WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – An early surge for No. 22 Monmouth led to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, and the Hawks went on to a 41-14 win over Gardner-Webb Saturday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (1-9, 0-4 Big South) had a tough start to the game offensively, gaining only five total yards on nine plays by the end of the first quarter – as Monmouth (9-1, 4-0 Big South) built its early margin and held onto the football for nearly 11 minutes.
The Hawks took the opening kickoff and churned out 76 yards on seven plays to go in front for good, with Devell Jones bulling in from one yard away with 11:13 on the clock. A short punt set Monmouth up with excellent field position later in the first quarter, and Kenji Bahar capped the 36-yard scoring drive with a 24-yard pass to Joey Aldarelli for a 13-0 lead.
Bahar later capped a six-play, 63-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Jake Powell with 1:12 left in the quarter.
Gardner-Webb slowed the Hawks down early in the second quarter, but Bahar tossed his third touchdown pass of the day with 4:54 before halftime, finding Reggie White, Jr., in the back of the end zone for a 14-yard score and a 27-0 lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs finally found some success moving the ball just before the break, marching 66 yards on 11 plays to cut the lead to 27-7.
Tyrell Maxwell hit a wide open
Jonathan Blackmon on a 24-yard touchdown pass with 38.6 seconds left on the second quarter clock to cap the drive.
Monmouth scored the only touchdown for either side in the third quarter, going up 34-7 when Bahar found White again for an eight-yard score with 3:05 remaining in the period. The Hawks capped their scoring with 3:27 left in the game, as Michael Jolly bounced into to the end zone from six yards away for a 41-7 advantage. Jones set the score up with a 53-yard run.
Maxwell hit
Ralph Jolly on play action for the final margin, with the duo hooking up on a 34-yard score with 1:08 left in the game.
Gardner-Webb had 223 yards offensively on the day, with
Jayln Cagle leading the way on the ground. The Kannapolis, N.C., sophomore had 50 yards on 17 carries.
Tysean Carter finished with 31 yards on just two carries, with his 27-yard run in the fourth quarter setting up Maxwell's second touchdown pass.
Maxwell finished with 28 yards on 13 carries, but was sacked twice. He completed 9-of-17 passes for 105 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Cagle was the top target, catching four passes for 20 yards. Jolly had two catches for 42 yards and Blackmon had his 24-yard touchdown grab.
Thomas Adams (seven tackles),
Dalton Cochran (five tackles) and
Corey Horne (five tackles) led the Gardner-Webb defense.
Monmouth racked up 427 yards of total offense Saturday to win for the third time in the four-game series. The Hawks rushed for 252 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per rush.
Pete Guerriero carried 18 times for 108 yards, Jolly added 10 carries for 82 yards and a score and Jones added 84 yards and a score on nine carries.
Bahar was 15-of-24 for 175 yards and four touchdowns, but was sacked three times for 29 lost yards. White was his favorite target once again, hauling in five balls for 46 yards and two scores. Vinny Grasso caught four passes for 69 yards in the game.
Mike Basile had nine tackles (seven solo) and a sack to lead a balanced defensive effort for the Hawks.
Gardner-Webb will close out its 2017 season next weekend on the road, playing at Presbyterian (1:00 pm, Big South Network). Monmouth will play for its first ever Big South title next Saturday, traveling to face No. 23 Kennesaw State.
