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Staten Island, NY - Wagner's opponent in the 2015 home opener is a familiar local foe as the Seahawks and Monmouth meet for the 23rd time. The schools, which are located just 45 miles from one another, have met every season since 1993 and from 1996-2012 the two locked horns as members of the Northeast Conference (NEC). In 2013, Monmouth began play as a member of The Big South Conference as the teams have met in 2013 and 2014 in non-conference matchups.

IN SEARCH OF A W
Both teams are coming off of matchups vs. FBS opponents. On Sept. 5, Wagner opened the season, and the Jason Houghtaling era, with a 56-16 loss at Rice while Monmouth dropped a 31-10 decision at Central Michigan. The Hawks opened the season with a 27-19 home loss to Holy Cross.

THE SERIES 

Monmouth has won the last three meetings to take a 12-10 series lead, including last year's 21-16 thriller in West Long Branch, NJ that went right down to the wire.

DID YOU KNOW?

Prior to last season, the road team in the Wagner-Monmouth series had won nine of the previous 10 games. Before their 2014 meeting, Wagner had won three straight at Monmouth.

THE COACHES

Jason Houghtaling (say it Ho-tail-ling) is in his first season as the head coach of the Seahawks, taking over for 34-year head coach Walt Hameline, who announced last November that he would be stepping down while remaining as Seahawk athletic director.  Houghtaling was the Seahawks' associate head coach and offensive coordinator last seven and has spent seven years as a Wagner assistant. In his last three years as offensive coordinator, the Seahawks amassed a 16-6 NEC record with league titles in two of the last three seasons. In 2014, the Seahawks' offense ranked No. 4 nationally in time of possession and did not commit a turnover in the last three games of the season.

While Jason Houghtaling will be taking part in his second game as a head coach, Kevin Callahan is in his 23rd season at Monmouth as the Hawks' head coach and has led the Hawks into battle 230 times, and  owns a 126-104 career coaching record, all with Monmouth. Coming into the 2015 campaign, Callahan, who spent three seasons as defensive coordinator at Wagner in the early 1980's, ranked 13th among active coaches in the Football Championship Subdivision. The only coach in Monmouth history, he has led the Blue & White to five conference titles, in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

HALL OF FAME DAY

Saturday is Hall of Fame Day on Grymes Hill as six Seahawk greats will officially be inducted in a 3:00 p.m. ceremony: Amber (Klock) Clarke (Class of 1986, Cross Country, Indoor/Outdoor Track), Frantz Pierre-Louis (Class of 1999, Men's Basketball), Jimmy Nix (Class of 1980, Football), Nia Ryan (Class of 2000, Women's Basketball), Chris West (Class of 1989, Football) and Fred Williamson (Class of 1964, Contributor).

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@WagnerAthletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and @Wagner_Football for all the latest news pertaining to Wagner Football and first-year head coach Jason Houghtaling @HossWagner #CHAOSonthehill. Seahawk athletics can also be followed on Instagram (@wagnerathletics)