Monmouth football
team won NEC

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

WEST LONG BRANCH — Success has not made the Monmouth University football team soft.

If anything, last year’s Northeast Conference championship season has made the Hawks hungry for more. Going 10-2 and playing in a postseason bowl game (ECAC Football Classic) for the first time ever will do that.

Head coach Kevin Callahan pointed out that the impact of last fall’s historic campaign, which had the West Long Branch campus all abuzz, has created a momentum that didn’t stop in November.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of carry-over,” said Callahan. “The excitement and enthusiasm that goes with it helps and has stayed. It caused them [the Hawks] to work harder in the off-season and report in shape.”

Monmouth kicks off the 2004 season on the road tomorrow night (7 p.m.) in Jersey City against St. Peter’s College. The Hawks began their run to the NEC title and an 8-0 start with a 24-0 win over St. Peter’s in West Long Branch.

The Hawks home opener is Sept. 11 against LaSalle University (1 p.m.).

In the preseason NEC coach’s poll, the Hawks were picked to finish in a second-place tie with Stony Brook, behind favored Albany.

The Hawks have a lot to be excited about, especially on offense where Monmouth has a lot of experience at the skill positions. That alone should be enough to keep the Hawks in the NEC chase throughout ’04.

“We hope to be very explosive,” said Callahan. “We have the ability to create the big play.”

The experience starts at quarterback, where the combination of junior Brian Boland (Brick Memorial) and senior Brendan Kennedy (Middletown South) returns. The two-quarterback setup worked just fine for Monmouth last year when they captured the NEC crown.

“We’re in a very fortunate situation having two quarterbacks who play very well,” said Callahan. “They both have demonstrated an ability to move the offense. They make it impossible not to play them both.”

Boland passed for 1,482 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, while Kennedy accumulated 401 yards passing and six touchdowns.

The Hawks’ running attack is also a two-headed threat in Joe Migliore (Jackson) and Bobby Smith (Hopatcong), both senior veterans.

Migliore led the Hawks with 672 yards and Smith was right behind at 581. They teamed up for seven touchdowns with Migliore finding pay dirt four times.

Two underclassmen, Rob Lutz (New Cumberland, Pa.) and Walter Carter (Salem) are much improved and could play significant roles this year behind Migliore and Smith, setting up a platoon system.

“We’ll go with the guys who give us the best chance to win,” said Callahan.

The wide receiver corps is loaded thanks to the return of All-NEC wide out Miles Austin (Garfield), one of the most dangerous receivers in the conference. Last fall the junior pulled down 44 passes for 796 yards, an average of 18.1 yards a catch. He was a quarterback’s delight with his 12 touchdown receptions.

Monmouth has depth here to with Tim Hiltwine (Hammonton), Mike McClelland (Middletown South) and Billy Worfolk (Pascack Valley) all returning.

“We are very, very balanced,” Callahan said of his receiving corps.

Place kicker Steve Andriola (Union) provides another weapon. He led the conference in field goals last year (13), including a 49-yarder that is second best in NEC history.

Monmouth has three-fifths of its offensive line back with center John Castoro (Middletown South), tackle Dan Iskra (Middlesex) and guard Tom Mauro (Middletown South). All three are seniors.

Dan Kircher (Manalapan), Matt Connolly (West Milford) and Jon Dunn (Washington Township) are ready to step in and fill the two remaining starting positions.

Callahan believes the potential is there for this unit to be one of the best Monmouth has had. The line ranges from 250 to 320 pounds.

“They’re working well together, and we’re bigger than we’ve been,” noted Callahan.

Defense is where Monmouth took the biggest hit, losing eight starters, including linebacker Joe Sentipal, the two-time All-American, who may well have been the best football player in Monmouth history. According to Callahan, Sentipal’s presence is still being felt.

“The other players looked up to Joe and admired the way he played,” said Callahan. “They saw how hard he worked and the way he conducted himself.”

One of the keys to Monmouth’s defense last year was the depth on the line. The Hawks rotated nine players, keeping fresh players on the field at all time.

This year’s line includes sophomore Erik Yngstrom (Freehold Township), who was one of the top freshmen in the NEC. He has the potential to be a playmaker for the Hawks. Ed Ratyniak (St. Peter’s Prep), Jesse Orbach (Raritan), Brian Sweeney (Cherokee) and Dan Sizelove (Brick Township) are the core of this year’s line.

Linebacker Dan Blazosky (Coaldale, Pa.) is one of three returning starters. Joining him on the unit are sophomore Mike Castellano (Freehold Township), senior Anthony Addonizio (Holmdel) and senior Jay Ricciardi (St. John Vianney).

Monmouth’s other two returning starters are cornerbacks Dave Jiles (Paulsboro) and Rob Lomoriello (Pequannock). Between them they had five picks.

Punter Sean Dennis was all conference in 2003 after leading the NEC with his 41.6 yards per punt average, and putting 14 inside the 20-yard line. He unleashed a conference record 84 yarder during the season.

Six Hawks were named to the Pre-Season All-NEC Team led by receiver Austin. The other selections were: Iskra, Blazosky, Ratyniak, Andriola and Dennis.