Colonials Rally Late, Bury Monmouth Regional

For the first three and a half quarters, the Colonials couldn't find an answer for Monmouth Regional's stingy defense. Turning the ball over six times, Freehold Boro had trouble all game long sustaining any kind of a drive, offensivley.

Then, the Colonials put together arguably their most impressive drive of the season, taking the ball 75 yards in a span of 4:54, tying the game when Jahree Whiting punched the ball in from the one-yard line on fourth and goal.

Freehold wasn't quite done.

After the Colonial's defense forced the Falcons into a three-and-out, it took just one play for Freehold to take the lead for good.

Quarterback Kevin Smith connected with wide receiver Dan Kvedaras for a 58-yard touchdown strike, giving the Colonials' the 14-7 lead with 50 seconds remaining -- a lead they would not relinquish.

"We preach that there is going to be adversity, and things are not going to go our way sometimes," Freehold Boro head coach David Ellis said. "I thought we played hard all four quarters. We had too many mistakes, but we stuck to the gameplan and eventually won in the end."

With the six turnovers, Freehold has compiled nine over the first two weeks. This week, however, the tough Colonials' defense was able to bail their offense out on a number of occasions.

After Freehold punter Edgar Galindo inadvertantly took a knee while field a snap, the Falcons were given terrific field position of Freehold's 18 yard line.

The Colonials' defense was able to force Monmouth Regional backwards, and, after a sack on third down by Kenneth Taylor, the Falcons punted from the Freehold 31-yard line.

Later, in the second quarter, Smith was sacked and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Monmouth Regional at the Colonials' 27-yard line.

After advancing to the 8-yard line, a holding call and back-to-back sacks by Stacey Sunnerville -- including one that forced Falcons' quarterback Jeff Farrah to leave on a stretcher -- Monmouth Regional was forced to punt again, this time from the Freehold 41-yard line.

Jahree Whiting lead the rushing attack for the Colonials, rushing for 135 yards on 21 carries, none bigger than his one-yard touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.

On the game-tying drive, Cequan Rush-Smith opened the ground game, rushing for a 27-yard gain to put the Colonials in Falcons' territory.

Later, Smith carried the ball for seven yards on 3rd and 3, advancing the ball to the Falcons 30-yard line.

Rush-Smith put the Colonials in serious scoring position, when he took the option pitch from Smith, and beat a number of Monmouth Regional players to the outside, tallying 22 yards and putting the Colonials on the Falcons' 6-yard line.

After three short rushes, Whiting pounded the ball in on fourth and goal from the one-yard line.

"I kept telling the team that we were moving the football, but we were shooting ourselves in the foot," Ellis said, "I thought that if we could hold on to the football, we would be able to score some points."

Smith, who threw to interceptions late in the first half -- both in the final minute -- came back strong to throw a beautiful game-winning pass to Kvedaras.

"I told him that he needed to come out in the second half and win us the football game," Ellis said of Smith, "I told him that I had confidence in him and I knew he was in there for a reason."

Smith went 3-6 on the day for 80 yards, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. He also had 11 rushes for 36 yards.

Rush-Smith rushed for 70 yards on 8 carries, playing a major role in the game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter.

Rayshon Webber was the leading reciever for Freehold, making two catches for 22 yards.

Freehold Boro will hit the road this week, taking on Ocean Township on Friday, Sept. 23.