WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University football
team fell to Robert Morris, 23-9 in its final contest of the 2009 season on
Saturday at Kessler Field. MU ends the season at 5-6 overall and 4-4 in the
Northeast Conference while the Colonials end their campaign at 5-6 and 5-3 in
the league.
The contest marked the final one for 12 Monmouth seniors,
including running back David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) who
finished with 62 yards on 20 carries.
"This year's senior class is a special group," said
Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan. "They contributed a lot during their time
here at Monmouth. I feel bad they had to end their career with a loss but when
you look back at what they have done, there has been significant contribution
to our program."
The game opened with three straight punts before the
Colonials took a 7-0 lead with 2:52 left on a 10-yard Myles Russ touchdown run.
The score capped a seven-play, 34-yard drive for RMU. The contest remained
scoreless through halftime as each defense stepped up and played well with
neither team breaking 100 total yards in the first half.
The Colonials scored the second half's first points as well
when Garrett Clawson connected on a 26-yard field goal to give RMU a 10-0 lead
with six minutes to go in the third quarter. Robert Morris increased its lead
to sixteen after Sherrod Evers caught a touchdown on a four-yard fade from QB
Jeff Sinclair, but Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy) blocked the extra
point and returned it for two points to cut the lead to 16-2.
Sinclair struck again, this time tossing a 31-yard scoring
pass to Anthony Coleman, to increase the visitor's lead to 23-2 with 11:26 left
in the fourth quarter. Monmouth QB Kyle Frazier (Gaithersburg, Md. /Damascus)
got the Hawks a touchdown, tossing a 15-yard score to senior Ron Lauch (Wall,
N.J./Wall) with just under five minutes to go in the game.
RMU outgained the Hawks 272-192 in total offense in the
game, including 144-62 on the ground. Frazier was 13-of-34 passing with 130
yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Lauch led the team with five grabs
for 57 yards and a score, while Rodney Salomon (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) caught
three passes for 31 yards. Ryan Folsom (Somerdale, N.J./Triton Regional) also
caught three passes for 22 yards.
Myles ended the game with 74 rushing yards and a score,
while Sinclair was 13-of-17 passing with 128 yards and two scores, and added 47
rushing yards. Sherrod Evers hauled in four passes for 29 yards and a score,
while Anthony Coleman caught three passes for 50 yards and a score.
Dave Ogden (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) led the Monmouth
defense with eight stops, including three for loss, and a sack. Kendall Haley
(Olney, Md. /Good Counsel) also had eight tackles, joining Jeff Brady East
Aurora, N.Y. /St. Francis) with eight tackles. Safety Kenny Amsel (Demarest,
N.J. /Northern Valley Regional) also had eight tackles and added his
team-leading fifth interception.
