By Tiffany Williams –
Monmouth survived a stubborn Hampton squad, grinding out a 28-10 Homecoming victory before 8,693 fans at Armstrong Stadium and countless more in the tailgate lots Saturday afternoon. The No. 10 Hawks improved to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Coastal Athletic Association, marking their first perfect conference start since 2021 and only the fifth 7-1 start in program history.
Rodney Nelson was a one-man wrecking crew. The junior running back carried the ball 33 times for a career-high 233 yards, scoring all four of Monmouth’s touchdowns and breaking off runs of 30 and 29 yards that kept Hampton defenders chasing shadows. Nelson’s dominance was historic: it was his second 200-yard game of the season, his fifth consecutive outing with over 100 rushing yards, and the first four-touchdown game of his career. With the win, Nelson’s string of 100-yard games tied the program record set by Jaden Shirden in 2022, and his 233-yard effort was the most by a Hawk since Shirden posted 251 against William & Mary in 2023.
The game opened with Hampton taking an early lead on a 19-yard field goal from Brett Starling midway through the first quarter. The Pirates had marched 58 yards in 11 plays, threatening to stun the Hawks’ Homecoming crowd. But Monmouth responded quickly. Rodney Nelson capped a 75-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run just minutes later, putting the Hawks ahead for good. Nelson added a three-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to make it 14-3 at halftime. Hampton, the league’s second-leading rushing team, managed just 59 yards on 25 carries in the opening half.
The second half saw Hampton threaten again, beginning at their own nine-yard line. A 44-yard strike from quarterback Braden Davis to Tae’Shaun Johnson brought them to the Monmouth one-yard line, and Gracen Goldsmith ran it in to cut the deficit to 14-10 early in the third quarter. But that would be as close as the Pirates got. Monmouth’s defense, anchored by Josiah Graham, Lamont Lester Jr., Ryan Russo, Deuce Lee, and Jaeden Jones, stiffened. The Hawks recorded four sacks, seven tackles for loss, and key turnover stops. Izzy Clark-White’s interception late in the fourth quarter helped seal the outcome.
Nelson added two more touchdowns in the fourth. A one-yard plunge early in the period extended Monmouth’s lead to 21-10, and he capped the scoring inside the final three minutes after the Clark-White interception. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman quarterback Frankie Weaver, making his first career start, managed the Hawks’ offense with poise, completing 14-of-25 passes for 122 yards while leaning on Monmouth’s ground game. Elijah Jennings contributed 76 yards on 12 carries, providing key support for Nelson’s historic afternoon.
The Hawks’ offensive line paved the way for 298 rushing yards and 420 total yards. Monmouth dominated the fourth quarter, controlling the ball for nearly 11 minutes and outgaining Hampton 134-41 over the final 15. The defense forced two turnovers, raising the season total to 16 and maintaining a +8 turnover differential — the team’s best mark since 2019. Monmouth held Hampton to just two red-zone scores on four trips, showing a disciplined and opportunistic defensive performance.
Coach Kevin Callahan lauded his team after the game. “I think our team did a good job rallying behind Frankie. Missing Derek [Robertson] certainly hurt, but we had guys up and down the lineup make the plays we had to make in the right moments,” Callahan said. “Rodney had an outstanding game, and when we had to rely on him, he shined. The defense was very opportunistic again today. The turnovers we forced set us up in good field position, and the fourth-down stops were big momentum shifts in the game.”
Monmouth’s victory also extended its dominance over Hampton in program history, improving to 5-0 all-time against the Pirates. It marked the Hawks’ fifth consecutive win, their lowest point total in a victory since a 26-23 triumph at Fordham in 2021, and reinforced their status as one of the CAA’s elite teams. Nelson’s performance alone was historic, with four touchdowns in a single game — the first Hawk to do so since Sone Ntoh in 2024.
Looking at the numbers, Monmouth outgained Hampton 420-381, ran more plays (74-69), and controlled possession down the stretch. The Hawks converted seven of 12 third downs and four of five red-zone attempts, while Hampton managed six of 12 third downs and just two of four trips inside the red zone. Monmouth also recorded four sacks for 18 yards, while Hampton had two for 20. Penalties were minimal for the Hawks, with just four for 45 yards compared to Hampton’s nine for 69.
Monmouth now shifts focus to Bryant for a Saturday, November 1, clash with the Bulldogs at 1 p.m. The Hawks will look to maintain their perfect conference record and continue the momentum from a historic homecoming win. With Rodney Nelson in top form and a defense that can bend but not break, Monmouth is sending a clear message: they are not just contenders in the CAA — they are the standard.
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