FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 18, 2000

MERKLINGER, ROACH AND SENTIPAL LEAD MONMOUTH TO VICTORY

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth got career-best performances from running back Matt Merklinger, Jay Roach and linebacker Joe Sentipal en route to a come-from-behind, 32-28 victory over Jacksonville in Division I-AA football action Saturday afternoon.

Monmouth closed out its season with a 5-6 record. Jacksonville dropped to 3-7 on the year.

Monmouth overcame a 28-14 halftime deficit with 18 unanswered points in the second half.

With Monmouth trailiung 28-26, Bill Rankin scored the go-ahead touchdown with 9:56 left in the fourth quarter as he pounced on a Merklinger fumble in the end zone for the touchdown.

Rankin got the 18-0 run started with 2:42 left in the third quarter as he hit Eji Maxilom on a 14-yard pass to close the Monmouth lead to 28-20. Following a blocked punt by Roach, less than three minutes later, Merklinger scored on a 2-yard run to close the gap to 28-26 with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.

Roach gave Monmouth an early lead as he returned the opening kickoff 82 yards to give Monmouth a 7-0 lead. The Dolphins responded quickly as Gary Cooper hit Jonathan Turner on a 65-yard touchdown pass on the very next play from scrimmage to tie the score at 7-7. The Dolphins took a 14-7 lead as Linj Shell intercepted a Bill Rankin pass and scampered 41 yards to the end zone with 7:21 left in the opening quarter.

On the opening play of the second quarter, Merklinger rushed for a 19-yard touchdown to cap an 11-play, 72-yard drive and tie the score at 14-14. A pair of touchdown passes from Cooper to Brett Palmi gave Jacksonville a 14 point lead heading into halftime.

Merklinger rushed for a career-high 162 yards on 39 carries. He added a pair of touchdowns to bump his season total up to 14. Sentipal posted a career-high 16 tackles and added three sacks and six tackles for loss.