WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? The Monmouth University football team dropped their Northeast Conference opener as they fell to Stony Brook 36-17 Saturday afternoon at Kessler Field. The loss drops the Hawks' record to 4-1 overall on the season. In the game Monmouth quarterback Brian Boland (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) set the mark for passing yards in a career, surpassing Dan Sabella's (1994-1997) previous record of 6,229.
The Hawks held the Seawolves to begin the game, but were forced to punt themselves on their first possession. Monmouth punter Sean Dennis (Westampton, N.J./Holy Cross) was pressured and decided to pull the ball down and try and run for a first down but was stopped by Stony Brook's Michael Meadows on the Hawks' 26-yard line.
On the ensuing play, Seawolve quarterback Josh Dudash connected on a 26-yard touchdown to running back Mike Cosentino to give Stony Brook the game's first lead at 6-0. Matt Weeks added the extra point to give the Seawolves a 7-0 lead with 9:17 left in the first quarter.
On the next Hawks' possession, Boland hit Rob Lutz (New Cumberland, PA./Trinity) for an eight-yard gain, breaking his second career record in three weeks, this time surpassing Sabella's career passing yards mark.
The historic celebration was short lived however as Boland's next pass over the middle bounced off the empire's shoulder and into the hands of Stony Brook's Tyler Santucci with 6:27 left in the first quarter.
On the very next play following the pick, Dudash pitched the ball to running back Steve Austin who launched a 45-yard touchdown on a halfback option pass to wide receiver Dwayne Eley. The extra point attempt was blocked by Monmouth defensive lineman Kevin Walsh (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape), but Stony Brook led 13-0 after the first quarter.
The second quarter began with Boland finding Michael McClelland (Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South) on a slant route into Stony Brook territory, but McClelland fumbled at the Seawolves 43-yard line. The drive culminated in a Weeks 22-yard field goal with 11:09 showing before halftime, giving Stony Brook a 16-0 lead.
Monmouth was unable to get anything going on their ensuing drive, but Stony Brook found the end zone as freshman Conte Cuttino scampered into the end zone from six yards out to increase the Seawolves lead to 22-0 with 7:30 showing. Brian Sweeney (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) blocked Weeks' extra point attempt.
On the Hawk's next offensive possession, Lutz attempted a halfback option pass that was intercepted by Rivera with 4:17 left before intermission.
Stony Brook running back Von Bryant ended the Seawolve's drive on one-yard scoring plunge with 1:02 left before the half, giving Stony Brook a 29-0 lead.
Stony Brook's Milo Otis intercepted Boland with 17 seconds left before the half and returned it to the 19-yard line. Stony Brook's Luke Gaddis missed a 46-yard field goal as the first half expired, but the Seawolves went into the break up 29-0.
Monmouth received the second half kickoff and moved the ball well down the field, culminating in a Fred Weingart (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) 22-yard field goal at the 9:56 mark, cutting Stony Brook's lead to 29-3.
The Hawks' held Stony Brook on their next drive, and Monmouth showed a spark as Boland found Chris Kiley (Pt. Pleasant, N.J./Pt. Pleasant Boro) for a 25-yard gain down to the to 17- yard line. David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) found the end zone from two yards out with 43 seconds left to cut the Stony Brook lead to 29-10.
The Seawolves drove down the field, but Weeks' 21-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Sweeney with 11:20 left in the game.
The next Hawks' possession was cut short when Boland was intercepted by Adam Cooper with 10:20 left in the fourth quarter, and the Seawolves got into the end zone again as Dudash found Eley for a one-yard touchdown pass with 7:32 left to increase their lead to 36-10.
The Hawks' finished the game's scoring as Sinisi scored his second touchdown of the day from seven-yards out with 4:58 left in the game to cut the score to 36-17.
Stony Brook, who moves to 1-4 on the season, was led in the game by Cuttino's 170 yards rushing on 27 carries. The Seawolves ran for 202 yards in the game, the most the Hawks' have allowed since 2004. Dudash was 11-20 for 180 yards and two touchdowns through the air, with five catches going to Eley for 106 yards and both scores. Chris Tomasky led all defensive players with 10 tackles on the day including one sack.
Leonard Brice (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) led the ground attack with 57 yards on 11 carries. Sinisi ran eight times for 31 yards and two touchdowns. Adam San Miguel (North Bergen, N.J. /St. Peter's Prep) had 11 catches for 45 yards to lead Monmouth. Kiley collected four grabs for a team-high 62 yards, both of which were career bests. Boland was 29-39 for 267 yards in the game, but was intercepted three times. In the game, the Hawks' committed six turnovers compared to the Seawolves' one.
Senior Anthony Addonizio (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) led the Hawks with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Sweeney finished with two blocked kicks, a fumble recovery and three tackles.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, October 7 as they host NEC foe Sacred Heart for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
