hens (7-1) in a battle between CAA powerhouses.
