Falcons Soar, Fliers Crash
By WALTER J. ONEILL JR.
What a difference a year makes. If you look at the teams record not much has changed except 1 more win this season over last. But what has changed is the attitude and commitment of the team and its coaching staff. This year under new head coach, Derek Sininsky, Monmouth Regional is 3-4 and looking much better than previous years.
On Saturday, the Monmouth Regional Falcons hosted the Scarlet Fliers of Neptune in a Shore Conference Federal Division football game. It seems that the teams are on different tracks as the Fliers in 2004 were 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the division, while this season they are now 2-5 overall and in divisional play.
Monmouth defeated Neptune 25-7, but it was the defense that shinned on a rainy afternoon. In past years the Falcons have called their defense the Wolf Pack as they attacked as a group. This year under Sininsky, the defense has given itself a new name; the Goon Squad. The Goonies, as the Falcon fans call them, put on a defensive show.
Diving for the tackle is Tye Coleman (7) of Monmouth Regional who is about to hit Neptune quarterback Damon Poland (2).
Neptune was only able to gain 7 first downs the entire game, while the Falcons had 14. On the ground Monmouth Regional had 197 yards on 38 carries while Neptune could only gain 89 yards against the Goonies on 32 carries. In the air DAmbrisi, of Monmouth Regional, was 4 of 10 with 1 interception for 101 yards. Neptune could not get off the ground going 3 of 8 for 89 yards.
The first quarter was scoreless, however as the quarter ended the Falcons were on the 1 yard line of Neptune. The first play of the second quarter had DAmbrisi running in for 6 points. The extra point attempt failed for Monmouth Regional.
The Fliers then mounted a 5 play, 65 yard drive that started when quarterback Damon Poland connected on a 30 yard pass to Ty Bean. Poland then ran in for the only Neptune touchdown.
In his second season as starting quarterback is Monmouth Regional junior Thomas DAmbrisi (10) who had 48 yards rushing and 101 yards passing in the win over Neptune.
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