Heartbreak Hill: Monmouth's Stunning Comeback Falls Just Short

WEST LONG BRANCH – Monmouth University battled back from a 21-0 deficit with a stunning second-half comeback to pull within 21-15 and had a first-and-goal at the Sam Houston 9-yard line with 2:04 remaining in the game.

Labeled as a double-digit underdog against the second-seeded Bearkats, the Hawks were in position to pull off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the FCS playoffs.

But Monmouth’s storybook ending failed to materialize. True freshman quarterback Tony Muskett’s fourth-down pass intended for Zach Tredway in the back of the end zone was undercut and picked off by Bearkat defensive back Isaiah Downes with 48 seconds remaining to seal the 21-15 win for Sam Houston State.

“I’m just very proud of our team for the way they played, the resiliency we showed and how they responded after going down 21-0,” said Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan. “We’re a team that never quits, they never say die and they just kept battling all the way through and I was very happy for the way we did that.”

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the never say die Hawks, but it was also a moral victory of sorts for a program that inspires to be mentioned in the same breath as the Sam Houston’s or the James Madison’s or the North Dakota State’s.

“I think there is certainly an awful lot there that we can build on as we move forward,” added Callahan. “To get to that elite level there are things we know we have to do better and we’ll go to work on those things and we will improve and get better at it. But I think today created a great foundation, a great base to build on and once we give our guys an opportunity to rest and recover we’ll get back to work at it.”

It was a devastating loss, but in a round about way you can chalk it up as a win.

The underrated Hawks proved a point; they belong on the same stage as the big boys.

"We weren’t given a chance in the game but we took it to the last play,” said Callahan.

Make no mistake about it, this was eye-opening performance by the Hawks and people around the FCS will most assuredly sit up and take notice.

“We showed that we can compete on the national level now,” added Monmouth’s All-Big South linebacker Da’Quan Grimes.

Monmouth certainly did prove they were deserving of their No. 10 ranking entering the game and you can be assured the people in Huntsville now know how to pronounce Monmouth.

The Hawks traveled 1,600 miles cross country to play the fourth-ranked team in the country at their place where they are 13-0 all-time at home in the FCS playoffs. And against all odds the Hawks came within a hair of doing the unthinkable thanks in a good part to their unsung defense.

Often maligned prior to this seasons resurgence, the Hawks defense held the line against the explosive Bearkats offense until their offense got untracked.

“I think our defense did an outstanding job against what is one of the most prolific offenses in all of college football from what I’ve read statistically,” said Callahan. To hold them to 250 yards is a great effort by our defense and I thought we did a great job on third downs getting them off the field.”

The defensive line in particular was physical at the point of attack, dominated the line of scrimmage and harassed Sam Houston quarterback Eric Schmid all afternoon.

“When you think of Monmouth you don’t think of a football powerhouse, but they’re a really good football team,” said Sam Houston head coach C.J. Keeler. “I thought their defensive line really set the tone. They put a lot of pressure on us.”

Schmid came into the game averaging 336.8 yards per game – eighth in the nation – but on Saturday he was just 12-of-24 yards for 133 yards and one touchdown.

Justin Terry, Tyrese Wright, Eddie Morales III and Anthony Budd were stellar in the Hawks secondary both in coverage and run support.

The Bearkats offense came into the game fourth in the country in total offense averaging 524.7 yards of offense per game and the Hawks defense held them to 257 total yards and just nine total first downs.

“Since week one we knew our defense was special,” said Grimes. “We have trust in each other and believe in each other and that’s kind of what we play off of.”

Sam Houston ranked third in scoring offense entering the game averaging 44.8 points but managed to put up just 21 against the stingy Hawks defense.

The Hawks outgained Sam Houston in the game 398 to 257 in total yardage.

Although leading 14-0 at the half, Sam Houston State managed just 118 yards of offense and five first downs in the first half. All their yardage came on a short drive and long touchdown run, otherwise the Monmouth defense completely shut them down.

“We gave up a couple of big plays – explosive plays - that allowed them to get into the end zone,” said Callahan.

Erik Massey, Kurt Aumer and Da’Quan Grimes all recorded first half sacks.

A high snap on an attempted punt gave the Bearkats a short field and led to their first score. Taking over at the Monmouth 47, they went the rest of the way in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead.

Then with 2:52 remaining in the first half, the defense had one of its only breakdowns of the game when Bearkat running back Ramon Jefferson went 56 yards virtually untouched for the score and a 14-0 lead.

Monmouth’s offense was erratic in the first half as the Bearkats defensive line lived up to its reputation as one of the top units in the country. Muskett was continually hit and under duress as he struggled find some offensive rhythm while absorbing six sacks in the game.

In the first half, the Bearkat defense produced 10 tackles for loss with most of lost yardage attributed to the defensive line which finished with 15 TFL.

The Hawks did have one good scoring opportunity in the first quarter. A 21-yard pass completion to Zach Tredway gave the Hawks a first-and-goal at the 8-yard line after driving from their own 25.

Two runs however lost five yards and on third-and-goal Muskett was rushed out of the pocket and his pass to Lonnie Moore IV deflected off his hands and was intercepted by Jaylen Thomas - Muskett’s first pick of his career.

Muskett did finish with 135 yards passing in the first half but the team was a dismal 1-for-9 on third down conversions.

