Monmouth College

MWC champion Fighting Scots scoring at a prolific pace, and their stout defense is in on the act

Monmouth will host Knox on Nov. 15, learn NCAA playoff opponent on Nov. 16

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (11/12/2025) — An even 100 years ago, Monmouth College posted an unbeaten football season with its legendary 1925 squad, dubbed the "Trick-a-Minute Machine" - a squad that was recently inducted into the Fighting Scots Champions Club, outscoring its opponents 90-13 during a 7-0-2 campaign.

Monmouth's 2025 team is quite nearly the "Point-a-Minute Machine," averaging 53.5 points per 60 minutes since a season-opening 21-7 loss to Wartburg, which is a perfect 9-0 and ranked No. 6 in the latest D3 poll. Overall, the 8-1 Scots' 48.3 scoring average would be the school record if the season ended today.

But Monmouth's season still has at least two games to go, thanks to clinching the Midwest Conference title and securing an automatic NCAA playoff berth, which the Scots accomplished last Saturday with a dominant 58-3 victory over Ripon in which they averaged, almost exactly, a point a minute.

"It's been since 2019 since we won the conference outright and had a chance to go to the playoffs, and this feels really good," said coach Chad Braun in his post-game comments. "We had some heartbreak over the last few years and couldn't quite get over the hump, so it feels great to finally get it done this year."

A headline defense, too

Scoring is nice, but ask almost any head coach - Braun is no exception - and preventing points is even sweeter. Braun's D has allowed just 64 points, and it clearly pains him when the opponent gets on the scoreboard.

"The defense was pretty dominant again, minus a couple dumb penalties that led to their three points," he said in reference to a Ripon field goal on the final play of the first half.

On two occasions, the Scots have posted a shutout, and they haven't surrendered a touchdown in four full games. Illinois College was the last team to reach the end zone, aided by a blocked punt that set the Blueboys up on the Scots' 5-yardline. It was six games ago when the Scots last allowed a TD drive of more than 50 yards, one of only two such drives they've yielded all season.

Including two punt returns, the defense has scored eight touchdowns, including three by Ethan James, who plays on what the Scots' record-setting sophomore wide receiver Chase Newman called "maybe the best linebacking unit in the nation." That's high praise, but also a valid point, as James, Gavin Carpenter and Carson Strating are the team's three leading tacklers, led by James's 77 total stops. Carpenter has 13 tackles for loss, one of several categories in which Monmouth's defense is leading the nation.

The 'backers would be the first to say that Monmouth's defensive line puts them in a position to make plays. Career sacks leader Anthony Cikauskas has a team-high 19.5 tackles for loss, while Jeremiah Hardnett has 8.5.

Newman has first-hand knowledge of how sticky Monmouth's defensive backs can be, going up against them every day in practice. In particular, he credited safety Derek Chandler, known on the team as "The Mayor," for his leadership on that unit, calling the former Monmouth-Roseville star "the glue guy."

"Our defense, it's all three levels," said Chandler, who confirmed his nickname is short for "The Mayor of Monmouth," a title actually held by former Scots standout Rod Davies '74. "Our front four gets tremendous push, and our linebackers are awesome, the way they fly around and make plays. They make our jobs as defensive backs pretty easy."

So many weapons

On the other side of the ball, Monmouth is beating teams with a "so many weapons" approach.

"We had seven different guys score against Ripon," said Newman, who was the first to do so, catching a 37-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Brayden Deem in the first quarter. "For teams scouting us and watching us play, it's not like you can just take one guy away, and that'll stop us."

In two games, Newman has caught a school-record four TD passes. The second time, against Illinois College, he also shattered the single-game record with 301 yards, thanks in part to a 98-yard deep ball from Deem.

"We were running the ball there, but someone checked out of it," said Newman. "I did a little stutter step and the D-back turned his hips. Once he did that, I knew it was going to go. I got about 10 yards of space between us. It was about a 40-yard pass, and then Jeremiah Williams blocked the last guy I needed to beat."

To Newman's earlier point, he had just 44 receiving yards against Ripon. Williams led the way through the air with 104 yards and two scores, and Gunner Bryant caught six passes for 88 yards. Nate Wrublik ran for his team-best 13th touchdown of the year. Despite his season-long heroics, the senior running back doesn't have to carry the offense, but he's strong enough to, cleaning 405 pounds in the weight room.

"Nate's just a dawg," said Chandler of Wrublik, who averages 80 yards a game. "He's so physical and so fast."

Dennis Plummer, who played with Davies on Monmouth's storied 1972 team, had the previous longest play with a 97-yard run in 1971. It's quite possible Newman will also have his record for a half-century or more.

"It's an honor to be in the history books here," he said. "It feels good, knowing my coaches can trust me to do what I'm supposed to do and make a play."

Last year, Newman had a 72-yard TD catch against Knox in Monmouth's 49-0 win. He stepped up after an injury to senior Jackson Bergren, who'd formed a stellar 1-2 punch with Nate Thornton for much of the year.

"Our offense last year was really good, too," said Newman of a squad that scored 443 points. "I learned a lot from Nate and Jackson, and they're a big part of the reason for my success this year."

This year's Scots will enter Saturday's noon Turkey Bowl matchup against Knox at April Zorn Memorial Stadium with 435 points. Beyond that, the Scots will face a yet-to-be-determined playoff opponent, which they'll learn at 4 p.m. Sunday. In the 40-team NCAA field, 24 teams will receive a first-round bye.

Only three Monmouth teams have soared past 500 points. Led by future NFL quarterback and current Indianapolis Colts assistant Alex Tanney, the 2008 and 2011 teams scored 561 and 536 points, respectively, with both marks leading the nation. The top non-Tanney team was the 2016 squad, which scored 503 points.

Simply put, Braun and his staff have assembled a roster high on talent and depth, and low on weaknesses.

"We've been able to dominate teams this year, and so much of it is our physicality," said Chandler. "I really think we can compete with just about anybody. Even against Wartburg, we held them down pretty much. I think we can compete well with anybody in the nation."

"With our defense, and with our offense, there's not too many teams than can go toe-to-toe with us," said Newman when asked about the Scots' postseason chances. "We're going to make a run."

Media Attachments

puntreturnTDhero.jpg

TO THE HOUSE: Gabriel Zeigler-Harris races to the end zone to cap off a 53-yard punt return in Monmouth's home opener against Lawrence, one of eight TDs the Fighting Scots have scored this year on defense or special teams.

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A CLEAN POCKET: As quarterback Brayden Deem releases a deep ball, running back Nate Wrublik waits for someone to block. Deem set Monmouth's single-game passing record with 453 yards in a victory against Illinois College.

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NO HOLDING HIM BACK: Anthony Cikauskas, Monmouth's all-time sacks leader, makes his way to the quarterback during the Scots' 78-7 victory over Lawrence.

Derek

Chandler