Despite Low Numbers, Monomoy Football Sets Sights On Playoffs

Monomoy football coach Rob Sliney wants to take the next step. 

 Entering his third season at the helm, Sliney is hopeful this is the year the Sharks can grow after last year’s 4-7 season and elevate themselves to become a postseason contender in Division 7. 

 However, plenty of challenges await Sliney and Monomoy, which has dealt with low turnout throughout preseason practices. 

 “We’re very low on numbers, but the guys that we do have are all fighting for positions and they are all competing, so I think that’s going to be huge for us,” Sliney said. “I have 10 returning seniors, so that’s huge, but on the other side of things I have 10 kids that have never played football before. I’ve only had about 25 kids [at practice] on average.”

 Sliney will lean on a talented crop of seniors who return at key skilled positions. Senior quarterback Chase Yarletts will return to lead the offense after starting as the team’s signal-caller last fall, while his classmate, Dillon Chapman, is back to anchor a deep group of running backs that also includes fellow senior Logan Crevier. 

 “We are pretty deep at running back,” Sliney said. “Dillon Chapman is back after being in the backfield for us the past couple years, and I also have Logan Crevier, who got good playing time last year as well. We are pretty experienced in the backfield.”

 Another player to watch in the backfield is Max Furman, who saw limited time last fall as an eighth grader. Sliney expects Furman to take another step this season and to be an impact player, especially in the middle of the Sharks defense. 

 “He was an eighth grader last year, and by the end of the season he ended up getting some playing time,” Sliney said. “This year, right off the bat he was a starter for us. He’s a really great middle linebacker for us and is a great running back — he plays more of a power back.”

 Senior Jake Giorgio will be a leader for the Sharks on the offensive and defensive lines, while junior Sean Needham also returns to the O-line. Sliney noted that Needham will also be counted on to make an impact for the defense at linebacker. 

 “He’s a real cornerstone on the defense for us,” the coach said of Needham. 

 While Monomoy fans will be familiar with the team’s returning players, there are also some fresh faces who are ready to make a difference for the team. Sophomore Jordan Bryant is among the first-year football players who has already impressed the third-year coach. 

 “He came out this year after never playing football before and he impressed me so much in our scrimmage that I started giving him first-team reps to kind of get his feet wet and expose him to what he can do,” Sliney said.

 The team’s low numbers have forced the coach to tackle preseason practices with a strategic approach. Sliney’s top priority is to keep the team healthy so that it can make it through the entire season. 

 “That’s the number one goal,” Sliney said. “I can’t have any injuries this year if we plan on having any longevity to our season. Obviously that’s out of my control, but the kids are excited and I’m excited about the season. Our goal is to be eligible for the playoffs.”

 Monomoy opens its season with a pair of road games — at Seekonk at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 and then at Cape Cod Tech at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 — before hosting Wareham in its home opener Sept. 27. 

 Despite limited numbers, Sliney is ecstatic to kick off the season and see all of his players’ hard work come to fruition in game action. 

“Our numbers might be low, but we have a ton of heart and I think that’s going to be the carrying factor for us,” he said. “I have a ton of guys stepping up and I’m really proud of my guys right now.”