SPORTS

Monroe's Karoly looks to regain form prior to injury

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

After starting to gain a firm grasp last fall of a complicated offense, Stephen Karoly lost his grip on the season.

The Monroe High School signal caller, whose 139 quarterback rating (including 12 touchdowns without an interception) was among the state's best, endured a season-ending injury on the final offensive series of a 17-14 loss to GMC Red Division champion Old Bridge.

Earlier in that same game, Monroe lost linebacker Paul Baclayon to a season-ending injury, the first of a rash of injuries that grounded the once high-flying Falcons, who opened the year with a five-game winning streak, during which opponents were outscored 218-45.

"It was pretty tough," Karoly said about having to watch from the sidelines as the team's once-promising season fell apart after he broke his left (non-throwing) wrist while being sacked. "I felt bad for everybody."

Broken in two places, Karoly's wrist was in a cast for more than four months, during which he worked out his lower body, continued to throw on the side and served as a mentor to backup quarterback Kyle Volkmann.

"When he got hurt last year, he did a terrific job of becoming another assistant coach, helping our quarterback with some of the reads," said Monroe coach Chris Beagan, noting Karoly and Volkmann both found it difficult to learn a newly installed spread offense in 2012 when they split time behind center.

"Stephen absolutely struggled as a sophomore," Beagan said. "We probably led the county in interceptions. Some of the reads are tough. They have to be made in a split second. It took a lot of patience and a lot of resolve that he had. We obviously knew he had it in his makeup and it paid dividends for him."

Aided by the spectacular rushing of running back Akeer Franklin (1,378 yards and 18 TDs) and benefitting from the play of gifted wideouts C.J. Thompson (506 receiving yards) and David Betancur (458 receiving yards), Karoly averaged 140 yards per game through the air while completing 63 percent (50 of 79) of his passes.

Beagan and the Falcons studied their current offense under UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, who taught Monroe his high-octane attack during a 2012 visit to the high school.

Monroe, at the time, was three years removed from winning the school's first sectional title, running out of the I formation behind a sizeable offensive line and employing a defense that limited six opponents to a touchdown or less.

The team's personnel, however, changed, leading Beagan to the realization that the Falcons could no longer run power.

"After a 1-9 season (in 2011) we had to re-establish our identity," Beagan said. "We wanted to be something unique. Few teams at the time were running no-huddle. We wanted to be difficult to prepare for, and run something that would allow us to be successful regardless of the size of our linemen year in and year out. We do feel like we have a good amount of talented athletes. If we could get them in open space and get good matchups, we could compete."

Karoly, who exhibited excellent knowledge of the system through the first five games of 2013, developed an even better understanding of it with his view from the sidelines after breaking his wrist.

He spent the entire offseason working out, watching game film, studying the playbook and trying to forget a lost year.

"Junior year I felt like I started to own the offense," Karoly said. "Now I feel like I own it even more."

MONROE

About the Falcons

Coach: Chris Beagan, seventh season (33-29).

Assistants: Justin Cella (assistant head coach, offensive coordinator); Chris Baldassano (defensive coordinator); Anthony Arcaro (receivers, defensive backs); Val Barnaby (defensive line); Marc DeBellis (freshmen); Dan Lee (offensive line, defensive line); Joe Romano (freshmen); Frank Ruopoli (defensive backs, receivers).

Stadium: Hugh Walsh Field (turf).

Colors: Purple and gold.

Classification: Central Group V.

Offensive formation: Spread.

Defensive formation: Multiple 40.

Last year (6-4 overall, 5-3 GMC Red): North Brunswick 55-6 (W), South Brunswick 26-18 (W), Woodbridge 49-0 (W), East Brunswick 44-0 (W), Edison 47-21 (W), Old Bridge 17-14 (L), Piscataway 35-19 (L), J.P. Stevens 31-13 (W), Sayreville 56-26 (L), Sayreville 35-34 (L).

2014 schedule: Sept. 12 at Edison, 7 p.m.; Sept. 19 Piscataway, 7 p.m.; Sept. 27 at J.P. Stevens, 2 p.m.; Oct. 2 North Brunswick, 7 p.m.; Oct. 10 at Sayreville, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17 South Brunswick, 7 p.m.; Oct. 24 at Howell, 6:30 p.m.; Oct. 31 Old Bridge, 7 p.m.; Nov. 7 at East Brunswick, 7 p.m.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing

Comp

Att

TD/INT

Yards

Stephen Karoly

50

79

12/0

840

Rushing

Att

Yards

AVG

TD

Akeer Franklin

215

1,378

6.4

18

Stephen Karoly

20

72

3.6

2

Receiving

Rec

Yards

AVG

TD

Cameron Coleman

9

180

20.0

5

THE SKINNY

Returning starters: Cameron Coleman (Sr., 6-2, 200, TE-DB); Stephen Karoly (Sr., 5-9, 175, QB); Cole Cusanelli (Sr., 5-10, 170, RB-SS); Akeer Franklin (Sr., 5-8, 170, RB-DB); Max Oge (Sr., 5-10, 185, OL-LB); Brendan Germano (Sr., 6-0, 245, OL-LB); Greg Chaves (Sr., 6-3, 235, OL-DL).

Key losses: David Betancur (WR), Kyle Volkmann (QB), Ryan Schreiber (K-P), C.J. Thompson (WR), Paul Baclayon (RB-LB), Nick Marinelli (OL-DE), Elijah Davis (LB), Russell Clayton (OL-DL).

Top newcomers: J.T. Allan (Sr., 6-0, 155, WR-DB); Joe Trainor (Jr., 5-9, 230, OL-DL); Chase Santiago (Jr., 5-10, 170, WR/RB-S); Miles Ship (Jr., 6-1, 170, WR-DB); Carlton Coleman (So., 5-8, 220, FB-LB); Lou Ceras (So., 6-1, 230, OL-DL); Nick Fromhold (Sr., 6-0, 230, OL-DL); Jeff Van de Sande (Sr., 6-1, 180, TE-DL); David Matel-Okoh (Sr., 6-2, 180, WR-DB); Adam Darwish (Sr., 6-1, 175, WR-DB); Josh Wood (Jr., 6-1, 170, K-P); Jaroni Coats (Sr., 6-5, 170, WR-DB).