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PUBLISHED FEATURE · Kessler Field: West Long Branch, NJMore Than a Victory: Monmouth Honors Lou DiRienzo Jr. With Statement Win and Share of CAA Title
Some victories mean more than what appears on the scoreboard. For Monmouth University, Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium was one of those moments.
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Some victories mean more than what appears on the scoreboard. For Monmouth University, Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium was one of those moments.
Some victories mean more than what appears on the scoreboard. For Monmouth University, Saturday afternoon at Kessler Stadium was one of those moments.
The No. 14 Monmouth Hawks secured a hard-fought 21–17 victory over North Carolina A&T, improving to 8–2 overall and a perfect 7–0 in Coastal Athletic Association play. The victory extended Monmouth’s winning streak to seven games and officially secured at least a share of the CAA regular-season championship.
But beyond the standings, the championship implications, and another step toward the FCS postseason, Saturday carried a significance that extended far beyond football.
The Hawks dedicated the afternoon to the memory of Louis “Lou” DiRienzo Jr., their defensive coordinator who unexpectedly passed away this summer at just 34 years old.
For a team that has spent the season carrying his memory into every practice, meeting, and game, Saturday was an opportunity to honor a coach whose influence continues to shape the program.
And when Monmouth needed its defense most, the Hawks delivered.
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A Fast Start Turns Into a Battle
Monmouth entered Saturday’s matchup with an opportunity to take another major step toward a conference championship, and the Hawks wasted little time establishing themselves offensively.
On their opening possession, Monmouth marched 90 yards down the field, fueled by a 39-yard rush from Elijah Jennings that brought the offense inside the North Carolina A&T five-yard line. Nazir Treadwell finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, putting the Hawks ahead 7–0.
The defense quickly forced a three-and-out, giving Monmouth another opportunity to extend its advantage.
The Hawks responded with a 10-play, 86-yard drive, capped by a four-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Tra Neal to quarterback Frankie Weaver. The unconventional connection gave Monmouth a 14–0 advantage midway through the opening quarter.
What initially appeared to be a commanding start quickly developed into a much tighter contest.
North Carolina A&T quarterback Kevin White connected with Nebanye Moore for a 29-yard touchdown to bring the Aggies within seven. A 22-yard field goal from Asher Holland in the second quarter narrowed the deficit further before White found Michael Carlock-Williams for a 20-yard touchdown.
Suddenly, the Aggies had erased a two-touchdown deficit and taken a 17–14 lead with less than two minutes remaining before halftime.
For Monmouth, the response was immediate.
Weaver led the Hawks downfield and connected with Christian Harrison for a 47-yard touchdown, completing a five-play, 68-yard scoring drive in just 29 seconds.
The explosive play restored Monmouth’s advantage at 21–17, sending the Hawks into halftime with a narrow lead and plenty still to prove.
Neither team would score again.
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When the Offense Slowed, the Defense Answered
The second half became a completely different contest.
After both teams combined for 38 points before halftime, the offenses struggled to find the same rhythm. Six consecutive possessions ended in punts during the third quarter, turning the matchup into a defensive battle.
For Monmouth, that shift placed the responsibility squarely on a defensive unit playing in memory of the man who had helped shape its identity.
The Hawks responded by shutting out North Carolina A&T throughout the entire second half.
The defining moment arrived midway through the fourth quarter.
With the Aggies threatening to reclaim the lead, North Carolina A&T advanced deep into Monmouth territory and reached the one-yard line.
Quarterback Kevin White attempted to push the Aggies closer to the end zone, but Monmouth defender Mir Haskett forced a fumble that Donovan Fey recovered with 9:02 remaining.
What could have become the decisive touchdown for North Carolina A&T instead became the most important defensive stand of Monmouth’s afternoon.
The Hawks finished with four sacks, held the Aggies to 117 net rushing yards, and prevented North Carolina A&T from scoring on any second-half possession.
Offensively, Jennings led Monmouth with 115 rushing yards on 19 carries, while Weaver completed 14 of 29 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown.
Kenny Smith Jr. contributed another 59 rushing yards, including a crucial 28-yard run in the closing minutes that helped Monmouth run out the clock and secure the victory.
It wasn’t the explosive offensive performance that has often defined the Hawks this season.
Instead, it was a demonstration of their ability to win through defensive execution, patience, and composure when the circumstances demanded it.
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Playing for Lou D.
While the victory strengthened Monmouth’s championship position, the emotional significance of Saturday was impossible to separate from the result.
Louis DiRienzo Jr. joined Monmouth’s coaching staff in 2025 as linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator ahead of the 2026 season.
