By Rich Chrampanis
MONMOUTH REGIONAL FALCONS
Head Coach: Dan Wendel (sixth season)
2023 Record: 6-4, lost to Willingboro in Central Jersey Group 2 Quarterfinal
Offense: 11.11 points scored per game
Defense: 12.6 points allowed per game
TINTON FALLS – Dan Wendel has led Monmouth Regional to the playoffs in three straight seasons. Following a 6-4 2023 campaign, new Falcons are flying into the nest in 2024.
“For us, this is different because we’ve had two years of back-to-back classes of 21 senior football players,” Wendel said. “So this is the first year we’ve had a smaller senior class and we’ve actually had a lot of freshmen come and step up.”
“These juniors that played a little bit as sophomores, they’ve taken a role in (mentoring) these upcoming sophomores,” he said. “This is the youngest we’ve been, but this group wants it. They don’t want to be that team that lets anybody else down.”
Wendel has turned to the past to help his young team learn. Shore Conference coaching legend Rich Mosca is bringing his wisdom to the Falcons’ offensive and defensive line.
“You guys are doing a good job,” Mosca said to his group during our visit. “That was very good hustle.”
Mosca told his players they had “W.”
“You know what W is? Want. That’s all you all have to know in life.”
“We have a new group of O-line, four new starters,” junior Liam Rea said. “Everyone’s putting the work in. They’re all getting ready for the season. We’ve been working all offseason.
I think we’re going to have a strong front this year. Make the offense, get good progression down the field and we’re picking up really well.”
Jayden Hall started on the defensive line as a freshman. He’ll be a player to watch on both sides of the ball this year. Junior Tyler Gustafson and freshman Ryan Corbin are competing for the starting quarterback spot. They’ll have a couple of weapons at receiver in Jaylin Reeves and Ahmad Wiggins, who both got a taste of the varsity life as sophomores.
“I take this as, like, very serious,” Reeves said. “I don’t take it as a joke because we come out here, we take our time out of our day to try to get better and try to make our team better for the season.”
While there are a lot of new faces on the field, the senior leaders have set the tone in camp, getting the most out of every day in practice, knowing that it will translate to success in the fall.
“You’ve got to want it, and if you don’t, then that’s on you,” senior linebacker and offensive lineman Justin Gonzalez said. “You can’t blame anyone else for not doing good. You can’t blame anyone else for what you’ve done because, at the end of the day, it’s just you.”
Monmouth Regional will open the season Thursday of Week 0 when Bernards comes to Tinton Falls. This is just the second year the Falcons will play under the Friday night lights at their home field. It’s safe to say that Monmouth Regional can’t wait to see what their young group can accomplish in 2024.
“We’ve got to do it for the stands,” senior Frank Colvin said. “This is the hometown team. We’ve got all the private schools they go to, but this is the home team. We’ve got to do it for everyone in the community.”
“I’m so pumped,” junior Troy Lewis said. “I can’t wait to see everybody out here, (with) the lights flashing. Come out, come support.”
Monmouth Regional 2024 Football Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 29 vs. Bernards
Saturday, Sept. 7 at Manasquan
Friday, Sept. 13 vs. Lakewood
Friday, Sept. 20 at Barnegat
Friday, Sept. 27 at Pinelands
Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Raritan
Friday, Oct. 11 at Jackson Liberty
Friday, Oct. 18 vs. Holmdel
Friday, Oct. 25 vs. Manchester Township
The article originally appeared in the August 22 – 28, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
