LORETTO, Pa.- Monmouth University's football team (5-4, 4-2 NEC) defeated Saint Francis (2-7, 1-5 NEC) 24-10, spoiling homecoming for the Red Flash at DeGol Field on Saturday.
Monmouth's defense did not let up a touchdown until there were less than three minutes left in the game. The Hawk defenders stopped Saint Francis four of six fourth down attempts. The defense also held the Red Flash to just 283 yards of offense, while the Blue & White's offense putting up 357 yards of offense.
Fifth year senior David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) ran for 168 yards on 27 carries, including 101 yards in the first half. The 5-9, 200 lb tailback reached the endzone two times, including a nine yard pass.
"Anytme you win an NEC game on the road it is a good feeling there is so much parity in the conference it is tough. I felt we played very well on the o-line , controlling the lOS and the ball. Defensivelly we made some opportunistic plays, rose to the occasion when we were backed up and kept them out of the endzone."
Sinsi accounted all but 10 penalty yards on Monmouth's opening drive, with Jake DelVento (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South) giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead after converting a 34 yard field goal. Sinisi accounted for all of Monmouth's offensive yards (excluding 10 penalty yards), carrying the ball four times for 37 yards also tallying a two yard reception out of the backfield.
Saint Francis answered right back, marching down the field with a balanced attack before Monmouth's defense stiffened at their own 15, forcing a fourth down. Red Flash kicker Josh Thiel tied the game up at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter with a 32 yard field goal.
MU's second possession began with a 17 yard reception by Tyler George (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston), setting up a first down from the SFPA 42. Sinisi took off for another 17 yards on the next play and two plays later George grabbed an 11 yard play setting up a first and goal from the Red Flash nine. On second and goal, Sinisi caught a swing pass from quarterback Kyle Frazier (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) on the right side and went nine yards to put Monmouth up 10-3 with 3:54 to play in the first quarter.
The kicking game continued to help the Red Flash, as the offense was set up on its second drive from the Monmouth 39. Saint Francis lined up to attempt a 34 yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the quarter but cornerback Mike Avent (Upper Marlboro, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) came clean around the left side and blocked the kick.
Coupled with a 19 yard Sinisi dash, Monmouth took advantage of two SFPA penalties to set up a first and 10 from the SFPA 34. Five plays later, Frazier put the Hawks up 16-3 when he connected with Ryan Folsom (Somerdale, N.J./Triton Regional) for a 10 yard touchdown on first down. DelVento's kick sailed wide right and the Hawks held a 13 point lead with 11:21 remaining in the second quarter.
On the ensuing possession, SFPA running back Kyle Harbridge raced around the left side for 50 yards, setting his squad up on the MU 19. MU's defense held once again forcing another field goal attempt for the Red Flash. The ball was snapped low and holder Timmy Myers had no where to go with it as he was swallowed up by Dave Ogden (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills).
Frazier and reserve back Bobby Giles (Burlington, N.J./Burlington) mounted another long MU drive, with the Hawks converting a key fourth down on a seven yard Alex Laipple (Moon, Pa./Moon Twp.) completion. The Red Flash defense did not yield a second fourth down attempt, stopping Sinisi on a fourth and two from the SFPA 14. Time ran out on the Red Flash and the Hawks took a 16-3 lead into the break, with Sinisi highlighting the action with 101 yards on 14 carries.
Monmouth's defense forced its third turnover on downs of the game on Saint Francis' first possession of the second half, holding on a fourth down quarterback draw from the MU24. After Monmouth's first punt of the day, the defense stopped SFPA on fourth down again, giving the Hawks the ball at their own 38.
Kenny Amsel (Demarest, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) recorded his eighth career interception and the fourth of the year on the following Red Flash possession, moving him into a tie for fourth with former Hawk defensive back Aaron Edwards. Sinisi dominated the ensuing drive, capping it off with a one yard touchdown run on fourth down. Frazier floated a pass up to Ron Lauch (Wall, N.J./Wall) on the two-point conversion to give the Hawks a 24-3 lead with 5:34 to play in the game.
The Red Flash would not go away quietly, needing just two plays to get down to the MU three yardline. The Hawks forced fourth and goal from the one, but fullback Daniel Conley plowed ahead to cut the lead to 24-10 with 2:46 to play.
Saint Francis tried to pop up the ensuing kickoff but Monmouth tight end Mike Roeder (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) caught the ball and downed it. The Hawks converted a third and eight and was able to run out the clock to secure the 24-10 victory.
Sinisi finished with 168 yards on 27 carries with a rushing touchdown and a receiving score. Frazier had an impressive game, throwing for 128 yards on 17-of-21 passing with a pair of touchdowns. Giles finished with nine carries for 64 yards as Monmouth racked up 229 yards on the ground with an average of 5.5 yards per rush. George led all MU receivers with five catches for 55 yards, while Folsom had three grabs for 23 yards and a TD.
Safety Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy), playing linebacker for the second straight week, led all defenders with 17 tackles, a career high. Freshman defensive back Elijah Phillips (Wilingboro, N.J./Holy Cross) had a career-high 10 tackles and a forced fumble. Joe Valenti (Bayonne, N.J./St. Peter's Prep) also had 10 tackles in the game.
John Kelly was 12-for-19 with one interception and 142 yards. Harbridge finished with 88 yards on nine carries with a long of 50. Senior Antoine Rivera had six catches for 66 yards in the contest.
The Hawks will face off against CCSU next weekend at 12 p.m. in New Britain.
