Franny Scaramellino Scores 5 TDs as Wall Ends Monmouth’s Perfect Season With Playoff Win

TINTON FALLS – Fortified by a relentless regular-season schedule and irked about missing out on a home playoff game, Wall brought the best season in Monmouth Regional history to an abrupt halt in South Jersey Group 2 on Friday night. 

The fifth-seeded Crimson Knights rolled to a 35-0 win over the previously unbeaten Falcons (9-1) behind what is believed to be a single-game school record five touchdowns from senior quarterback Franny Scaramellino. Wall (5-4) dominated from start to finish, holding a Monmouth team that entered averaging 34 points and 309.2 yards a game to zero points and 49 total yards, including minus-14 yards rushing.

Wall will now travel to face another undefeated team, top-seeded West Deptford (10-0), in the South Jersey Group 2 semifinals next week. 

The Crimson Knights were coming off a bruising game against the Shore’s No. 1 team, Red Bank Catholic, to complete a Class A North schedule featuring a host of the Shore’s top 12 teams. They were not daunted by Monmouth’s undefeated record from playing in the Shore’s small-school Class D North division. 

“We have to work hard every week,” said senior defensive tackle Donovan Buist, who had three sacks in the win. “There’s no off weeks in the ‘A’ division. It definitely helped us throughout the year, and it helped us win this game today.” 

Wall was also bothered by the fact that heading into the regular-season finale, it was projected to be the No. 4 seed in the bracket and Monmouth was at No. 5. After Wall lost to RBC and Monmouth beat Colts Neck, the seeds flipped and the Falcons received the home game. 

“It motivated me and the rest of the team that we didn’t get a home game,” Scaramellino said. “We played a very tough schedule. We did go 4-4, we didn’t have the best regular season, but that was our goal going into the season, get a home playoff game and make a run. And we didn’t get that, so we definitely had a chip on our shoulder, especially with some people being out. We wanted to play for them and not have this be their last game.” 

“My guys played with a little bit of a chip because last week before the game we were the four (seed), and they were the five,” Wall coach Ed Gurrieri said. “We played the No. 1 team in the Shore, they played Colts Neck, and it switched. I know they won, but I don’t understand. I’m a Group 2 school, I’m supposed to be getting mega points (for playing RBC). How did they jump ahead of us by beating Colts Neck?” 

Wall took out its frustration by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and registering four interceptions on defense. The Crimson Knights also did it without starting junior running back Mike Boulard, their leading rusher, who was out with an injury suffered in the loss to RBC. 

The Crimson Knights opened the game with a nine-play, 56-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown run by Scaramellino for a 7-0 lead. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Wall went on another 56-yard drive, this one ending with Scaramellino fumbling the ball and then pouncing on his own fumble in the end zone for a 14-0 advantage with 11:44 left in the half. 

Wall made it 21-0 with a five-play, 31-yard drive that ended on a 1-yard score by Scaramellino with 4:37 left in the half. The defense came up with another three-and-out, setting up a four-play, 38-yard drive that Scaramellino polished off with a 10-yard run.

No team had scored more than 17 points all season on Monmouth, and Wall led 28-0 at halftime behind Scaramellino. He finished with 100 yards on 17 carries as he became the focal point of the run game with Boulard out. 

“We were kind of in the wildcat with Franny,” Gurrieri said. 

“I already run the ball a lot, but next man up,” Scaramellino said about taking on more responsibility this week. 

Sophomore defensive back Jake Butkus made his second interception of the game to start the third quarter to set up Wall’s final touchdown. On the next play after the turnover, Scaramellino took off for a 23-yard score to make it 35-0 and trigger the running clock. 

Wall’s defense particularly dominated the second half, as Buist had two of his three sacks to give him 12 for the season. Scaramellino also had two interceptions at safety. 

“When we’re able to stop the run on first and second down, we know they’re passing, so you just got to get your ears behind your head and rush the passer,” Buist said. 

The Crimson Knights ended a Monmouth season where it set a school record for wins and went unbeaten in the regular season for the first time on its way to the Class D North title. 

“They were 9-0, but they did not play the same competition as us,” Gurrieri said. “We just played RBC, you know who we play. All the top-five schools. So we felt like we were prepared for this.” 

Now they face a stiff challenge in state-ranked West Deptford, a traditional power with a long history of playoff success. They go in as a banged-up team, with Boulard potentially returning, but still missing their starting center and tight end to injuries. 

“It’s all hands onboard,” Scaramellino said. 

“They do a great job down there,” Gurrieri said. “We’ll heal up, go down there, play some good defense, play some offense and hopefully I get some guys back. We’ll see.” 

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com