The redshirt freshman receiver made a pair of sterling catches and was a key contributor in Monmouth’s 20-9 road win over CAA member Villanova, which was just his second career start. Unfazed by the quality of opponent or the crowd of 11,817 on hand at Villanova Stadium, Sterling totaled five receptions for 69 yards. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound target, who made three catches for 34 yards in his collegiate debut against Lehigh, came up with his first big catch of the day against ‘Nova when he hauled in a 19-yard pass from Kyle Frazier to convert a 3rd-and-12 situation early in the second quarter. The catch moved the ball to Villanova’s 22-yard line and set up an eventual field goal that gave the Hawks a 3-0 lead. With Monmouth looking to erase a 7-3 deficit late in the third quarter, Sterling came up clutch again. He made a 12-yard catch to move Monmouth into Villanova territory on 2nd-and-3, and, on the very next play, he gained 27 yards down to the Villanova 19-yard line. After Sterling brought them into the red zone, the Hawks cashed in the opportunity for a touchdown to take a 10-7 lead and never looked back. Sterling, a Jersey Shore product, was a high school teammate of NEC Defensive Player of the Week Dan Sullivan.