"We didn’t convert enough on third down,” said Callahan. “We held the ball a long time but didn’t convert enough third downs and we got the ball down in the red zone but we came up empty. When you play a great football team in playoff football you just can’t do that.”

Sophomore running back Juwan Farri added 47 yards on 11 attempts in the half as the Hawks easily outgained the Bearkats in the first half with nothing to show for it.

On Sam Houston's second possession of the second half it looked as if they put the game away after they drove 85 yards in five plays to take a 21-0 lead at 9:49 of the third quarter.

The two teams then traded possessions before the Hawks offense flipped the switch and took control of the game.

“There were some things that their size and quickness prevented us from doing,” said Callahan. “So in the second half we tried to get the ball out to the perimeter a little bit more and we found some success there.”

Taking over at their 10-yard line with 6:21 left in the third quarter after a penalty on the punt return pushed them back, the Hawks drove 90 yards in 17 plays to pull within 13 points.

Farri ran it in on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line for the score and Callahan decided to go for the two-point conversion attempt. Muskett then shoveled the ball to tight end Gene Scott, who bulled his way into the end zone for the two points that made it a 21-8 ballgame.

“I thought that was brilliant,” said Keeler referencing Callahan’s decision to go for two. “That gave them even more momentum going in their direction. We knew going in they were going to be really well coached.”

The D forced a three-and-out on Sam Houston’s ensuing possession and the Hawks took over at their own 14 following the punt.

“I think after our first score we had all the momentum and we rode it until the end,” said Greene Jr. “We started slow but finished strong. We absolutely thought we were going to win the game.”

Facing a third-and-9 at their own 26, Greene Jr. took a Muskett screen ten yards for a first down. Four plays later on fourth-and-6 from the 40, Muskett found Archie Ezrah for 11 yards and a first down to keep the drive alive.

Staring at another crucial third down, Muskett calmly completed a 13-yard pass to Clark on third-and-11 for another first down at the 37-yard line. Farri carried for seven on first down and on second-and-3 Muskett and Greene Jr. hooked up for a 30-yard score to make it a 21-15 game with 5:58 remaining.

“I saw man-to-man coverage with zero safety,” said Greene Jr. “So what I’ve been preaching all week was to win my one-on-ones and make a big play when my team needed it.”

After a Bearkat first down the defense stiffened and forced a punt handing the ball back to Hawks. Prior to the punt, linebacker Eddie Hahn appeared to force a turnover on second down with a vicious hit on running back Ife Adeyi jarring the ball lose and recovering it, but the officials ruled it an incomplete pass on a questionable ruling.

Starting at thier own 25-yard line, the Hawks were looking at a 75-yard drive to win the game with 4:20 remaing.

Greene Jr. made a spectacular catch for 19 yards and a first down on critical fourth-and-3 play to the 49-yard line. A pass interference call gave the Hawks a first down at the 34 and the Hawks were in business.

Muskett then completed a 12-yard pass to Tredway for another first down at the 22.

A 6-yard pass to Moore IV and a 6-yard run by Farri on third-and-3 set up a first-and-goal at the 9-yard line. But the drive stalled there and Muskett's fourth-down pick ended the Hawks threat. On second down Muskett did throw a catchable ball that Greene Jr. laid out for at the goal line but he was unable to corral it.

Muskett ended up completing 29-of-46 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.

The interception was a brutal way for Muskett to end his stellar freshman campaign but it shouldn’t distract from what he accomplished this season. He was named the Big South Freshman of the Year and garnered first team All-Big South honors.

His comeback performance Saturday in a game of this magnitude was extraordinary given his age and lack of experience. His poise under fire, sound decision making and ability to lead at this stage of his career is really something to behold.

“For a true freshman he shows a level of maturity that you don’t often see,” said Callahan when asked about his quarterback’s heroic effort. “He’s very composed on the field and is able to communicate. He was playing against a tough defensive front and they did knock him around a bit but he’s a competitor and just keeps coming back. These four games he was able to play this spring are going to prove incredibly valuable as he moves forward.”

The Hawks converted 8-of-11 third down plays and 2-of-3 on fourth down in the fourth quarter and racked up 169 fourth-quarter yards, while the defense held Sam Houston State to one first down and 23 total yards in the final quarter.

“Monmouth’s defense was very disciplined,” said Jefferson. “The guys up front played well and played with intensity. The D-linemen I think set the tone for the rest of the defense then the linebackers and secondary followed suit. I think all the players (on defense) were very good but the D-line stood out.”

Farri had 98 hard-earned-yards rushing on 25 attempts and a score and finished the season with 510 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns in four games averaging five-yards per attempt. He was named the Big South Offensive Player of the Year.

Greene Jr. had nine receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, Moore IV caught eight balls for 88 yards and Tredway added five catches for 79 yards. Greene Jr. and Moore IV were both first team All-Big South selections.

Callahan had high praise for everything his team had to endure this past year. “For all of what our guys have been through with all the Covid things going back a year I’m very happy with the way they came out and played against the No.2 team in the country.”

With NCAA granting seniors an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic canceling the fall season, its assumed most of Monmouth’s players will return for the 2021 fall campaign: and that’s good news for the soaring Hawks and a warning to the rest of the FCS.

“We’re a lot different than 2019,” added Grimes. “We’re motivated and we’re already talking about coming back and getting ready for the fall.”