Monroe enters season confident
BY RICHARD JEROME Staff Writer
Pprospects for his Monroe High School football team.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW MILLER staff After waiting patiently for his time to shine, senior Brian Taylor (above) is set to lead a solid Monroe team this season, replacing graduated starting QB Ryan Cushman. Among the targets for Taylor this year will be Xavier Selby (l).

Last year the Falcons went 8-2 and made the state playoffs for the first time in school history. This season, Monroe has the majority of the squad back.

"We did lose some key kids, though," said Dowling, whose club opens the campaign Sept. 8 against South Brunswick. "We have a new quarterback for the first time in three years, replacing Ryan Cushman, and there are still some question marks."

The new signal caller is senior Brian Taylor (5-11, 170), who has been waiting in the wings for three years. Pushing him for the job is junior Matt Stanisce, who is just good enough to keep Taylor on his toes.

"He's worked hard and it's his job to lose," Dowling said. "He deserved this rite of passage. He's a pretty even-keeled kid, level-headed, and we want to help him with a good supporting cast."

Like Taylor, most of the starting lineup plays both offense and defense. The big offensive gun returning for Monroe is running back Ryan Meseroll, a 6-1, 215-pounder who made All-Conference last fall and rushed for more than 1,200 yards. The backfield workhorse also does double duty as a linebacker. In fact, many of the Falcons see time on both sides of the ball.

At fullback, Nile Clements (6-0, 215) has some experience and, says Dowling, offers the team solid leadership and, like Meseroll, plays linebacker. Up front, tight end Kyle Gigliello (6-0, 210) is a returning starter. A middle linebacker, he shares the captaincy with Meseroll.

"We're a play action team, so we rely heavily on our tight end and fullback," Dowling points out. "Kyle is solid for us, and a lot of our passing will be directed at him." Christian Hanley (5-10, 170) is the wide receiver, a returnee who also starts at free safety on defense.

Sean Temzoke (5-11, 210) anchors the center slot, where he saw time last year when the starting center came down with an injury. Temzoke is also a backup linebacker. Guard Scott Oliva (6-0, 220) is a returning starter, along with tackle Frank Olexson, who stands 6-4 and weighs in at 210. Both Temzoke and Olexson play defensive line as well. Jake Nale (6-4, 225) is the other guard, while John Baker (6-4, 250) is at tackle.

Filling in at center, guard and tackle is Anthony Lunardelli, who transferred back to the Falcons from Notre Dame, and carries a solid 260 pounds on his 5'10" frame. Hard-working junior Dale DeGraw (6-0, 190) is stepping up to the varsity for the first time, at outside linebacker, while junior Rich Lorfing (6-3, 220) is starting at both tight end and defensive end.

Assisting Dowling this fall are Justin Cella, Bob Molarz, Mike Gigliello, Mark Debellis and Lou Urbano, along with frosh coaches Dave Hallion and Ken Chanley.

One thing that will be missing from the Falcons' season is the element of surprise. They were an unexpected success last fall, but now, having won eight of 10 and made the states, Dowling admits, "we're marked men."