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Saturday, October 06, 2007

MU football breaks out

Folks..this is a considerably longer story with more information here than will appear in Sunday Press
(a blog benefit!)


By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Monmouth University redshirt sophomore tailback David Sinisi described
his school record tying 99-yard touchdown run Saturday at Sacred Heart as a ''simple running play.

""We kick out the end and everybody did a great job,'' said Sinisi.

Saturday was a day when that description fit almost everyone wearing a visiting blue and white uniform as the Hawks (1-4, 1-1) snapped their season opening four-game losing streak with a 49-8 rout of the Pioneers (2-4, 0-2) at Campus Field.

The 5-9, 180 pound Sinsi seemed to find a second wind on the hot, humid afternoon as he reached midfield and out ran the Sacred Heart secondary en route to tying Jim Varick's 99-yarder from Oct. 29, 1994, also at Sacred Heart.

""I don't know where that (second win) came from,''said Sinisi. ""I just got like a second burst.'' He finished the run diving into the end zone.

""I just wanted to make sure I didn't get caught at the one-yard line,'' he said.

Sinsi scored three times extending the nation's longest touchdown scoring streak to 17 games, ran for a career high 200 yards, and red shirt freshman Bobby Giles reeled off a career high 119.
In winning his first game as Monmouth's starting quarterback redshirt junior Brett Burke, a Wall High School graduate, set career marks throwing for 241 yards and two scores including a 39-yard bomb to senior wide out Adam San Miguel and an 18-yard toss to 6-4 junior tight end John Nalbone who made a one-hand catch for the score.

""It feels real good,'' said Burke. ""Not only for me but for all the older guys on this team who have been here and are used to winning games.
""It was frustrating those first four, we were very close with the exception of Delaware.''

Burke said his TD to San Miguel was a one-route call. """I just play fake and I put it out there and he goes and gets it,'' said Burke. ""He did a great job.''

Burke said he also hit Nalbone off play-action which he said was made easier by Monmouth's successful rushing game.

"'I put it a little out in front but John made a great catch, '' said Burke.

Burke said the game should boost his confidence. ""It's big,'' he said. "'You always want to get that first win.

""You don't press. You never want to be over-excited when you win or too down when you lose. But this is the first of the six game season (six regular season games remain) that we're focusing on,'' he said.

""We did a good job today. Now we've got to get back to work and play hard next week (vs. Wagner).''

Wagner (4-1, 2-0) defeated Robert Morris (which defeated Monmouth) Saturday, 20-13.

""Today I think things came together,'' said Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan. ""I think
the benefit of playing the schedule we playeds early on manifested itself today. Our kids
were ready to go right out of the chute.''

Just 1:38 into the game senior Derek Bischoff blocked a Sacred Heart punt and senior
Ayoe Falae scooped it up and raced 14 yards for a 7-0 Monmouth lead.

Junior Fred Weingart (New Egypt) kicked the first of his seven extra points that pushed
his career total to a school record 62.

Bischoff said Monmouth exploited something it saw on film.

""We did like a little twist and I came clean, right through, and was able to block it,'' said Bischoff.

Defensively Monmouth produced two goal line stands, linebacker Larry Hudson recovered a fumble and linebacker T. J. Cerezo intercepted a pass.

Point Boro graduate Brian Friedman, a Sacred Heart redshirt sophomore who rushed for a career high 49 yards, slammed over from the four in the fourth quarter.

""We got up big on them and then were able to get just about everybody who made the trip
into the game,'' Callahan said.

Mark Fabish, Monmnouth offensive coordinator, said he believed it was the first time Monmouth had two backs go over 100 yards in a game since the 2000 season.

The points were the most allowed by Sacred Heart to an NEC team since it joined the league in 1999 as Monmouth improved to 6-1 all time at Campus Field.

Callahan said freshman kicker Matt Miller has ""discontinued his football career'' and that senior kicker Nick Pizzulli (Red Bank Regional) left the team earlier.

Punter Jack Daniels has taken over Miller's kick off duties.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

TG,
Wasn't Miller a much heralded recruit & on a full ride?? What happened??

10:27 AM, October 07, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Re: Miller. Indeed that is the case.

Though Callahan does not announce who is on scholarship I believe he was, stress the was.

From what I heard he just more or less lost interest in football.

Sort of a shame that Pizzulli quit earlier..he would be the back up again now, at least for place kicking.

Goes to show you..you never know what's going to happen..

If something happens to "'Freddie the Foot" than I believe Derek Bischoff would do the PATs...field goals would probably be an issue than..""The Foot'' better stay healthy at this stage....

10:51 AM, October 07, 2007  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sort of a shame Tony that you don't know the team you write for as well as you think you do. Pizzuli was the backup for Freddy before he discontinued his football career, not Miller. As I recall, I watched him hit 40+, 50+ yarders in preseason camp where the other several kickers were not.

5:12 AM, October 10, 2007  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Aew we splittng hairs here or what?

Pizzulli was a back up kicker, period.

Last year - after the injuries - did an OK job on PK and KO. This year was behind Freddie on PK and also behind Miller on KO...as I under stand it, unofficially, the latter may have been a reason he left.



Yes...he did hit some long FG in preseason practice. I saw them. For whatever Mike reason remaind the back up in both areas....

Nothing against Mike here. You do what you feel you should do.

Personally - my own opinion - I sort of wish he had hung in there....

10:30 AM, October 10, 2007  

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