Breaking Even: 2024 Monmouth Regional Football Preview

The Monmouth Regional football team has qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs for the past three seasons but the Falcons are still trying to break a trend. They have not been able to post consecutive winning seasons since 1972 and 1973.

With the Shore Conference re-aligning the divisions by power points after each season, a losing season typically leads to an easier schedule the following year. On the flip side, a 6-4 season with a playoff berth like the one Monmouth posted a season ago typically earns a tougher schedule.

That dynamic has made it difficult for the Falcons to keep the momentum going in back-to-back years, and this year will be no exception. Not only does Monmouth’s schedule tick up in difficulty, but the Falcons will have to contend with said schedule without a lot of varsity experience on the roster.

Monmouth head coach Dan Wendel will have just three starters back on each side of the ball, highlighted by two-way starters Ahmir Wiggins and Jaylin Reeves. Wiggins and Reeves will both play wide receiver and cornerback coming off a season in which the two combined for eight catches on offense and three interceptions on defense. Wiggins averaged 18 yards per reception while Reeves picked off two passes on defense.

The offensive and defensive lines each have one returning starter, with junior Liam Rea returning as the starting left guard and sophomore Jaden Hall back at defensive tackle after cracking the front four as a freshman. Right tackle Justin Gonzalez is the only senior on the projected starting offensive line and defensive end Andrew Smith the only senior starting on the defensive side. Smith is also in line to start as the tight end on offense.

The rest of Monmouth’s depth chart is packed with juniors, particularly at the skill positions. Tyler Gustafson takes over at quarterback and will work with junior running backs Bryce Browne and Dymeire O’Neal in the backfield. Senior Frank Colvin will also be a key piece in the receiving corps, which was a deep, effective group in 2023 during the Falcons’ winning campaign.

Rea and fellow junior Minas Zavolas will play on the left side of the line, with Zavolas taking over the starting left tackle job. Sophomores R.J. Lettice and Ben Lubin round out the starters on the offensive line, which will be a developmental project early in the season.

Monmouth has the makings of a strong defense as the group gains experience, particularly at linebacker and in the secondary. That group is comprised almost entirely of juniors, with Browne, Anthony Mazza and Troy Lewis among the linebackers and Sal Bruno and senior Frank Covin at the two safety positions to complement the Wiggins-Reeves duo at cornerback.

Junior Rauf Melikov will play on the interior line along with Hall, while freshmen Donovan Hicks, Carmine Ferlisi and Ryan Fleury provide defensive line depth to go with Smith’s senior experience.

What Monmouth lacks in experience on the field Wendel is hoping the Falcons can make up for with an enthusiasm that follows winning seasons. Most of this year’s group has not played a prominent role in winning, but they are not far removed from it and the expectation among the new players is – like the group that preceded them – that the wins will come sooner or later.

Monmouth at a Glance

Head coach: Dan Wendel, sixth season

 Career record: 16-30

 2023 record: 6-4

 Offense: Spread

 Defense: 4-2

Coaching Staff

Defensive Coordinator: Jason McQuay

Running backs: Billy D. Williams

Offensive line: Rich Mosca, Jeff Sfraga, Jonathan Ciavarra

Defensive line: Rich Mosca, Jeff Sfraga, Jonathan Ciavarra

Linebackers: Anthony Guarino, Billy D. Williams

Secondary: Phil White

Video: Andrew Faccone

Athletic trainer: Adam Elsieidy

Circle the Date: Friday, Oct. 11 at Jackson Liberty

Monmouth faces two teams that it beat a year ago and both games were decided by margins of no more than three points. The Falcons beat Barnegat, 7-6, and Pinelands, 20-17 – both on the road – and will have to do the same this season to give themselves a chance at qualifying for the state playoffs. The Jackson Liberty game, meanwhile, marks a new opponent that went 2-8 last season and presents Monmouth with a chance to put together a winning effort late in the season. With an inexperienced team, that road game in Jackson could provide the Falcons with a chance to validate a season of work and, if they can pull off some early wins over, perhaps push them closer to a state playoff berth.

Rookie Watch: Donovan Hicks, Fr., Defensive End

Monmouth could have at least one true rookie make an impact this season, which is to say multiple freshmen are in the starting lineup. Three of the first-year contributors to watch are all on the defensive line, led by Hicks, who has the inside track at a starting at one defensive end. Carmine Ferlisi and Ryan Fleury could also see defensive-line snaps as freshmen, while Ryan Corwin is a backup in the secondary and a possible quarterback of the future.

Stat to Know

In 2023, Monmouth quarterback Dom O’Grady threw for just under 1,000 yards by spreading the ball around. Ten different Falcons players caught at least one pass last season and outside of Kaiden Stafford’s 444 receiving yards, no Monmouth pass catcher racked up more than 90 yards.

SCHEDULE

Date                             Team                                    Time

Friday 8/29                    Bernards                                6 p.m.

Saturday 9/7                 @Manasquan                         1 p.m.

Friday 9/13                    Lakewood                               6:30 p.m.

Friday 9/20                    @Barnegat                             6:30 p.m.

Friday 9/27                    @Pinelands                            6 p.m.

Friday 10/4                    Raritan                                     6:30 p.m.

Friday 10/11                  @Jackson Liberty                   3 p.m.

Friday 10/18                  Holmdel                                   6 p.m.