By Ken Weingartner, Sports Writer
If there was an over/under line on high school football games, the smart money likely would be on the under for tonight’s playoff clash between Ocean Township and Monroe Township.
Monroe (6-3) is the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey Group III playoffs and will host the first postseason football game in school history at Hugh Walsh Field. The Falcons’ defense has posted four shutouts this year and given up an average of 7.1 points per game.
Ocean (6-2) has five shutout victories to its credit and has given up an average of 6.9 points per game.
Both teams are averaging near 15 points per contest on offense.
”From all the films we’ve seen, it appears they play a good, solid brand of football,” Monroe coach Chris Beagan said. “They’re not afraid to punt and play defense. They’re pretty physical up front. They use a lot of formations. They look to be a wing-T team, but they run a lot of power-type football; stuff you would see out of an I-formation.
”They all look like they spend some time in the weight room, that’s for sure.”
The Falcons are coming off a 19-7 loss at South Brunswick, which is the No. 1 seed in CJ Group IV. Monroe has followed each of its previous setbacks with three-game winning streaks. Such a streak now would lead to the state sectional title.
Monroe is making its third consecutive playoff appearance. Last season, the Falcons reached the semifinals before bowing at Long Branch. Ocean was 5-5 last year. The Spartans’ losses came against Manalapan, 12-7, and undefeated Red Bank Catholic, 40-6.
”We’ve seen what it’s like to be in the playoff atmosphere. I think that’s going to pay dividends,” Beagan said. “I think it’s a tremendous advantage not having to get on the bus and travel. Certainly, having a playoff atmosphere in your own backyard where you have a lot of support adds a little something to it. But you don’t want to get wrapped up in that stuff.”
The Falcons have been led rushing attack of Dale Degraw, D’Meetri Wilson and Blake Bascom. The three have combined for 1,354 yards and 11 touchdowns. Degraw also is the team’s leading receiver, with 18 catches. Max Stanice has thrown for 504 yards and three TDs.
Degraw has a team-high 63 tackles, followed by Chris Gregor, Rich Lorfing, Alex Olexson, and Marc Tyson. Matt Stolte, Brian Dennis, Lorfing and Olexson have four sacks apiece while Wilson has three interceptions.
”We’ve got to get back to work,” senior Lorfing said. “We wanted to go into the playoffs rolling, but it didn’t happen like that. I want to win. I want to go all out and win.”
