Introduction
During the course of the 2005 college football season, GRA will follow the fortunes of two New Jersey institutions -- Monmouth University (West Long Branch) and Rutgers University (New Brunswick).
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Monmouth and Rutgers both improved to 3 and 1 last week, with respective wins over Stony Brook and Pittsburgh.
Rutgers
Last Friday night, Rutgers won its third game of the season and its third game in a row, with what turned out to be an exciting 37-29 victory over the University of Pittsburgh.
In a nationally televised game on ESPN2, Rutgers jumped out to an impressive 27-0 halftime lead. However, in the second half, it was shades of opening day and the game against Illinois. In that contest, the Scarlet Knights squandered a 20-point lead, losing to the Illini 33-30 in overtime.
In last Friday's game, the Pitt Panthers outscored Rutgers 29 to 10 in the second half. However, unlike the Illinois contest, Rutgers was able to come up with some very timely defense, halt the Panthers' comeback, and prevail by the final 37-29 score.
Tomorrow, the Scarlet Knights host the 4-1 Mountaineers of the University West Virginia. Kickoff is noon (ET), and the game will have regional TV coverage. Rutgers is and deserves to be the underdog. However, were it able to pull off the upset, it would be the first time since the 1992 season that a Rutgers team was 4 and 1.
Monmouth
Last Saturday, on the road, Monmouth moved to a 3 and 1 record on the season, with a convincing 36-7 victory over Stony Brook University. It was the first Northeast Conference game for both teams, with the loss dropping Stony Brook to 1 and 3 overall on the season.
In the Monmouth victory, Hawk senior wide receiver and NFL prospect, Miles Austin, had another solid day. He hauled in eight passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. This was his fifth consecutive 100-yard game (dating back to last season), and it was the 11th time in his collegiate career he had 100 yards or more in receptions.
Hawk junior quarterback, Brian Boland, finished the day with a 28 for 41 passing performance, which accounted for 296 yards and two touchdowns. However, he also threw three interceptions. Over the first four games, Boland's 1,189 yards have led Monmouth's potent passing attack.
Tomorrow, on the road, Monmouth is again in Northeast Conference action, with a 1:00 PM (ET) kickoff against Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Sacred Heart comes into the game 1 and 3 overall, and 0 and 1 in conference play.
The Monmouth-Sacred Heart game will be broadcast via the Internet on WMCX-FM.
The respective Monmouth/Rutgers 2005 schedules/results:
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Monmouth W - L Rutgers W - L
(Hawks) Score (Scarlet Knights) Score
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09/03 Lehigh L 26- 54 Illinois L#30- 33
09/10 La Salle W 65- 27 VILLANOVA W 38- 6
09/17 CALIF. (PA) W 16- 15 Buffalo W 17- 3
09/24 Open Open
09/30F --- PITTSBURGH* W 39- 29
10/01 Stony Brook* W 36- 7 ---
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143-103 124- 71
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10/08 Sacred Heart* WEST VIRGINIA*
10/15 WAGNER* Syracuse*
10/22 ROBERT MORRIS* Connecticut*
10/29 Central Conn.* NAVY
11/05 St. Francis* SOUTH FLORIDA*
11/11F --- Louisville*
11/12 ALBANY* ---
11/19 --- Open
11/26 --- CINCINNATI*
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Home games in caps. *Conference game. #Overtime.
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