His unexpected passing in late June, just weeks before the start of fall camp, left the program mourning a coach, mentor, colleague, and friend.
DiRienzo was 34.
A native of Yonkers, New York, DiRienzo grew up surrounded by football. He played at New Rochelle High School under his father, Lou DiRienzo Sr., earning multiple honors before continuing his playing career as a linebacker at Southern Connecticut State University.
His coaching career eventually took him through Wagner College, Rutgers University, and Springfield College, where he served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
At Springfield, he also earned a master’s degree in education, reflecting a career built around both teaching and developing young athletes.
When he arrived at Monmouth, DiRienzo brought that experience into a program preparing to enter a new chapter.
Although his time with the Hawks was brief, his impact on the players and coaches around him was significant.
Those closest to him remembered more than his knowledge of defensive football. They spoke about his energy, his relationships with players, and his commitment to helping young men develop beyond the game.
He is survived by his wife, Allie, and their twin daughters, Audrina and Giavanna.
Saturday’s tribute brought his family and the Monmouth football community together, giving the Hawks an opportunity to celebrate the life of someone whose presence continues to be felt throughout the program.
After the victory, head coach Jeff Gallo made the team’s motivation clear.
“This was for Lou D.”
It was a simple statement, but one that carried the weight of an entire season.
For the Hawks, honoring DiRienzo has never been limited to one afternoon. His memory has remained part of the team’s identity throughout the year, influencing the way players approach their responsibilities and the standards they hold one another to.
Saturday, however, offered something different.
With DiRienzo’s family in attendance and a conference championship within reach, Monmouth had an opportunity to turn that motivation into a performance worthy of the occasion.
The defense’s second-half shutout, particularly its goal-line turnover in the fourth quarter, became a fitting reflection of the discipline, communication, and execution DiRienzo emphasized throughout his coaching career.
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A Championship Built on More Than Talent
Monmouth’s victory carried another historic implication.
With the win, the Hawks improved to 7–0 in conference play and secured at least a share of the CAA regular-season championship.
The achievement represents a significant milestone for a program navigating its first season under head coach Jeff Gallo, who succeeded longtime head coach Kevin Callahan following the 2025 season.
The transition marked the beginning of a new era for Monmouth football.
Callahan had built the program from its inaugural season in 1993 into a nationally competitive FCS team, establishing the foundation upon which the Hawks continue to build.
Gallo, who previously played and coached under Callahan, inherited both the expectations of that tradition and the responsibility of guiding the program through an emotionally difficult year.
The Hawks have answered those challenges with one of their strongest conference campaigns.
Their seven consecutive victories represent the program’s longest winning streak since 2019, and Saturday’s result moved them another step closer to securing the outright CAA championship.
Monmouth can claim the title outright with a victory over Campbell on November 21 or a Campbell loss to Elon the preceding week.
Yet the importance of this season cannot be measured entirely through conference standings or postseason possibilities.
For a team that lost a member of its coaching family before the season even began, every milestone has carried an additional layer of meaning.
The Hawks have continued to compete, improve, and find ways to win while honoring someone who helped establish the standards they now represent.
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A Legacy That Continues Beyond the Sidelines
Football programs are often remembered for championships, records, and the players who leave their mark on the field.
But their identities are also shaped by the people whose contributions cannot always be measured statistically.
For Monmouth, Louis DiRienzo Jr. was one of those people.
His influence reached beyond defensive schemes and game preparation. Through his relationships with players and his dedication to their development, he helped build a foundation that continues to influence the Hawks even in his absence.
Saturday’s victory offered a visible reminder of that impact.
The Hawks faced adversity, surrendered an early lead, and entered the second half needing to make adjustments. Rather than allowing the moment to slip away, they relied on the same defensive principles and collective determination that DiRienzo had worked to instill.
The result was a second-half shutout, a conference championship milestone, and a victory dedicated to a coach whose legacy remains part of the program.
Monmouth still has work ahead.
The Hawks will step outside conference play next weekend before traveling to Campbell on November 21, where they could complete an undefeated CAA regular season and secure the championship outright.
But regardless of what the remainder of the season brings, November 7 will hold a special place in the story of Monmouth football.
On an afternoon dedicated to Louis DiRienzo Jr., the Hawks didn’t simply protect their undefeated conference record.
They honored his memory with the kind of resilience, execution, and unity that he spent his career teaching.
And for Monmouth, that made this victory about far more than football.
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N3W ERA MEDIA | GAME COVERAGE
Monmouth University vs. North Carolina A&T — November 7, 2026
Photography: R5Flicks / N3W ERA Media
N3W ERA Media provides independent sports photography, game coverage, and editorial storytelling, highlighting the athletes, programs, and moments that define sports at every level.
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