After 12 plays from scrimmage and the ball on the 50-yard line during its third possession in just the first seven minutes, the Barnegat football team on Oct. 9 looked as if it was well on its way to winning at least a share of the Shore Conference D North division crown.
Then two plays changed the complexion of the game and all but sucked the air out of the Bengals’ balloon.
“I wanted to see us come out, be the best version of ourselves and compete for a division title,” said head coach Paul Covine after his Bengals lost their first game of the season, 35-17, against Monmouth Regional. “The truth is we didn’t play the way we’re capable of, and it cost us the game. You can’t come out that sloppy, have all those self-inflicted wounds and expect to win. That’s just not how it works at any level.”
With Barnegat (6-1) up 10-0 following a 42-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Zach McCrohan and an Anthony Dringus extra point and 30-yard field goal, the Bengals’ defense forced the Falcons to punt on their first possession and took over at the 50 with about 5½ minutes to play in the first quarter.
Facing third-and-10 from Monmouth’s 38-yard line, McCrohan attempted to loft a screen pass over the line, but the ball was deflected by an opposing lineman and into the hands of defensive end Sam Jackson at the 40. Jackson, who doubles as a wide receiver on offense, snaked his way through the scattered line into the secondary toward the left sideline, where he outraced several Barnegat players to the end zone. Sal Bruno’s PAT made it 10-7, but the pick-six seemed to rattle the Bengals.
On the next possession, the Falcons dialed up the pressure, and intentional grounding and false start penalties forced Barnegat into a fourth-and-30 punting situation from its own 16-yard line. The ensuing snap was high and Dringus, despite his leaping ability, couldn’t handle it. He picked up the loose ball and attempted to scramble away from the goal line and a slew of oncoming Falcons, but managed to get to the 2, giving Monmouth first-and-goal.
Opposing quarterback Ryan Corwin followed his line into the end zone on the next play, and Bruno’s extra point pushed the Falcons ahead, 14-10.
NO CATCHING HIM: Barnegat freshman quarterback Zach McCrohan gets to the outside of the hashmarks on his way to a 42-yard touchdown run during the first quarter against Monmouth Regional.
“I was really excited about how we started the game,” Covine said. “Those two crucial mistakes completely changed the mojo of the game.”
At least temporarily, the Bengals bounced back, answering Monmouth’s two scores with one of their own – ultimately their last one – just 52 seconds into the second quarter.
After Ryan Fitzpatrick took the first handoff of the possession 21 yards to Monmouth’s 44, Justin Fitzpatrick made a fantastic grab on a McCrohan pass over the middle, setting up first-and-10 at the 25. Two plays later, McCrohan hit Justin on a short slant route over the middle, and he took it to the house for a touchdown. Dringus booted the PAT to give the Bengals a 17-14 lead.
However, the Falcons answered back, marching deep into Barnegat territory during the next six minutes. On fourth-and-long from the Bengals’ 20, Corwin found Jackson in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Bruno’s third PAT made it 21-17 with 5:39 to go in the half.
“Our offense was good enough to answer and get the lead back. But then we’re in a fourth-down situation and play undisciplined football; and got beat on a double move for them to take the lead again,” Covine said. “It was a good game in the first half, but Monmouth decided to take it to the next level in the second half, and we didn’t answer the bell.”
After the break, Monmouth scored two more times to extend its lead. The first touchdown, after the Falcons had a TD negated by a holding penalty, came on a 40-yard run by Brandon Thompson with about 3½ minutes left in the third quarter. The second, after the Falcons recovered a fumble on the Bengals’ 46, came on Monmouth’s next play from scrimmage – a 46-yard pass play from Corwin to Liam Faulkner along the left sideline.
The Bengals had several more opportunities to even the score, but their next two drives ended when two McCrohan passes were picked off inside the Falcons’ 10-yard line. On their last possession, which started with 6:28 left, the Falcons punted with 1:51 to go. Barnegat reached Monmouth’s 43 before a sack on third down ended the game.
UP AND GOOD: Barnegat kicker Anthony Dringus boots a 30-yard field goal in the first quarter to give the Bengals a 10-0 lead over Monmouth Regional.
Monmouth, which also entered the contest undefeated at 6-0, clinched at least a share of the division title with the victory.
“When they lose, good football teams turn the page and move on,” Covine said. “They fix the problems and move forward, and they play to a level they’re capable of playing to win the next game. We’re a good football team, but we didn’t play to the level we needed tonight. If we don’t fix those problems and be the team we can be next week, we’re not going to win that game, either. We have to play a high-end brand of football next week.”
On Friday, Oct. 16, the Bengals are scheduled to host undefeated Pinelands Regional. The Wildcats are coming off a victory over Central during which they clinched at least a share of the Shore Conference B South crown.
“They’re a good football team, they have weapons and a lot of experience, and John Tierney is a good coach,” Covine said. “We’ll have our hands full. We have to come up with a great game plan to slow them down, and our guys have to lock in.”
Despite the loss to Monmouth, the good news is Barnegat remains a part of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 playoff picture. Heading into the game against Pinelands, the Bengals are in the 11th position for UPR rating.
“We’re still 6-1. We’re still in the conversation,” Covine said. “The goal is still to get into the state playoffs, and we still have a shot to get there. We have to crank this up, turn the page and think playoffs.”
