Box Score

ALBANY, N.Y.- Monmouth University's football team earned it's third Northeast Conference Championship in four years with a 19-0 win over Albany on Saturday.

In a game that pitted two of the country's best defensive units, it was the Monmouth squad that corralled the Albany offense to 174 yards and earned its second shutout of the year. It marked the first time in school history that the Hawks won the NEC Championship outright and the fifth overall title in program history. Monmouth will now host the winner of the Pioneer Football League on Dec. 2, in the first Gridiron Football Classic. The Hawks improved to 10-1 on the season (6-1 in the NEC), marking the third time in school history that the team has had double-digit wins.

"It was a great day for our team and our program," said MU head coach Kevin Callahan. "For us to win three NEC Championships in four years is astounding. This is a special group of guys and we played hard start to finish to earn it."

Starting on their own 20, Albany took the opening drive of the game and moved into MU territory on six plays. Monmouth forced a fourth and one on their own 28 but Great Dane quarterback Daniel Bocanegra called his own number and snuck forward for the first. On the next play Bocanegra tossed a wild pitch on an option, which Albany recovered but at the cost of a negative nine yard loss. The MU defense held, forcing another fourth down. On fourth and seven from the 24, Bocanegra went for a touchdown pass in the middle of the endzone but Monmouth safety Matt Hill (Hopatcong, N.J./Hopatcong) knocked the ball away, keeping the score 0-0.

The Hawks moved 22 yards on three plays to get out to midfield. On a third and eight, Brian Boland hit junior Chris Kiley (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Boro) for 16 yards down to the Albany 30. On the next play Boland his Adam San Miguel (North Bergen, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) for 15 yards, setting the Hawk offense up on the 15 yard line. San Miguel took a reverse to the right side of the field for 14 yards. Freshman running back David Sinisi (Ceder Grove, N.J./Ceder Grove) took the ball into the endzone, giving the Hawks a 7-0 lead with 4:04 to go in the first quarter. The touchdown marked the 11th straight game in which Sinisi scored, keeping the nation's longest streak alive.

After the Blue & White defense held the Great Dane's to a three-and-out, giving the Hawks on their own 45 yard line. Boland went back to San Miguel on a third and seven, with the 5-10 wideout picking up the first down into Albany territory. Sinisi busted up the middle for a key 10-yard run, setting up a first and goal from the 10. Two runs later, MU faced a third and goal from the nine, but a late hit on that play by Albany gave the Hawks an automatic first down on the two yard line. On the next play, Boland rolled to his left after a play fake and hit senior Mike McClelland (Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South) wide open in the back of the endzone. The Hawks missed the ensuing PAT, giving them a 13-0 lead with 11:08 left in the second quarter.

The Hawks forced a third and 10 on the next Great Dane drive, where linebacker Anthony Addonizio (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) drilled a dropping back Bocanegra, forcing his pass to miss the intended receiver. On a third and eight, Sinisi carried a draw play for nine yards and another Hawk first down. The Hawk drive stalled and the following punt return set up Albany with the ball at midfield. On third and six David Jiles (Paulsboro, N.J./Paulsboro) picked off the Albany pass, returning to the Blue & White's 48 yard line.

Two runs opened the drive for MU, setting up a first down from the Albany 35 yard line with just over two minutes to play in the half. The Great Danes forced a fourth and six, with the Hawks throwing a screen that did not pick up the first down. Albany could not do anything with the ball with the remaining 30 seconds and the Hawks took a 13-0 lead into the lockeroom at the half.

After taking the second half kickoff, it took one play from scrimmage for MU to score, with Boland connecting with San Miguel on a play action pass that went for 63 yards to give the Hawks a 19-0 lead. Monmouth's fake PAT attempt was stopped short.

Albany, trailing by three scores, switched quarterbacks but not even backup Frank Blasinsky could get the ball moving as the Hawk defense caused yet another three and out.

The Hawks moved the ball into Great Dane territory on a 14-yard Kiley reception, which was followed up by a 12-yard Sinisi run. MU was facing a fourth and two on the Albany 30 yard line, with Sinisi getting the rush, pickup seven yards and a first down. The MU drive stalled at the Albany 22, with the fake field goal attempt being snuffed out by the Albany defense.

The Great Danes rumbled to the MU 45 on their possession, converting two third downs along the way. With Bocanagra back under center, the sophomore quarterback picked up a 12 yard gain on a designed rush, earning the first down on the MU 32. Two plays later Monmouth senior Mike Castellano (Freehold, N.J./Freehold) picked off Bocanagra, giving the Hawks the ball back with just over a minute to go in the third quarter.

The Hawks got a first down on an Albany defensive offsides call as the Blue & White continued to work time off the clock. The Great Danes forced a punt and took over on their own 32 yard line with 12:22 left in regulation. On the following punt, San Miguel muffed the catch, with Albany's Dan Beigel picking the ball up and running it to the MU nine yard line. The MU defense answered on first and second down, forcing a third and goal from the 14 yard line (after a delay of game call). A quarterback draw was stopped after a yard and Jason Fralicker missed the 31 yard field goal attempt, preserving the 19-0 lead with 10:17 showing.

The Hawks ran the ball very efficiently, getting the ball to the Albany 39 on a first down run but also getting an extra 15 on a late-hit call on the Great Danes. A screen to Sinisi went for 32 yards, setting up a first and goal on the seven yard line. The Hawks were unable to get any points on the drive, which used seven minutes of game time, with Mike Pizzulli's (Oceanport, N.J./Red Bank) field goal sailing wide left. Bocanegro moved his team down to the Hawk 25 but the MU defense preserved the shutout.

Boland finished for 17-of-18 passing, including an 11-of-12 effort in the first half, with 214 yards and two touchdowns. Sinisi led the Hawks on the ground with 72 yards on 20 carries. San Miguel, who had 23 yards rushing, led the Hawks in receiving with 93 yards on four catches. Sinisi also tallied three catches for 35 yards.

The Hawk defense held Albany to 57 yards rushing in the game and 117 yards through the air. Monmouth was led by Brian Sweeney's (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) nine tackles on defense, with Addonizio ending with eight. The Hawks had 22 first downs in the game, racking up 349 yards of total offense.

Monmouth will wait to hear if they get an At-Large bid to the 2006 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, but will prepare for the Gridiron Classic in the meantime.