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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Vikings top Monroe Falcons 35-32 (Video)

By Charles W. Kim, Managing editor

   SOUTH BRUNSWICK — After an impressive drive late in Friday night’s game, the Monroe Township Falcons were turned away at the 3-yard line, sending the South Brunswick Vikings off the field with a 35-32 win.
   ”We decided we were going to try and win it right there,” Monroe Coach Chris Began said about going for the win on fourth down following the game. “At that point I wanted them to win it on the field.”
   With only about 28 seconds left in the final quarter, the Falcons had driven the ball all the way down inside the Viking’s 10-yard line. They were able to get as close as the 3-yard line in three downs, leaving Coach Beagan with the choice of tying the game with a field goal or trying to run the ball into the end zone for the outright win.
   ”I felt we had the momentum,” Coach Beagan said.
   Instead of scoring, the running back’s feet got tangled in the hand off and he dropped to one knee, downing himself in the backfield.
   The Vikings took over on downs and took a knee for the last play of the game and the win.
   ”It wasn’t just one play that lost the game,” Coach Beagan said. “There were millions of plays that could have gone the other way.”
   The victory gives the Vikings a 2-0 record coming off a 34-0 win over East Brunswick last week.
   Viking Coach Joseph Goerge said that while he was pleased with his team’s defensive stand at the end of the game, and several interceptions, that the team still has some work to do.
   ”He (Coach Beagan) thought he had us on our heels,” Coach Goerge said. “I probably would have went for it too.”
   Statistically, Monroe dominated the game running 67 plays to the Vikings 44. They also out ran South Brunswick 216-133 yards.
   While South Brunswick slipped by Monroe in passing yards 175-170, the Falcons were 15 of 22 attempts and the Vikings were only 5 of 11.
   Both teams had problems with penalties. South Brunswick gave up 45 yards on five penalties, but Monroe really struggled, losing 160 yards on 16 calls.
   ”It was a sloppy game,” Coach Goerge said.