FOOTBALL CROSSES DELAWARE TO FACE LAFAYETTE
A LOOK AT THE GAME:
Monmouth comes into tonight's game with Lafayette looking to string together its first winning streak of 2018 after dismantling future conference opponent Hampton at home 56-28.
Head Coach Kevin Callahan will face his son, Kevin Jr., who is the Leopard's running backs coach for the first time in his career.
The Hawks travel to Easton for the first time since 2002, where they fell on a last-minute field goal to the Leopards. Last season MU opened its new facility with a 31-12 win over the Leopards.
The Leopards are looking to break into the win column for the first time in 2018 after dropping back to back games on the road to start the season. The Leopards have scored just six points in the first two contests, with field goals against Sacred Heart.
Today's game can be viewed on WatchStadium.com
The game can heard on The Shore Sports Network, with Matt Harmon (pxp) and Eddy Occhipinti (analyst) on the call.
THE COACHING MATCHUP: Kevin Callahan is in his 26th season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach. Callahan owns a 145-119 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Coming into the season, Callahan's 145 victories ranks him 10th among active coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision. The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to five conference championships, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006 and its first at-large playoff berth in 2017. Callahan has earned conference coach of the year accolades in 1998, 2003 and 2006 and was named as an Eddie Robinson Award finalist in 2017, finishing 10th in the voting. Prior to arriving in West Long Branch, Callahan served as defensive coordinator at Colgate for eight seasons and at Wagner for three years. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Albany (1977-79) and Syracuse (1980) before becoming a Seahawk assistant in 1981. John Garrett was named as Lafayette's head football coach on December 21, 2016. Garrett, and currently owns a 3-10 record, He has more than 25 years experience in the college and professional coaching ranks. Garrett comes to Easton after serving as the offensive coordinator under coach Danny Rocco at Richmond. He has had coaching stops at a number of FBS schools, including Florida, Oregon State and the University of Virginia among others. Garrett spent five seasons on the Dallas Cowboys' staff as a tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. He helped lead the Spiders to a 10-4 record and a NCAA quarterfinals berth. He spent five years in the NFL as a wide receiver and is a graduate of Princeton University. His brother Jason is the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and his father Jim spent 38 years in the NFL as a scout and an assistant coach. INSIDE THE MU-LC SERIES Third Overall Meeting Overall Record: Tied leads 1-1 West Long Branch: MU 1-0 Easton: LC leads 1-0 First Meeting: Sept. 2, 2002 Last Meeting: Sept. 2, 2017 Longest MU Win Streak: 1 game Longest LC Win Streak: 1 game Largest MU W Margin: 19 (2017) Largest LC W Margin: 1 (2002) Smallest MU W Margin: 19 ('17) Smallest LC W Margin: 1 (2002) Shutouts: None Overtime Games: None INSIDE THE MONMOUTH-LAFAYETTE SERIES
The two teams have split the two previous meetings, with Monmouth winning last year's season opener 31-12.
In that contest the Hawks held a 7-0 lead at halftime before blowing open the game in the second half, eventually out-rushing the Leopards 175 to -1. Pete Guerriero fininshed with 155 yards and two touchdowns in his Hawk debut while Reggie White Jr. had eight receptions for 120 yards and a TD.
In the first matchup, the Hawks let a 16 point lead get away from them, with the Pards hitting a 32 yard field goal with 1:11 left in the contest.
Monmouth owns a 12-10 record against the Patriot League, winning five consecutive games against the conference. The Hawks will face Bucknell at home in four weeks
GUERRIERO EARNS BIG SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Pete Guerriero had a career day for the Blue & White, rushing for a personal best 209 yards on 21 carries with a career-high three touchdowns.
Guerriero, who averaged just under 10 yards per run, tore off touchdown runs of 28 and 67 yards and had six runs of 10 yards or more.
The sophomore had just one run for negative yardage on 21 carries and finished the day with 226 all-purpose yards.
In the first half alone, he racked up 145 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries (12.1 average).
He jumped Mike Medrano and Jim Varick in the win against the Pirates, and his 1,304 career rushing yards ranks 11th in program history.
Guerriero was also an honorable mention for STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Week. He has won three Big South Weekly Awards in two season
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