FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2000

MONMOUTH FOOTBALL DROPS SEASON OPENER AT WAGNER, 14-7

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.  - Monmouth University knew they could not afford to make too many mistakes against Wagner College and still hope to win in Saturday’s football game. So after watching Saturday’s game it came to no surprise to Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan that the Hawks dropped a 14-7 decision to the Seahawks at Wagner College Stadium as both team’s opened their 2000 seasons.

“We just made too many mistakes and dug a hole for ourselves,” Callahan said.

The mistakes included 13 penalties for 80 yards and throwing an interception in the red zone.

“Five-yard runs don’t do you as much good on 1st-and-15 as they do on 1st-and-10,” Callahan said. “That is the situation we found ourselves in a lot today. They are mistakes we can correct though.”

After Monmouth started the contest by going three plays and out, Wagner went on a 12 play, 65-yard drive scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead. The drive was capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by John Campbell who rushed for 96 yards on 26 carries for the Seahawks.

Monmouth had a scoring threat brewing at the end of the first quarter with a 3rd-and-5 play from the Wagner 20, but Kharee Shorter intercepted a Chris Wielgosz pass at the 7-yard line.

With 6:00 remaining in the first half, Monmouth had another opportunity to turn the momentum of the game when punter Darrell Nick pinned the Seahawks at their own 4-yard line. Wagner responded with a 12-play, 96-yard scoring effort, culminating in a 31-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Smith to Chuck Kinsley with 31 seconds left until intermission.

Monmouth squandered another scoring chance to start the third quarter. On 4th-and-4 at the Wagner 22-yard line, Wielgosz completed an 8-yard pass to Eji Maxilom, but the play was negated as the officials tacked on a 15-yard offensive pass interference call. The penalty put the Hawks in a 4th-and-19 situation and put them out of field goal range.

A swarming Hawks’ defense kept Monmouth in the game as they allowed just 97 yards and four first downs in the second half.

“The defense played well today,” Callahan said. “If you take away Wagner’s two scoring drives, our defense only gave up 120 yards. Unfortunately, you can not take away those two scoring drives.”

Monmouth’s defense set up the Hawks only score as linebacker Joe Sentipal sacked Lou Simone and stripped the ball loose at the Wagner 33-yard line where Monmouth recovered with 9:58 left in the game.

Backup quarterback Bill Rankin relieved Wielgosz and led Monmouth on the drive. Six plays later Rankin hit Maxilom on a 26-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the end zone with 6:58 remaining to clip the edge to 14-7.
The Hawks got the ball back with 5:20 left, but the final drive stalled following a delay of game penalty and a false start giving Monmouth a 3rd-and-18.

Monmouth continues Northeast Conference play next Saturday as they travel to Robert Morris for a 1:30 p.m. contest.