FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2000

MONMOUTH PAIR GARNERS NEC WEEKLY HONORS

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University linebacker Joe Sentipal and quarterback Bill Rankin were recognized by the Northeast Conference as the league announced its football players of the week on Monday. Sentipal earned honors as the NEC’s Defensive Player of the Week and Rankin picked up accolades as the conference’s Rookie of the Week for their performances in Monmouth’s 28-0 thumping of Central Connecticut State at Kessler Field in West Long Branch, N.J., last Saturday.

Sentipal spearheaded a Monmouth defense that recorded its first shutout since November 1, 1997 when the Hawks blanked Sacred Heart 43-0. The Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., native tallied eight tackles, including six solo takedowns on the afternoon. He also registered two tackles-for-losses, totaling 15 yards, and had one of six Hawks’ sacks. Sentipal leads the Hawks with two sacks and two forced fumbles this season and ranks second on the team with 21 tackles.

Rankin shined in his second career start. The redshirt freshman made the big plays Monmouth needed to fire up an offense that had scored just seven points in the first two games of the season. Rankin tossed three touchdown passes on the day, while completing 8-of-17 passes for 189 yards. Just one minute into the contest, Rankin hit running back Matt Merklinger with a screen pass, who then danced his way 53 yards into the end zone. In the third quarter, Rankin lofted a ball perfectly into the left corner of the end zone that settled into the waiting hands of wide receiver Eji Maxilom for a 25-yard scoring play. The Toms River, N.J., native sealed the win in the fourth quarter by delivering a long strike to Maxilom, who caught the ball on the dead run and motored 70 yards for the score. The 70-yard pass play was the longest in the NEC this season.

Wagner’s Aaron Smith edged out Monmouth’s Maxilom and Merklinger for offensive player of the week honors. Maxilom caught four passes for 131 yards, including two touchdowns of 70 and 25 yards. Merklinger rushed 13 times for 83 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 69 yards, including a 53-yard screen pass on the second play of the game.

Monmouth is now 1-2 on the season and will be looking to even its record Saturday as the Hawks host Sacred Heart in a 1 p.m. contest at Kessler Field.