Both Montclair and Montclair Kimberley Academy football teams are in good shape after two weeks with 2-0 records.
The Mounties avenged a loss last season to Group 4 rival, West Orange, with a 48-24 win on the road on Saturday.
Montclair Kimberley did not have any trouble with Emily Fisher Charter, 46-6, in an independent game at home.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Montclair quarterback Khalif Herbin continues to top himself as he ran for 307 yards on the ground on only 17 carries with a long of 71 yards. In addition to Herbin, Stephaun Marshall ran for 94 yards.
The Mounties stayed ahead of West Orange the whole day, but could not pull away until the fourth quarter when Herbin took the ball on the 71-yard run to clinch the Super Essex Conference American division battle.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The game could not have started any better for Montclair as Mike Smith sprinted 70 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff return.
Montclair Kimberley had the game in hand by halftime with a 32-0 lead as quarterback Gabe DiMasi threw for two of his three touchdown passes in the first half.
Matthew Gregory had two touchdowns, one via the air from DiMasi and another on a 61-yard punt return. John Beck also grabbed a pair of touchdowns, one via fumble recovery in the end zone and another blocked punt recovered in the end zone.
While there are still several more weeks of league play, the SEC American division title could be determined on Saturday when Montclair travels to Seton Hall Prep in West Orange at 1 p.m.
Like Montclair, Montclair Kimberley has a key game on Saturday as the team travels to Verona in a SEC Independence division battle at 1 p.m.
Soccer
The Montclair (2-2) boys split in a pair of games, both on the road, defeating Columbia, 3-0, on Sept 14 and Millburn dropping Montclair, 3-0, on Sept. 16. In the victory over Columbia, Dan Cartwright picked up the shutout in goal and Joe Rodriguez, Andrew Lombard and Jordan Ellison notched a goal each.
Montclair (4-0-1) girls team continued to stay unblemished as the Lady Mounties defeated a quality prep school, Peddie, 3-0, at home on Monday. The Lady Mounties took a 2-0 lead after the first half to control the tempo. Angel Hart, Maya Pitts and Erika Joab collected a goal each while Joab added an assist in the independent victory.
Like the Montclair girls team, the Montclair Kimberley boys squad was still undefeated despite tying Millburn, 1-1, on Monday. Down 1-0 in the second half, the Cougars Miles Hackett scored with less than three minutes against Millburn for the equalizer. MKA keeper Matt Lane made five saves to preserve the tie in Montclair.
The Montclair Kimberley girls soccer team dropped a heartbreaker, 1-0, at home to Newark Academy on Sept. 17. The Cougars (0-2-1) offense could not get a shot by Newark Academy's Carly McMahon while MKA's Carlie Till only gave up one goal late in the game while making eight saves.
Top Team of the Week
Montclair field hockey is on the goal to repeat as Essex County champions and might be ready to do that. The Lady Mounties are 4-0-1 after defeating Newark Academy, 4-0, on Tuesday at home. This comes despite graduating eight seniors from the 2010 team. Jillian Alonzo had a pair of goals and an assist and Cara Riordan assisted on three of the fourth goals.
Player of the Week
Montclair girls field hockey player, senior Jillian Alonzo, had six goals and three assists in the team's first five games. Just right behind her is senior Cara Riordan with six assists.
Quote of the Week
"We're a young team and we have work to do to get where we want to be," said Montclair field hockey head coach Mary Pat Mercuro, whose team won the 2010 Essex County Tournament title and also won a 250th game on Saturday as the Lady Mounties defeated Livingston, 2-1.
