FAIRFIELD, Conn.- Monmouth's football team got its first win of the 2007 season in spectacular fashion, crushing Northeast Conference opponent Sacred Heart 49-8 in Fairfield on Saturday afternoon.
Monmouth got huge offensive efforts by running back David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) and quarterback Brett Burke (Wall, N.J./Wall) while the defense pitched a near shutout against the Pioneer offensive unit. Sinisi had his first 200-yard rushing day of his career, tied the school record for longest touchdown run and had three rushing scores for the first time.
Sacred Heart took the opening kickoff after Monmouth won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Monmouth forced a three-and-out on a drive that was highlighted by Chris Reed's (Stewartstown, Pa./York Catholic) backfield tackle on running back Jason Payne. One play later Derek Bischoff (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) blocked Derek Mark's punt and Ayo Falae (Newark, N.J./Barringer) picked it up, taking it the rest of the way for a touchdown.
After another three-and-out by the SHU offense, MU earned its first first down of the game on a swing pass to fullback Marion Easley (Somerville, N.J./Somerville). Sinisi picked up a new set of downs on a third down run, which he followed up with a nine-yard option run. One play later Easley doled out a crushing block, springing Sinisi for a 42-yard score, his sixth touchdown of the year. Fred Weingart (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt) tied the school record for extra points, booting his 57th career PAT to make the score 14-0 with seven minutes to play in the first quarter.
Penalties appeared to hurt the Hawks early on in their third drive but Burke hit tight end John Nalbone (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) for a 32 yard completion to get the Hawks inside the Pioneer 20 yardline. Sinisi rumbled down to the three on his next carry, then scored his second TD of the game on a scamper off left tackle two plays later. Weingart's kick gave him the MU record and the Hawks a 21-0 lead with 14:23 to play in the half.
The Hawk defenders dodged a bullet on SHU's fourth drive of the afternoon as Pioneer wideout Steve Tedesco dropped a pass that would have been a huge gain and possibly a touchdown. Two plays later, Burke and the Hawks took the field looking for their fourth score of the game. Sacred Heart appeared to have MU stopped but a fake punt run by Sinisi gave the Hawks a new set of downs. After an 11 yard Giles run, Burke hit Adam San Miguel (North Bergen, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) for a 39 yard touchdown pass to give the Hawks a 28-0 advantage with 8:48 to play in the second quarter.
Sacred Heart got on the board with 6:10 to play after MU punter Jack Daniels (Franklin Lakes, N.J./Don Bosco) was unable to field an extremely high snap. Daniels chased the ball into the endzone and made the smart play, pushing it out of the back of endzone for a safety.
On the ensuing possession Pioneer runningback Payne rumbled off a 51 yard rush, down to the MU 14 yardline. Monmouth forced a fourth and four, but Payne caught a six yard pass to set up a first and goal. The tide turned on the next play as McKeon was unable to handle the snap and Hawk Larry Hudson (Somers Point, N.J./Mainland Regional) recovered the ball at their own one yardline.
One play later Sinisi took an inside handoff 99 yards, outracing the SHU defensive backfield to put the Hawks up 35-2 with under two minutes to play. The play tied former Hawk Jim Varick for the longest rush in school history, with Varick also doing it at Sacred Heart on Oct. 29, 1994.
McKeon and Sacred Heart moved the ball into MU territory, trying to get a score before halftime but senior linebacker T.J. Cerezo (Stanhope, N.J./Lenape Valley Regional) made a one-handed interception to end the Pioneer drive. The Hawks closed out the first half just missing a 27-yard Weingart field goal, getting into field position mainly on the legs of a tough-running Giles.
The Hawks were moving the ball well in the second half when true freshman Troy Yudin (Stevenson Ranch, Calif./William Hart) caught a 39 yard pass but lost the ball out of the side of the endzone while fighting for the touchdown. Two plays later Payne took the ball for 71 yards, finally getting caught by Brian Robinson (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) at the MU three yard line. The Hawk defenders held again, with McKeon overthrowing Corey Bundy on fourth and goal.
Sacred Heart forced Daniel's third punt of the game but MU got the ball back two plays later when Troy Butler recovered a Payne fumble. Nalbone gave the Hawks a 40 point cushion after making a great one-handed catch and run, giving Burke his first career two-touchdown passing day.
Sacred Heart started the fourth quarter facing a fourth and one on the Monmouth 25, converting it on a Brian Friedman carry. Three plays later Friedman scored SHU's first touchdown, but the MU special teams stepped up again, blocking the extra point as the score rested at 42-8 with 13:11 to go in the game.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Folsom (Somerdale, N.J./Triton Regional) took over under center for the Hawks. Folsom alternated with running back Ryan Skorupka (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) moving the ball, and the Hawks looked at a second and five from the SHU seven yardline. One play later Skorupka piled in for his first career touchdown, giving MU a 49-8 lead with eight minutes to play in regulation. Monmouth ran the ball out to finish the game, getting their first conference win of the season.
Sinisi finished with a career-high 200 yards on 17 carries, 183 of them in the first half. The redshirt sophomore also had three touchdowns, which was also a career high. The game marked the third 200-yard game in Monmouth history (Chris Reed, Varick). Giles also had his first career 100-yard game, finishing with 16 carries for 119 yards.
Burke, who registered his first win as starting quarterback for the Blue and White in the triumph, finished with career numbers as well, throwing for 241 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-19 passing. Yudin had a career-high 67 yards on three catches while Nalbone finished with four catches for 59 yards. San Miguel netted a pair of grabs for 55 and the touchdown.
Robinson finished with a career-high eight tackles, while Derek Bischoff finished with seven takedowns. Butler finished with a sack and a fumble recovery.
Payne led the Pioneers on the ground with 123 yards, with McKeon finishing with 85 yards on 13-of-24 passing.
The 49 points is the most points ever allowed by Sacred Heart to a NEC opponent. Monmouth improved to 1-4 (1-1 NEC) on the season, while Sacred Heart dropped to 2-4 (0-2 NEC). The Hawks were 10-of-15 on third down, while SHU was just three-of-13. Monmouth racked up a whopping 593 yards of total offense, including 331 of rushing yardage.
Monmouth returns home for the first time in a month next weekend when they host Wagner at 1 p.m. on Homecoming.
