By Ken Weingartner, Sports Writer
Second verse, same as the first.
As the Monroe Township High football team prepares for Saturday’s encounter against Long Branch in the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group III playoffs, coach Pat Dowling outlined a familiar game plan for his Falcons. The game will be played at noon at Matawan High School, as Long Branch does not have a field.
”The key will be us being able to run the football and control the line of scrimmage – similar to what we did against Freehold Borough,” Dowling said, referring to Monroe’s performance in its 24-7 victory over the Colonials last weekend. “We need to play solid football and not give up the big play.
”The team that breaks first is the team that’s going to lose,” he added. “We need to be as physical as they are; smack back when they smack us.”
Long Branch is coming off a 38-3 win over Princeton in the first round of the playoffs. The Green Wave is 8-1, with its only blemish being a 13-12 setback against Wall, and seeded No. 2 in CJ Group III. They’ve outscored their foes, 84-3, over their last three games.
Travis Patterson rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries against Princeton. Long Branch’s defense, which returned 10 starters from last year’s 4-6 team, held Tigers’ 1,000-yard rusher Doug Borchert to 24 yards, registered five sacks and blocked a punt. PHS netted three yards on the ground.
The Little Tigers were able to throw the ball somewhat, but Long Branch stiffened on each of Princeton’s three trips into the red zone.
”They’re a very, very good football team,” Dowling said. “They’ve got a power running game with a real good back, a downhill runner, in Travis Patterson. They’ll try to go for the home run, but they’re willing to drive the ball down the field. They’re very similar to us.
”I believe they’ll make mistakes; we’ll have to be able to take advantage.”
Monroe battered Freehold with Ryan Meseroll to the tune of 172 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.
The Falcons, who are 7-3 and seeded No. 6 in CJ Group III, have already faced seven teams that qualified for sectional playoffs this season – and defeated four. Monroe’s three losses – to South River, South Plainfield and Montgomery – all came against teams that have reached the semifinals of their respective tournaments.
”I don’t think a lot of people realize the schedule we’ve played,” Dowling said. “I know our kids are battle tested.”
