The game plan for the Monmouth University football team to defeat the favored University of Albany was fairly obvious.

First and foremost, the Hawks would need to find a way to contain junior tailback David McCarty, a 6-foot, 207-pound menace who is the catalyst to the Great Danes' offense.

At the same time, Monmouth knew it needed another big effort from its star tailback, redshirt junior David Sinisi, who entered the game leading the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing yards (1,295 yards).

For one half, everything was going according to plan, as the Hawks built up a 14- point halftime lead and appeared in control of a game that is likely to decide the Northeast Conference Championship.

Unfortunately, once the second half began, Albany turned the tide, getting Mc- Carty on track and scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to post a 35-17 win and all but lock up the NEC title.

With the win, Albany improved to 6-3 overall and 5-0 in conference play, with games against Robert Morris and Wagner, who are a combined 7-11 on the year.

Meanwhile, the Hawks fell to 5-4 overall and 4-1 in the league. The loss also snapped MU's five-game winning streak and dropped them into a secondplace tie with Sacred Heart, their opponent this Saturday on Senior Day in West Long Branch.

In what was a game of two halves, Monmouth looked sharp early on, building up a 14-0 halftime lead on a pair of Brett Burke (of Wall) touchdown passes, while the defense held McCarty to a paltry 23 yards. The second half, however, was a completely different story as the Great Danes outscored the visiting Hawks 35-3, while McCarty finished with 208 yards rushing and one score.

It was a disappointing second-half effort for a Hawks team that early on looked like the better team.

After the opening kickoff sailed out of bounds and MU's offense took over on their own 40, Burke completed his first pass of the afternoon to Point Pleasant's Chris Kiley for a gain of eight yards. The Monmouth offense converted three third-down conversions to set up a first-and-10 from the Albany 24. On second down Burke connected with Nick Romeo (of Wayne) for a 21-yard touchdown strike, putting the Hawks up 7-0 with 9:46 left in the opening frame.

The second quarter began with Burke hitting his seventh consecutive completion, this one a six-yard pass to Troy Yudin. On third-and-six Burke unleashed a pass over the middle that tight end John Nalbone caught in traffic for a 15-yard touchdown catch, his fourth of the season. Fred Weingart's extra point put the Hawks up 14-0 with 10:23 to play in the second quarter.

Albany seemed to get its offense on track right before the end of the first half, riding the legs of McCarty to reach the MU 24-yard line.

However, on third-and-10, the Hawk defense stood its ground, forcing a field goal attempt. Hawk defensive end Garrett Culloo got a hand on Heb Glass' 38-yard field goal attempt and the Hawks held onto their 14-point lead.

With Albany getting the ball first in the second half, Justin Gannon took the kickoff to midfield, setting up the Great Danes with great field position. The home squad converted two third-down conversions, before a facemask call on a six-yard McCarty run set the Danes up with a first and 10 from the Hawk 11-yard line. On third down from the MU seven, Esposito hit wideout Tim Bush for a touchdown with 10:52 to play in the quarter.

The teams then traded three consecutive three-and-outs, giving Albany the ball at the MU 48. McCarty took the first handoff 12 yards for a first down, but the Hawks were hit with a late-hit call, setting up first down from the 19. On the next play, Albany's Bush took a reverse the 19 yards needed to tie the game up with 6:26 to play.

On the next play, Sinisi took a handoff up the middle for a 30-plus-yard run but was stripped as he was being brought down, giving the ball back to the host Great Danes. On the first Albany play, Bush was hammered by Amsel after a first down reception, popping the ball loose where Stolarz recovered it at the Albany 20. Three plays later, Weingart converted a 28-yard field goal attempt, regaining the lead 17-14 with 4:20 to play in the third quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Gannon again

came through for Albany, taking the ball 50 yards, setting up the drive at the Monmouth 31. Moving the ball well, Albany set itself up with a firstand goal from the 15 after a falsestart penalty. McCarty fought off tacklers on first down, getting down to the three-yard line. The final play of the third quarter, McCarty took the

ball down to the one. The first play of the final quarter gave the Great Danes the lead, when Esposito

plowed in on a quarterback sneak. Glass' extra point put the game at 21-17 with 14:55 to play in the game.

Once again, it was McCarty who made the big play, breaking free for a 35-yard run to the Albany 46. Two plays later, he ran for 30 yards, setting up a first down from the Monmouth 23. On third and one, McCarty broke several tackles en route to rumbling 19 yards for Albany's fourth touchdown.

Another Hawk three-and-out with 5:27 gave the ball back to Albany at their own 44- yard line after an MU punt. Four minutes later, Esposito scored his second touchdown of the game to ice the game for the Great Danes.

Sinisi was held scoreless for the second straight game against the Great Danes, while finishing with 118 yards on 26 carries. While his fumbles did not directly result in Albany scores, they prevented MU from padding the lead on both occasions. Burke, who started the game 14-of-17 with 107 yards and the two scores, completed just three passes in the second half and finished with 141 yards. Kiley led the Hawks with four catches for 37 yards. Stolarz's career high 13 tackles led Monmouth.

McCarty had 208 yards, the fourth 200- yard performance of his career, and a touchdown. His current streak of 17 games with a TD threatens Sinisi's FCS record of 20 straight games with a score.