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LORETTO, Pa. – The Monmouth Hawks managed to do something that no team had previously done in 2013: they stopped Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area). Okay, 'stopped' may be too strong of a description. The redshirt senior and Walter Payton Award watch list member still rushed for 94 yards. It was more like putting a parachute on a speeding freight train.
 
Harbridge admitted as much this week that Monmouth used a shadow in holding him to less than 100 yards rushing for the first time this year. But the Flash still scored 21 first quarter points on its way to a 28-10 win. Big plays from the special teams and defense were to thank. Khairi Dickson (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) forced a fumble on the opening kickoff that was scooped and returned eight yards by Bishop Neal (Clairton, Pa./Clairton) to stake the Flash to a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Later in the quarter, DaQuan Minter (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown) intercepted his fourth pass of the season and raced 44 yards to make it 21-0 with 5:18 to play in the first quarter.
 
"We need all three phases to show up," head coach Chris Villarrial said. "The offense scored two touchdowns, the defense scored one and special teams scored one. That was great to see."
 
Lorenzo Jerome (Sunrise, Fla./J.P. Taravella) added his fourth interception of the season late in the fourth to tie Minter for the lead in the NEC and for fifth in the nation. Jerome, Minter and the rest of the SFU defense will have its hands full with Sacred Heart running back Keshaudas Spence. He is currently fourth in FCS in yards rushing with 997 and is just 29 yards behind Harbridge for third place.
 
"He's a big back, a hard runner, and he's got some speed," Harbridge said of Spence. "Our defense is going to have to wrap him up to get him down."
 
The Pioneers (7-1, 2-1) are more than just a running back, however. They've scored 115 points in their past two games in NEC wins over Central Connecticut (59-36) and Bryant (56-28). Their quarterback, freshman R.J. Noel, was recently added to the Jerry Rice Award watch list. The trophy is given to the best first-year player in the FCS.
 
He has completed 114-of-208 passes for 1,494 yards and 18 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Noel has also carried the ball 90 times for 424 yards and five touchdowns. Last week, he threw four touchdown passes and ran for another in the Bryant victory. He picked up his fourth NEC Rookie of the Week award for the performance.

The Pioneers also scored touchdowns on a 100-yard kick return and a 47-yard interception return.
 
"They're playing complete games right now," Villarrial said. "And we're going to have to play a complete, 60-minute game to compete with them."
 
Kickoff for the Homecoming tilt is slated for noon.