CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern started Big South Conference play in convincing fashion on Saturday afternoon at Buccaneer Field, throttling Monmouth, 37-7. Mike Holloway rushed for three touchdowns, and the Bucs' defense held Monmouth to 115 yards of offense while forcing nine punts and three turnovers on downs.

CSU (4-1, 1-0 Big South) came out focused following an open week and an emotional win over The Citadel to dominate Monmouth (2-4, 0-1 Big South) for the second straight year. The Bucs forced a three-and-out on the opening possession of the game, and marched down the field in seven plays to take a quick 7-0 lead on Holloway's five-yard score.

CSU pushed its lead to 16-0 at halftime through a driving rainstorm, and behind a swarming defensive effort that allowed only 52 yards. Monmouth did not move over the 100-yard total offense mark until well into the fourth quarter. CSU head coach Jamey Chadwell was pleased with his team's complete effort.

"I'm really proud of the win and the way we played today," Chadwell said. "We had the open week and a lot of things going on in our state so we talked about coming out and just really playing for our state and playing for the people here in the Lowcountry. That rain, when it came, it was tough and I thought we weathered that in the first half and were able to get a lead, and we came out in the second half and really put the game away."

Holloway paced CSU with 78 yards rushing and three touchdowns. CSU rushed for 275 yards as a team, with Hammond and Robinson adding 64 and 51 yards, respectively. Senior quarterback Austin Brown made many good reads in the option game, and added 38 yards on seven tries. Brown was also efficient in the passing game, completing 8-of-12 throws for 124 yards.

CSU's defense pitched a shutout against Monmouth on a cold, rainy, windy day in New Jersey last November, and was just as good a year later. Redshirt freshman linebacker Solomon Brown paced the Bucs with seven stops and two tackles for loss. CSU held Monmouth to 52 yards of offense through three quarters.

"I think that's (among) the lowest amount we've given up to an FCS opponent, 115 (yards of total offense), so that's pretty impressive there," Chadwell said. "We thought their quarterback could move the ball running and trying to do some zone reads and we really shut him down, forced him in the pocket like our coaches game-planned."

Solomon Brown made one of the bigger defensive plays of the first half for CSU to turn away a Monmouth scoring chance. Down 7-0, the Hawks gained possession off a Holloway fumble and moved to the Bucs' 25-yard line. Brown threw Monmouth quarterback Cody Williams for a loss on fourth-and-three, though, and the Hawks never threatened to score again until the fourth quarter.

Hammond sparked CSU to its second score of the day with a 43-yard punt return. Holloway burst down the sideline for a 20-yard touchdown on the next play, as Brown made an excellent read on a late pitch.

Tyler Tekac booted a 22-yard field goal to give CSU a 16-0 halftime advantage, and the Bucs poured it on in the third quarter. A 27-yard pass play from Brown to Nathan Perera and 20-yard scamper by Hammond set up Holloway's third touchdown of the day.

Robinson was the star of the next drive as CSU moved its lead to 30-0. He caught a 12-yard pass to get the march started, and added a 29-yard run deep into Monmouth territory. Hammond finished off the drive with a walk-in one-yard touchdown.

Downfield pass plays to tight end Nathan Prater (17 yards) and freshman wideout Saire Davis (18 yards) highlighted the Bucs' fifth and final touchdown drive. Danny Croghan III then relieved Brown at quarterback, and scored from two yards out to give CSU a 37-0 cushion.

"I thought our defense was outstanding and our offense was pretty efficient," Chadwell said. "We did have the one turnover there but it didn't hurt us. I was pleased with our return game, Darius, and our punt returners and kicker. We got some short field we were able to take advantage of in the second half. It's a good win and good to be 1-0 in our conference moving forward."

CSU hits the road next Saturday to meet Presbyterian. Kickoff at Bailey Memorial Stadium in Clinton, S.C. is set for 2 p.m.