Boland's record only highlight of NEC opener
Hawks dominated by Stony Brook for first loss of the season
BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Monmouth University quarterback Brian Boland became the school's all-time leading passer on Saturday, despite his team's dismal performance in a loss to Stony Brook in West Long Branch.

Monmouth University head football coach Kevin Callahan didn't mince words following Saturday's loss to Stony Brook.

"It was a bad day for Monmouth football," he said.

Playing their Northeast Conference opener against an 0-4 Stony Brook team that had been dominated in all four of its games, the undefeated Hawks were looking to state their case as the conference's team to beat with an impressive showing in front of an understandably anticipatory crowd.

But things went wrong for Monmouth from the very beginning, as the Hawks fell to Stony Brook, 36-17, Saturday afternoon at Kessler Field, dropping the Hawks' record to 4-1 overall on the season.

There was one bright spot in the game, as Monmouth quarterback Brian Boland, a Brick Memorial graduate, set the mark for passing yards in a career, surpassing Dan Sabella's (1994-97) previous record of 6,229.

Other than that, it was all Seawolves.

The Hawks held the Seawolves to begin the game, but were themselves forced to punt on their first possession. Monmouth punter Sean Dennis was pressured and decided to pull the ball down and try and run for a first down but was stopped by Stony Brook's Michael Meadows on the Hawks' 26-yard line.

On the ensuing play, Seawolves quarterback Josh Dudash connected on a 26-yard touchdown to running back Mike Cosentino to give Stony Brook the game's first lead at 6-0. Matt Weeks added the extra point to give the Seawolves a 7-0 lead with 9:17 left in the first quarter.

On the next Hawks possession, Boland hit Rob Lutz for an eight-yard gain, breaking his second career record in three weeks, this time surpassing Sabella's career passing-yards mark. The historic celebration was short-lived, however; Boland's next pass over the middle bounced off the umpire's shoulder and into the hands of Stony Brook's Tyler Santucci with 6:27 left in the first quarter.

On the very next play following the pick, Dudash pitched the ball to running back Steve Austin, who launched a 45-yard touchdown on a halfback option pass to wide receiver Dwayne Eley, and the rout was on. The extra point attempt was blocked by Monmouth defensive lineman Kevin Walsh, but Stony Brook led 13-0 after the first quarter.

The second quarter began with Boland hitting Michael McClelland, a Middletown South grad, on a slant route into Stony Brook territory, but McClelland fumbled at the Seawolves' 43-yard line. That led to a Weeks 22-yard field goal with 11:09 showing before halftime, giving Stony Brook a 16-0 lead.

After Monmouth was unable to get anything going on their ensuing drive, Stony Brook freshman Conte Cuttino scampered into the end zone from six yards out to increase the Seawolves' lead to 22-0 with 7:30 left in the half. Brian Sweeney blocked Weeks' extra point attempt. On the Hawks' next offensive possession, Lutz attempted a halfback option pass that was intercepted by Rivera with 4:17 left before intermission. Stony Brook running back Von Bryant then ended the Seawolves' drive on a one-yard scoring plunge with 1:02 left before the half, giving Stony Brook a 29-0 lead.

Monmouth managed to put some points on the board in the second half on a Fred Weingart (New Egypt) 22-yard field goal at the 9:56 mark, cutting Stony Brook's lead to 29-3, followed by a Boland to Chris Kiley (Point Pleasant Boro) pass for a 25-yard gain down to the to 17-yard line. David Sinisi (Cedar Grove) then found the end zone from two yards out with 43 seconds left to cut the Stony Brook lead to 29-10.

But after a defensive stop, the Hawks' next possession was cut short when Boland was intercepted by Adam Cooper with 10:20 left in the fourth quarter, and the Seawolves got into the end zone again as Dudash found Eley for a one-yard touchdown pass with 7:32 left to increase their lead to 36-10.

The Hawks finished the game's scoring as Sinisi scored his second touchdown of the day from seven yards out with 4:58 left in the game to cut the score to 36-17.

Stony Brook, who moves to 1-4 on the season, was led in the game by Cuttino's 170 yards rushing on 27 carries. The Seawolves ran for 202 yards in the game, the most the Hawks have allowed since 2004.

For Monmouth, Boland was 29-for-39 for 267 yards in the game, but was intercepted three times. In the game, the Hawks committed six turnovers compared to the Seawolves' one.

Senior Anthony Addonizio (Holmdel) led the Hawks with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Sweeney finished with two blocked kicks, a fumble recovery and three tackles.

Monmouth returns to action on Saturday as they host NEC foe Sacred Heart for a 1 p.m. kickoff.