Vikings Drop Road Test at Monroe

South Brunswick High School Head Coach Joseph Goerge noted before the season began the luck that goes into winning a state title, requiring plenty of breaks that need to go your way.

Unfortunately, the breaks were not on the side of the Vikings Friday night. SBHS lost its first game of the year in a 26-18 defeat to Monroe on the road in a GMC Red Division showdown.

Monroe piled up the yards behind the passing of quarterback Stephen Karoly (14 of 19 for 192 yards and three touchdowns) and running back Akeer Franklin ( 26 carries for 131 yards and one touchdown), jumping out to a 13-0 halftime lead.

It was then that the slumbering Vikings came to life behind the explosive legs of junior Dontae Strickland, who had touchdown runs of 68 and 80 yards. Strickland would finish the day with 192 rushing yards on just 10 carries, along with two touchdowns.

After winning comfortably in a week one with a 42-7 blowout over East Brunswick, the Vikings will seek to rebound as they travel to Old Bridge Friday night at 7 p.m.