Falcons make school history by getting past Freehold Boro
By Ken Weingartner, Sports Writer
Christian Hanley and his Monroe Township High teammates got an education about playoff football last year when they lost at Hamilton, 42-13, in their first-ever postseason game.
The Falcons must be quick studies, if the result of their second trip to the playoffs is any indication.
Monroe, seeded No. 6 in Central Jersey Group III, dominated No. 3 Freehold Boro, 24-7, Saturday to notch the first postseason football victory in school history. Ryan Meseroll ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns while the Falcons’ defense held the Colonials’ explosive offense in check.
”We learned a lot last year,” said Hanley, whose interception at Monroe’s 5-yard-line in the closing seconds of the third quarter helped the Falcons thwart Freehold’s comeback attempt. “We knew we had to be more focused and more detailed. Last year, when we played Hamilton, they knew us to a T. We had to pay attention to details the way they did and be prepared.
”We were playing as a family (Saturday); as brothers together. We all wanted to accomplish the same goal.”
Hanley’s interception came as Monroe fought off a brief flurry by the Colonials, which included a 47-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter to cut the Falcons’ lead to 17-7. But MTHS, which gave up only 201 yards from scrimmage, ended Freehold’s next three possessions with turnovers – a Dale DeGraw fumble recovery, Hanley’s interception, and a pick by Darnell Wilson.
”We had to step up and stay composed,” Hanley said.
Meanwhile, Monroe’s offense clicked behind Meseroll and two timely completions from quarterback Brian Taylor to Kyle Gigliello. The first, a 31-yard strike on a third-and-8, led to Meseroll’s 4-yard touchdown run two plays later. The second, on a 40-yard toss on a third-and-12, set up Meseroll’s 3-yard burst that gave the Falcons a 17-0 lead with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter.
”It’s the greatest win I’ve ever had,” Taylor said. “It’s the greatest win Monroe ever had.”
For Monroe, the victory snapped a two-game losing streak. The Falcons (7-3) came into the playoffs following losses to South Plainfield and Montgomery. Both those teams also reached the postseason and advanced to the semifinals of their respective sectional tournaments.
”The playoffs are a different season; we were 0-0,” DeGraw said. “You need to have a short-term memory and play on. We were hungry and knew nothing would stop us. Everyone played on key. We had to know our roles, and everyone played their roles. We didn’t take anything for granted.”
Meseroll’s final touchdown, a 27-yard run up the middle, came with 4:29 to play immediately after the Falcons held Freehold on downs. Monroe then surprised the Colonials with an onsides kick, perfectly executed by kicker Matt Nawracaj and recovered by Nile Clement, and ran out the clock from there.
”This is awesome; that’s all I can say,” Monroe coach Pat Dowling said. “We had to weather the storm in the third quarter; we just had to respond. The kids came through.
”We can’t be happy just to win one game,” he added. “We’re halfway there (to the sectional final). It’s one game at a time and staying focused.”
It’s a lesson the Falcons appear to have learned.