Caldwell Football Loses Opener to Montville

This wasn't the way James Caldwell High School football coach Ken Trimmer wanted to start the 2010 season.

The Chiefs were totally outplayed by Montville in the season opener for both teams Saturday, losing 34-14 at Bonnel Field in West Caldwell.

Caldwell (0-1) gained 286 yards in total offense, mostly on the arm of quarterback Chris Lawshe, who threw for 170 yards on 6-for-13 passing, incuding two touchdowns. But the senior signalcaller was also sacked twice by a dominating Montville defense and threw a key interception with 2:38 left in the game that led to the Mustangs' clinching touchdown.

"This was disappointing," said Trimmer, following the game. "We were totally outplayed from A to Z."

The Chiefs took the opening kickoff at their own 20-yard line, but managed just seven yards and were forced to punt after going three and out.

That's when the trouble began.

The punt was blocked by Montville's Peter Tollis, who ran it back five yards for the first score of the game and the Mustangs (1-0) were on their way.

Caldwell fumbled the ball away on its next possession, but Montville failed to capitalize and the Chiefs tied the game on their next play from scrimmage when Lawshe hit running back Darnel Thomas with an 87-yard scoring pass.

Following John Gallagher's extra point the game was tied at 7-7.

Montvile took a 14-7 lead on its next possession, but Lawshe and the Chiefs came right back with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Christopher Zaorski that tied the game at 14-14.

That would be it for Caldwell as far as scoring was concerned. Montville went ahead 21-14 with 20 seconds left in the first half, and, after a scoreless third quarter, scored twice in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

The Mustangs' final score was set up with 2:38 to go when Montville safety Jordan Gajdos intercepted a Lawshe pass in front of the Mustangs' bench at the Caldwell 45. One play later Montville running back Nolan Entholt scampered 45 yards for the winner.

Thomas led the way in the Chiefs' ground attack with 58 yards on 10 carries, but it wasn't enough to satisfy Trimmer.

"We preach turnovers," he said. "We can't have the turnovers like we had today. Hopefully, we'll perform better next week (at West Essex)."
 

BOX SCORE
Montville     7     14     0     13  _  34
Caldwell        7       7     0       0   _   14

SCORING DRIVES
M - Tollis, 5-yard blocked punt return (Keane kick)
C - Lawshe, 87 yard pass to Thomas (Gallagher kick)
M - Dellefave, 3-yard run (Keane kick)
C - Lawshe, 44-yard pass to Zaorski (Gallagher kick)
M - Gajdos, 1-yard run (Keane kick)
M - Gajdos, 1-yard run (Kick failed)
M - Entholt, 45-yard run (Keane kick)

STATS
RUSHING - Thomas 10-58, Lawshe 3-44, Zaorski 3-18, Puzzo 1-9, La Torraca 2-4, Reuter 1-1.

PASSING - Lawshe 6-13, 170 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 2 sacks for -18 yards.

RECEIVING - Kinsella 2-25, Thomas 1-87, Zaorski 1-44, Pierce 1-11, Goodman 1-3.

RECORDS
Caldwell (0-1), Montville (1-0)